Island News & Views
General · 10th August 2007
Jeanette Taylor
Campbell River Art Gallery staff and volunteers invite you to join them for the opening for two exhibitions on August 17 at 7:00 pm. “Come out and meet the artists,” says Gallery director Jeanette Taylor. “It really adds to your enjoyment and understanding of the work to hear their perspective and opening remarks.”
The show opening in the main gallery, entitled Peripherally Yours, features large-scale oil paintings by former Quadra Islander Juanita Labine. Her canvasses are loaded with narrative and the colourful tales therein demand your attention and thought. Some have a mythic quality, with grotesque beings in a state of transmogrification. Others present a dreamlike state of fractured metaphors. No matter the means, Labine’s compelling paintings both intrigue and unsettle the viewer.
Each painting is a personal exploration of Labine’s life experiences and emotions, released through her meditation practice into an articulate new form. She also explores universal themes of political correctness, dependency, alienation and media sensationalism.
George Littlechild, who served as guest curator for this exhibition, is intrigued by the blend of high realism and an altered state in her paintings. “Unreal, imagined scenarios present themselves,” says Littlechild. “Imagine yourself at a fun house, carnival or local fair – in a place filled with absurdities, wished lives and good intentions.”
Juanita grew up in Ontario and has lived in Campbell River for over 25 years. Art has always been the ruling force in her life, inspired and encouraged by her mother and grandfather, both of whom were artists. Juanita also draws inspiration from the work of artists like Ivan Albright, Francis Bacon, Francisco Goya and contemporary Mexican artist Sergio Garvel.
An exhibition by Eliza Au of Richmond also opens on August 17. Au, who works in geometrically arranged ceramics, explores the relationship between art and infinity. According to Au, art is represented in the cycles of life, DNA patterns and mathematical forms. To reflect this affinity she creates small, repeated ceramic pieces, which she assembles into wreaths. The wreaths are set on the floor, where the viewer looks down into their flowerlike centers.
Au has an impressive background of professional training and exhibitions. She has studied art across North America, from Vancouver’s Emily Carr college to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, the University of Regina and the Rhode Island School of Design. She was recently featured as the artist in residence at the Contemporary Crafts Gallery in Oregon and has enrolled in a Masters in Fine Art program in New York.
“People will also enjoy the work of Campbell River artist Dawn Bencze,” says Gallery curator Manon Staiger. “Her watercolour paintings, on exhibition in our satellite cases, have tremendous depth and feeling.” Bencze was recently awarded acceptance into the Federation of Canadian Artists and her pieces have won several awards in juried exhibitions.
Peripherally Yours by Juanita Labine continues until Sept 21 and Wreath/Wreathe by Eliza Au continues until November 2. Bencze’s work remains on exhibition until September 10. The Gallery is open Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 5:00 p.m. through August and from 12:00 to 5:00, Monday to Saturday in September. Call 250-287-2261 or e-mail curatorcrartgallery.ca for more information on these exhibitions or the gallery’s upcoming fall classes and workshops. Campbell River Art Gallery is located in the center of town, in Tyee Plaza, at 1235 Shoppers Row.
The show opening in the main gallery, entitled Peripherally Yours, features large-scale oil paintings by former Quadra Islander Juanita Labine. Her canvasses are loaded with narrative and the colourful tales therein demand your attention and thought. Some have a mythic quality, with grotesque beings in a state of transmogrification. Others present a dreamlike state of fractured metaphors. No matter the means, Labine’s compelling paintings both intrigue and unsettle the viewer.
Each painting is a personal exploration of Labine’s life experiences and emotions, released through her meditation practice into an articulate new form. She also explores universal themes of political correctness, dependency, alienation and media sensationalism.
George Littlechild, who served as guest curator for this exhibition, is intrigued by the blend of high realism and an altered state in her paintings. “Unreal, imagined scenarios present themselves,” says Littlechild. “Imagine yourself at a fun house, carnival or local fair – in a place filled with absurdities, wished lives and good intentions.”
Juanita grew up in Ontario and has lived in Campbell River for over 25 years. Art has always been the ruling force in her life, inspired and encouraged by her mother and grandfather, both of whom were artists. Juanita also draws inspiration from the work of artists like Ivan Albright, Francis Bacon, Francisco Goya and contemporary Mexican artist Sergio Garvel.
An exhibition by Eliza Au of Richmond also opens on August 17. Au, who works in geometrically arranged ceramics, explores the relationship between art and infinity. According to Au, art is represented in the cycles of life, DNA patterns and mathematical forms. To reflect this affinity she creates small, repeated ceramic pieces, which she assembles into wreaths. The wreaths are set on the floor, where the viewer looks down into their flowerlike centers.
Au has an impressive background of professional training and exhibitions. She has studied art across North America, from Vancouver’s Emily Carr college to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, the University of Regina and the Rhode Island School of Design. She was recently featured as the artist in residence at the Contemporary Crafts Gallery in Oregon and has enrolled in a Masters in Fine Art program in New York.
“People will also enjoy the work of Campbell River artist Dawn Bencze,” says Gallery curator Manon Staiger. “Her watercolour paintings, on exhibition in our satellite cases, have tremendous depth and feeling.” Bencze was recently awarded acceptance into the Federation of Canadian Artists and her pieces have won several awards in juried exhibitions.
Peripherally Yours by Juanita Labine continues until Sept 21 and Wreath/Wreathe by Eliza Au continues until November 2. Bencze’s work remains on exhibition until September 10. The Gallery is open Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 5:00 p.m. through August and from 12:00 to 5:00, Monday to Saturday in September. Call 250-287-2261 or e-mail curatorcrartgallery.ca for more information on these exhibitions or the gallery’s upcoming fall classes and workshops. Campbell River Art Gallery is located in the center of town, in Tyee Plaza, at 1235 Shoppers Row.