Wednesday is a big day at the Comox Valley Art Gallery.
Starting June 16, CVAG will expand its hours of operation, the new exhibition “Under One Sky” will open to the public, and the gallery will host community make art projects on its outdoor plaza every Wednesday through the summer.
The new exhibition features work by local and international artists: Shelley Vanderbyl (Comox Valley), Anne Steves (Comox Valley), Nistrine Boukhari (Syrian, now living in Austria), and Alfredo do Stefano (Mexico).
“Under One Sky” is part of CVAG’s “Offsite_Onsite” convergent program, which includes creative residency projects that were undertaken within the gallery and virtually over the past year.
The project is co-curated by CVAG’s Angela Somerset and Denise Lawson, and Abir Boukhari, curator and founder of All Art Now Collective (Sweden).
The curators and artists will be part of virtual opening event and artist talk on Wednesday, June 23, at noon. A zoom link will be provided on the gallery’s website and Facebook page.
“This exhibition is a cumulative story of separation and connection told from multiple places, perspectives and voices,” says CVAG co-curator Angela Somerset.
“The words ‘We are all under one sky’ were spoken during a conversation early in the development of this project and they express the core perspective of the exhibition.”
The gallery and shop are now open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Every Wednesday the gallery will host community make art projects from 1 to 7 p.m. on the CVAG plaza. Throughout June the projects will feature screen printing led by Gabrielle Moore, where people of all ages can colour their own t-shirts, posters and postcards.
Admission to the gallery and attendance at the make art projects is free, with donations gratefully accepted. People are encouraged to bring their own white t-shirts to be be screen-printed at the Wednesday events, or they can purchase a shirt on site.
“Our community make art projects correspond with the timing of the downtown Courtenay famers’ market, just two blocks from the gallery,” said Somerset. “It’s a great time to come downtown, purchase amazing produce from local famers, join our make art project, and visit the exhibitions at the gallery.”
Throughout the summer, CVAG will continue the exhibition “Our Young Girls”, created by artist Deb Dumka of Texada Island, in the window gallery facing the CVAG plaza. “Violet Gave Willingly”, a video installation about Dumka’s work created by Claire Sanford, will continue in CVAG’s George Sawchuk Room.
For more details, visit www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com
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