Vernon Public Art Gallery Kicks Off the New Year with Four Exciting Exhibitions
The Vernon Public Art Gallery Kicks Off the New Year with Four Exciting Exhibitions.
On from January 11th – March 5th 2024, the VPAG opens four new exhibitions featuring
internationally exhibiting artists to emerging MFA students. In the Topham Brown Memorial Gallery is Tammy Salzl’s exhibition titled Beautiful Parasites.
Salzl’s exhibition is a multi-media installation consisting of paintings, sculptural objects, video, and sound composed by Canadian composer Greg Mulyk. Salzl’s artwork is quite overtly surrealistic and ambiguous in meaning.
The subject matter is multilayered and often based on various cultures’ fables, fairy tales, and myths, while incorporating Salzl’s autobiographical references and parallel interpretations of appropriated narratives and imagery. Salzl’s work is influenced by surrealist art resulting in dreamlike scenes populated by real and imagined creatures.
“I am pleased to welcome the exhibition by Edmonton based artist and educator (University of Alberta) Tammy Salzl titled Beautiful Parasites as our opening exhibition for 2024. Salzl is an internationally exhibiting artist with a focus on multimedia works that include painting, drawing, sculpture, video, and film. We want to welcome everyone to attend the opening reception on January 11th or come to the VPAG see the new exhibitions on from Jan 11th – March 5th.” – Dauna Kennedy, Executive Director of the Vernon Public Art Gallery.
In the Caroline Galbraith Gallery: Laurence Belzile’s exhibition titled Through the Gardens features colorful abstract paintings with both softness and forcefulness. Born in Gaspésie, Quebec, Laurence Belzile now lives and works in Vancouver, BC. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University with a major in painting and drawing, and a Master of Fine Arts from Laval University.
In the Community Gallery, a Painting exhibition by MFA candidates at UBCO, Jessie Emilie
Schmode and Troy Teichrib exhibit current artworks with a focus on figuration and urban
graphic abstraction.
With a goal of encouraging intercultural understanding and to build community connections, Voices of Vernon, the exhibition supported by the B.C. Anti-Racism and Multiculturalism grant saw local organizations work with School District 22 to hold conversations by selected local storytellers and allowed students and educators to identify and take action against discrimination and racism. A collaborative storyboard done in response to the stories told through the program will be on display in the Up-Front Gallery at the VPAG.
An Opening Reception will take place on Jan. 11 from 6-8 PM at the Vernon Public Art Gallery. The VPAG invites the community to attend this reception to celebrate the four new exhibitions, along with welcoming the exhibiting artists who will be in attendance and will give a short talk about their work. Light bites and drinks will be served and entry is by donation.
