You’re invited to the opening reception of three new exhibits at the Comox Valley Art Gallery.
The reception takes place this Friday from 7 to 9 p.m., with presentations beginning at 7:30. Everyone is welcome to attend, artists will be attendance and refreshments will be served. These exhibits run through until April 20.
How does art play a role in the transformation of the community’s understanding of the issues of racism, homophobia and hate-crime?
As a part of the Community Justice Centre’s project The Arts: Engaging Diversity, four months of visual and performing arts presentations will be given, each exploring one or more of the themes of racism, homophobia and hate.
It begins with Towards Grace, an art exhibit held at the Comox Valley Art Gallery from March 9 to April 20.
At the CV Art Gallery, Towards Grace is an art exhibit consisting of art submissions from members of both Comox Valley Art Gallery and the Comox Valley Community Arts Council.
A few months ago, an open invitation was released to all members (membership is open to the public) of CVAG and CVCAC, which are non-profit societies, to submit artwork for a juried members’ exhibition.
Artists were asked to explore and respond to the themes around countering, healing, addressing and transforming the issues of racism, homophobia and hate-crime in the context of a diverse community. Explorations include the diverse responses to the impact and affects of this topic.
There are over 20 artists in this show and nearly 40 pieces of art. The majority of the works are by local artists, including original works by George Littlechild, Ed Varney, Joyce Lindemulder, Madeleine Wood, Barb Hutson and Marilyn Peeters. Drawings, paintings, prints, sculpture, photography, and fibre arts are some of the genres that have been submitted.
What does it mean to be a “juried” show?
Once the artwork has been installed, a panel of jurors will assess the art on a variety of merits. Selected outstanding works will be recognized and awards will be presented at this opening reception at 8 p.m.
One award will be reserved for presentation at the next opening reception; the People’s Choice Award. Make sure to attend the opening or visit the gallery during the run of the show to vote on your favourite piece.
At the reception, guests will experience a performance of a scene from Torn Rainbow, a theatrical production written and directed by Lori Mazey. Mazey is the head of drama and dance at G.P. Vanier Secondary and a nationally recognized drama teacher, theatre director, and Improv theatre specialist.
The play’s dialogue is drawn from interviews with over 50 Comox Valley students on their experience of racism, hate and homophobia. The play toured to over 2,600 students last spring and has been remounted for another tour this year.
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Also opening in the Community Gallery, Vancouver-based artist Danaca Ackerson presents Botticelli Remix + other Pedestrian Perspectives.
This is a series of oil paintings created during an artist residency at La Macina di San Cresci near Florence, Italy, with the Early Renaissance painter Alessandro Botticelli as her “tutor.”
In these and related paintings, Ackerson explores and experiments with fragmentation, history, narrative and contemporary settings, asking the viewer to associate the past and present, the romanticized and the mundane.
Ackerson studied visual arts at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (BFA, 2003) and Facultad de Bellas Artes de San Carlos, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain (2000).
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In the George Sawchuk Gallery, Grade 3-4 students from the Saltwater School explore The Golden Rule, practised by more than 20 religions of the world.
Through the exploration of stories; trials, tribulations and circumstances, the artwork has provided an opportunity for the students to creatively express their feelings that arise from hearing stories of diversity, compassion and acceptance.
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CVAG is in downtown Courtenay at 580 Duncan Ave.
For more information, visit comoxvalleyartgallery.com or call 250-338-6211.
— Comox Valley Art Gallery