“Stories that animate us” opens at Kelowna Art Gallery
Stories that animate us June 22 to September 22, 2024
The connections between a group of artists showing in a new presentation at the Kelowna Art Gallery may be tough to discern at first. What does 18th century painter Francisco de Goya have in common with Haida and Tlingit artist Robert Davidson? Or, contemporary animator and filmmaker Amanda Strong with renowned Canadian conceptual artist Joyce Wieland?
The answer can be found in the visual storytelling that permeates the exhibition, Stories that animate us organized and curated by the Vancouver Art Gallery. It opens at the Kelowna Art Gallery this weekend.
The exhibition highlights a diverse selection of works on paper and animations from a wide range of collectively shared oral histories, knowledge systems, and cosmologies, as well as personal memories, imaginings, and dreams.
“The stories showcased in this exhibition span from the small to the sweeping, featuring a selection of both Canadian and international voices,” says Christine May, Curator at the Gallery. “Visitors can explore the eerie etchings of Goya, the depictions of the charismatic character “Raven” in Robert Davidson’s screenprints, and watch a short film that features three puppet avatars who delve into the deep questions of land, home, and belonging by artists Jérôme Havre, Cauleen Smith and Camille Turner — all in the same gallery space.”
Artists include: Joyce Wieland, David Hockney, Robert Davidson, Amanda Strong, Francisco de Goya, Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo, Marina Roy, Jérôme Havre, Cauleen Smith, Camille Turner, Ed Pien, and the Royal Art Lodge.
Whether evoking the spirit world, creating fictional tales, or reflecting on historical and current events, the featured artists vividly reflect on such themes as culture, community, memory, death, and identity in order to speak to the past, present, and future. Stories that animate us invites the public to reflect on the importance of storytelling in their lives.
Stories that animate us runs from June 22 to September 22, 2024. It is organized and circulated by the Vancouver Art Gallery under the Across the Province program and is curated by Diana Freundl, Senior Curator and Zoë Chan, former Assistant Curator. The presentation in Kelowna is proudly supported by Camille and David Saltman.
An event to celebrate the exhibition and recognize supporters is planned for July 19, 2024, from 6 to 8 pm. It is free and open to the public to attend.
The Kelowna Art Gallery is located at 1315 Water Street in downtown Kelowna, BC.
