CURRENT EXHIBITION
KATHY TRAEGER, Bird on the Street
Bird On The Street is Kathy Traeger’s interpretation of a day in the life of the infamous crow as they mischievously visit a few places in Vancouver.
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
PAST EXHIBITIONS
MAGDALENA JOHNSON, Home
The inspiration of BC artist Magdalena Johnson comes fromtime spent growing up along the Morth Pacific shores, with each location holding deep memory.
JAMES POSTILL, Introspection
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON STURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
`My new work represents a transition to the depiction of sumptuous homes, which have proven to be a rich source of visual inspiration. At the same time, I pay tribute to another touchstone: water. The resulting body of work though dichotomous, is unified by a search to express truth and emotion, and to invite the viewer to step inside my world and look around.` James Postill
FELICE MAZZONI
OPENING RECEPTION IS ON STURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th, from 2 to 4 pm. ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE.
Felice Mazzoni was born in Tofino, British Columbia. Having grown up both next to the sea and in close proximity to the Pacific Rim National Park, Felice has always been fascinated by recreating the breathtaking beauty of the west coast.
ROTATING GROUP EXHIBITIONS BY GALLERY ARTISTS
We are excited to present the collection of new works by our gallery artsits. The selection is vibrant and sun-sational, just like summertime in beautiful British Columbia!
GINA SARRO, As Our Story Unfolds
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 1st, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
Immerse yourself in the vast landscapes of artist Gina Sarro where Gina captures a tranquil distant vista with her distinct technique, painting skies, earth and water evoking a sense of flatness and depth.
E. ANDREA KLANN, Rarae Aves & Other Marvellous Creatures
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, MAY 4th, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
Andrea Klann’s work fuses realism with the imagined; invented figures, symbolic narration and unexpected fragments comprise interiors, landscapes and figurative paintings in oil.
SPRING GROUP EXHIBITION OF NEW WORKS BY GALLERY ARTISTS
The season of new growth and transformation has arrived, and we are celebrating it with the variety of new stunning works in the Group Exhibition.
SANDRA HARRIS, Sea to Sky
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 2nd, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
The subject matter of Sandra Harris's paintings primarily deals with western Canada’s natural landscapes. Created with acrylic paints on canvas, the artist works from imagery she has collected herself of places that she has physically experienced via sea kayaking or on foot. Thus, the goal of Sandra's work is to relate the vibrancy of these landscapes to the viewer.
JANE BRONSCH, New Works
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
`In today’s world, obsessed with speed and mass production, creating a hand made, one-of-a-kind visual form is my mission. When people say that my painting calms them down or takes them somewhere, there is no bigger compliment. The purpose of art is to take you away from what your swirling thoughts were a second ago, on a quick journey into an artist’s world of the imaginary. The process of creating an artwork is an incredible and fascinating ride we artists are forever thankful to have the potential to perform.` Jane Bronsch
HOLIDAY SEASON GROUP SHOW BY GALLERY ARTISTS
JAMES WIENS, New Works
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
CHRIS CHARLEBOIS, Second Glance
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21st, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
ARTIST TALK: 2:30 PM
This group of oil paintings is an exploration of perception and feeling. Of cause and effect.
Built upon the familiar, a transformation occurs. The energized surface reveals a movement- a life- a connection. It becomes more than the nature based imagery. The painting is a translation from inspiration to a complete expression.
It is the process where thought and action are traded that allows the true vision. A second glance might confirm, what is actually seen.
BEATRIX SYJUCO, Once Upon A Mind
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, SEPTMBER 30TH, FROM 2 TO 4 PM. LIVE PERFORMANCE BY BEATRIX SYJUCO IS AT 2:30 PM.
ONCE UPON A MIND features visual and performance artist, Beatrix Syjuco’s latest forays into the realm of abstraction. In it, her non-figurative paintings continue to blur the lines between what is palpable and illusory, what can be seen and what can be intuited, from the world around us.
GROUP EXHIBITION BY GALLERY ARTISTS
Great time to view a mix of new works by Gallery Artists.
MAGDALENA JOHNSON, New Works
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 3rd, FROM 2 TO 4 PM
Magda’s inspiration comes from time spent growing up along the North Pacific shores, with each location holding a deep memory. While neutral and monochrome palettes have predominated her earlier work, her most recent paintings have depicted an emergence of brighter colours.
GROUP EXHIBITION BY GALLERY ARTISTS
EXCITING COLLECTION OF NEW WORKS BY GALLERY ARTISTS
STEPHANIE TAYLOR, New Works
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURADY, MAY 6, FROM 2 TO 4 PM
Relentlessly creative, Taylor`s work moves between abstraction and impressionism, incorporating elements of representational detail in order to convey the fleeting emotive experience in nature while anchoring the viewer in a specific environment. The light is a common focus in many of her pieces. Paintings are constructed in layers often with vivid underpaintings that infuse the landscape with an elemental glow.
KATHY TRAEGER, Eclectic
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, APRIL 1st, FROM 2 TO 4 PM
Traeger does`t lean towards traditional landscapes or subject matter. She loves to bring a hyper realist style into her work. Inspiration is pulled from urban landscapes, old buildings, weathered signage, anything that is iconic, eclectic or rusty. There are stories in all of these forgotten treasures just waiting to be unleashed in a painting.
VALERIE RAYNARD, Rail Lines
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
Rail Lines is a series of paintings exploring the railway lines of interior B.C. and their visual interactions with the surrounding landscapes. Engaging with the North American historical tradition of railway painting and photography, these works use deep perspective to draw the eye along the rail lines as they wind through the terrain. Built in the 19th century, the railways symbolize both human innovation and progress as well as the industrial domination of nature and colonialism; these paintings present the complex interplay within this dichotomy.
To gather material for the work, Valerie spent time exploring the railway from Vancouver to the Rockies via the Thompson River Valley. This experience and the subsequent painting process brought to Valerie’s artistic practice a clear purpose of reconnecting to the land and its history for spiritual nourishment.
20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATORY EXHIBITION!
We are thrilled to celebrate the milestone in Kurbatoff Gallery's history with the newest works created specifically for the occasion!
OPENING RECEPTION IS ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
2:30 PM - Special performance by BEATRIX SYJUCO.
JANE BRONSCH, New Works
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, FROM 2 TO 4 PM
'With my life-long passion for visual arts I have never been too appreciative of talk around it. I am a believer in an non-expert eye. Nothing can teach you to admire, dislike or remain indifferent to what you see. Some history around the piece or the artist could be entertaining at times, but will not help your soul feeling touched by it.
Your eye stopped and the process has begun. The slight impulse pulled out of your memory a similar scene, familiar warmth, a momentary emotion, and you are reliving it again.
That is all I am hoping for. Enjoy if you do. I certainly had while working on it.' Jane Bronsch
SANDRA HARRIS, "Westcoast Wanderlust"
OPENING RECEPTION IS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, FROM 2 TO 4 PM
The subject matter of Sandra Harris's paintings primarily deals with western Canada`s natural landscapes. Created with acrylic paints on canvas, she works from imagery she has collected herself of places that she has physically experienced via sea kayaking or on foot. Thus, the goal of her work is to relate the vibrancy of these landscapes to the viewer.
JAMES POSTILL, Through the Glass
OPENING RECEPTION IS ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, FROM 2 TO 4 PM
“Through the Glass” is a series of paintings inspired by a rainy weekend in Vancouver.
The fluidic distortion of reality, as always, remains an ongoing source of inspiration, as the artist continues to chase the poetry of rain on a windshield.
James Postill’s new series of large-scale, and at times semi-abstract paintings, depict actual locations in Vancouver.
They are said to give feelings of comfort and nostalgia, while at the same time, celebrate color and form for its own sake.
Rotating Summertime Group Exhibitions by Gallery Artists
During this beautiful time of the year Kurbatoff Gallery is pleased to exhibit variety of works by our talented Canadian aritsts.
SOLO EXHIBITION BY MARLEEN VERMEULEN, "Entanglement"
`The beauty of the landscape contains a narrative… I listen and I am heard.
It is the starting point of my conversation with Nature as I experience it living here, on the Pacific West Coast.
Nature equals grandness for me, a spiritual place. I appreciate the raw, unorganized chaos….the renewal, the growth. The Rhythm of the ocean, the turbulence and Eternity.
My intention is to capture the beauty, the expanse, the moment and the feeling that the landscape gives me- so I can share the experience with others. On the canvas I translate this intent by creating space, light and textures, using my skills. Painting is a merger in between losing myself in the flow of it whilst maintaining an awareness of shaping the image.`
ANDREA KLANN, "The Unexpected"
Andrea Klann’s work fuses realism with the imagined; invented figures, symbolic narration and unexpected fragments comprise her oil-based interiors, landscapes and figurative paintings in oil.
Group Exhibition of New Works by Gallery Artists
Spring is in the air, and we are receiveing numerous new paintings by our gallery artists. Stop by to view the exciting selection!
JAMES WIENS, `Consider a Flower`
“Consider a flower, it does not work or worry. It blooms and enjoys the sun for a couple of weeks and then quickly wilts and dies, then comes again! It exists to look beautiful and to bring you to anyone who cares to take it in. Who has hours to study its beauty, its incredible intricacy?We are busy, distracted people. Take a minute and meditate on one flower.
Do it! Calm yourself.
Life is good - we are going to be ok!” James Wiens
"Deck the Walls" Holiday Season Group Exhibition of New Works by Gallery Artists
'It's the most wonderful time of the year' and we are inviting you to the most exciting Group Exhibition of New Works by Gallery Artists!
Perfect time to choose the perfect piece to enjoy with your loved ones for years to come.
Group Show of New Works by Gallery Artists
Exciting selection of New Works by Gallery Artists
BEATRIX SYJUCO, "Heard Yesterday`s Voices"
'I aim to give form to the things we feel but cannot see — the emotional, subliminal, incorporeal truths that make existence rich and meaningful. I rely heavily on my instincts and work without rules and formulaic methods to bring intangible intricacies to life, creating a dialogue between what is palpable and what is illusory, what can be seen and what can be intuited. My process has always been more subtractive than additive for me. Abstraction liberates my soul, and that can be such a powerful thing.' Beatrix Syjuco.
GINA SARRO, "Places We Share"
“Although we are all on our own journey, we share many life experiences. In my recent body of work, ‘Places We Share’, I paint vast, serene landscapes focussing on simplicity and calm while simultaneously searching for how to document our shared life moments. My intention is to offer a landscape sanctuary where realism is intertwined with abstraction offering a reprieve from the overwhelming world events and unknowns that we are all experiencing while living during the pandemic. Through a distinct technique, skies, mountains, water, and trees evoke both flatness and depth. I use both a brush and a knife partly to diminish, and partly to layer the paint itself while balancing strong compositional horizontals with rhythmic vertical gestures.' Gina Sarro.
WILL RAFUSE, `Yesterday`
`I paint images that evoke strong memories of “yesterday.” These places are slowly being erased from our landscape and I want to keep them alive by representing them through my work on canvas.`
INSPIRED BY BRITISH COLUMBIA, Group Exhibition of New Works
Inspired by the beauty of British Columbia, we are delighted to present a range of new works by our gallery artists in this Summer Group Exhibition. Incredible variety of works range in styles but what connects them all is the place we are blessd to live in - British Columbia.
Currently on dislpay:
new paintings by Jane Bronsch, Marie-France Boisvert, Chris Charlebois, Sandra Harris, Andrea Klann, Soizick Meister, Monica Morrill, James Postill, Will Rafuse, Gina Sarro, Beatrxi Syjuco, Kathy traeger, Marleen vermeulen, James Wiens, Andy Wooldridge, Ann Zielinski;
new photography by David Ellingsen;
sculpture by Andrew Benyei, Stephen Booth, Renhard Skoracki and Trinita Waller.
SUMMER GROUP EXHIBITIONS OF NEW WORKS BY GALLERY ARTISTS
With summertime we celebrate positive changes and welcome joy and beautiful colours. It is an exciting time as we welcome new BC artists to our gallery roster: SANDRA HARRIS, MONICA MORRILL, JAMES POSTILL and GINA SARRO.
Watch for many new works including paintings by Donna Baspaly, Marie-France Boisvert, Jane Bronsch, Chris Charlebois, Kathy Traeger, James Wiens, and more! New photography by David Ellingsen and Greg Geipel.
E. Andrea Klann, "Carousel of Dreams"
Work by Vancouver artist E. Andrea Klann fuses realism with the imagined; invented figures, symbolic narration and unexpected fragments comprise her interiors, landscapes and figurative works, created in oil on canvas.
Her compositions have a theatrical and storytelling context as she explores concepts of identity, memory, and the temporal, with the intention to invent works that evoke an emotional response. Frequent visual metaphors include illumination and doorways; reflective surfaces such as the refracted crystal prisms (jewels of light) of the chandelier, open doorways leading to unknown spaces infer unexplored territory.
An advocate of creative self-expression and ‘opening the door to imagination', Klann has taught visual art at Emily Carr University of Art + Design and leads workshops in Cultivating Creativity. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, she completed art studies at Emily Carr University of Art + Design and in London, England, however considers herself primarily self-taught.
Artist Spotlight: GREGORY GEIPEL
"Still Vancouver"
Still Vancouver captures the quiet resilience of a city that refuses to disappear in an increasingly planned cityscape.
As the face of Vancouver evolves, few structures have managed to withstand the change. The ones that do occupy a unique presence in the public subconscious: they are mainstays of the Vancouver experience, yet at the same time taken for granted—forgotten in their quiet, unassuming resilience. Still Vancouver captures the seemingly relentless inertia of a structural past that has remained timeless and refuses to be forgotten. Yet, as these buildings seem to defy the gravitational pull of modernity, one can’t help but wonder, for how long?
VALERIE RAYNARD
Vancouver artist Valerie Raynard’s new series of paintings reflect an evolution in her artistic practice towards a more patient, considered creative process. Gathering photographic material for her paintings of B.C.’s industrial landscapes involves a lot of time location-hunting, finding the right vantage points, and waiting, often for hours, for the perfect light. In these moments of waiting there is a stillness, where time slows and she is forced to be present. Later, when painting in the studio, she is re-immersed in the light, sounds, and smells of this stillness, and the paintings crystallize the moment.
This exhibition was created during the artist’s first pregnancy, in which she is also waiting for the light – a new life, and a new way of life. Making these paintings has allowed her to take a breath and be present in this moment before everything changes.
GROUP SHOW BY GALLERY ARTISTS
"Living in Colour"
We agree with David Hockney who said “I prefer living in colour”. In the world of inevitable and irreversible changes, the longing for the presence of beauty in our lives is only natural. As we are all formed by a composite of experiences, associations and cultures, our colour perception is as unique as any original work at Kurbatoff Gallery. We are presenting to you the incredible spectrum of vibrant colours in this spectacular group exhibition by our talented Canadian artists.
HOLIDAY SEASON GROUP SHOW OF NEW WORKS BY GALLERY ARTISTS
We believe that if there is space for art in your hearts, the world is still full of hope, beauty and joy. During this special time of the year we will be bringing for you a stunning selection of new works by our outstanding gallery artists.
We keep receiving new works, so please keep checking it out on our website and in real life at the gallery.
JAMES WIENS
In a world of ever-widening fissures between people and the way we view the world, BC artist James Wiens has decided that painting for beauty’s sake is justified and in fact, necessary. Beauty in people, beauty in the objects that they create, and beauty in the natural world around us is enough to inspire many lifetimes worth of artwork
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: KATHY TRAEGER
Traeger doesn`t lean towards traditional landscapes or subject matter. She loves to bring a hyper realist style into her work. Inspiration is pulled from urban landscapes, old buildings, weathered signage, anything that is iconic, eclectic or rusty. There are stories in all of these forgotten treasures just waiting to be unleashed in a painting.
DAVID WILSON, "Close to Home"
The practice of Vancouver artist David Wilson focuses primarily upon the process of utilizing light, colour and composition to create cityscapes that reflect the pulsing, thriving energy found within the urban landscape. Over the past 20 years David's work has been collected both nationally and internationally via an extensive exhibition history of both solo and group exhibitions.
JANE BRONSCH, “Stop and Feel”
'The process of applying skins of colour to suggest space where there was flatness, and light where there was darkness, is itself an intellectual endeavor' - Bryan Rutenberg, artist.
'In today’s world, obsessed with speed and mass production, creating a hand made, one-of-a-kind visual form is my mission. When people say that my painting calms them down or takes them somewhere, there is no bigger compliment. The purpose of art is to take you away from what your swirling thoughts were a second ago, on a quick journey into an artist’s world of the imaginary. The process of creating an artwork is an incredible and fascinating ride we artists are forever thankful to have the potential to perform.' Jane Bronsch
Group Exhibition of New Works by Gallery Artists
Recently we have been receiving an overwhelming amount of new works by our outstanding artists. Through most of July and August we will present rotating exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and photography by gallery artists. Looking forward to summertime!
Group Show of New Works by Gallery Artists
We can not be happier to announce the news of reopening the Gallery door for public under the safety protocol.
During the time of the pandemic, we continued to work hard to support and promote our outstanding artists. Our artists kept creating in self isolation, and new works have been streaming to the gallery.
More than that, we welcomed two new Vancouver artists to our Gallery's roster: DAVID WILSON and KATHY TRAEGER.
We invite you to visit us and enjoy a variety of new paintings by JANE BRONSCH, MARIE-FRANCE BOISVERT, EUNMI CONACHER, SOIZICK MEISTER, WILL RAFUSE, VALERIE RAYNARD, BEATRIX SYJUCO, KATHY TRAEGER, MARLEEN VERMEULEN, JAMES WIENS, DAVID WILSON, ANN ZIELINSKI. New photography by GREGORY GEIPEL AND DAVID ELLINGSEN.
Canadian Business Awards 2020
Celebratory Group Exhibition, "Milestones"
We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded BEST COMMERCIAL GALLERY OF THE YEAR - VANCOUVER by the esteemed Canadian Business Awards.
The winners are decided by a combination of votes gathered from Corporate Vision Magazine's network of respected industry partners and their own rigorous in-house research, which is conducted by the dedicated industry insiders and specialists. Each award is carefully scrutinized -- from a nominee's region to their performance over the past 12 months, their commitment to innovation, their methods, and even their direct competition, to ensure that only the most deserving firms walk away with one of these prestigious trophies.
Please join us in celebrating this great honor by attending our upcoming CELEBRATORY EXHIBITION on Saturday, March 7th, 2-4 PM, which will showcase diverse new works by our gallery artists, as well as feature a special surprise - LIVE Performance Art piece by our very own Beatrix Syjuco. Some of our Gallery Artists will be in attendance.
VALERIE RAYNARD, "Harbour"
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY,
FEBRUARY 1st, 2020, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
In this series of paintings, Valerie Raynard portrays a quieter moment in the life of the coastal industry of B.C., when the work of resource extraction and transportation has ended for the day, and the sun is setting. It is a calm, glowing moment when the machines are quiet, the water is glassy, and the lights of ships and terminals have been illuminated.
In the stillness of this moment, the visual interplay of engineered geometric structures with the living, ever-changing rhythms of the sea, the mountains and the sky creates a unique language of shapes and colours. The artist aims to capture the form of this ephemeral language through painting, so that something can be gleaned of its meaning.
Group Exhibition of New Works by Gallery Artists
The best selection of new works. We are presenting an exciting mix of fine art, photography and sculpture by our gallery artists.
HOLIDAY SEASON GROUP SHOW BY GALLERY ARTISTS
OPENING RECEPTION IS ON SATURDAY,
DECEMBER 7th FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
Meet our B.C. artists
For the best time of the year - the best selection of new works. We are presenting a mix of fine art, photography and sculpture by our outstanding talented Canadian artists. Indulge yourself and your loved ones with a meaningful gift you will cherish for years to come.
JAMES WIENS
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE ~
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16th, FROM 2 TO 4 PM
Artist Talk: 2:30 pm
The title 'Beauty is Enough' came from years of reflecting on why we do art at all. In a world of ever-widening fissures between people and the way we view the world, James has decided that painting for beauty's sake is justified and in fact, necessary. Beauty in people, beauty in the objects that they create, and beauty in the natural world around us is enough to inspire many lifetimes worth of artwork! It encourages us, it brings us hope, it helps us to cherish the good in and around us and leaves us with a smile on our faces. James' goal with these images is for you to view, enjoy, and indulge in them and when you leave, to feel better than when you came in.
ANDY WOOLDRIDGE
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26th, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
'I treat my canvas like a stage set, with simplified shapes and forms, deliberately placed to produce an artificial landscape. I try to convey the feeling we have when watching the curtain rise in a darkened theatre auditorium, when, for that brief moment, we suspend disbelief and allow ourselves to be transported into an alternative reality.'
SOUTH GRANVILLE GALLERIES HOP!
October 19, 2019, from 10 to 5 pm
Please join us for this special day in Vancouver’s Gallery Row!
Kurbatoff Gallery presents Group Exhibition of New Works by Gallery Artists. It is a thoroughly selected, exciting and energetic mix of paintings, sculpture and photography. The selection will include some new works to promote upcoming Solo Exhibitions by BC painters ANDY WOOLDRIDGE and JAMES WIENS, along with new paintings by Marie-France Boisvert, Jane Bronsch, Chris Charlebois, Valerie Raynard, Jeff Sylvester, Beatrix Syjuco, Marleen Vermeulen, as well as sculpture by Reinhard Skoracki, and more! Kurbatoff Gallery welcomes an established Canadian artist to its gallery roster, WILL RAFUSE. Some of his new works will be included in this group exhibition.
October 19th schedule:
11:30 to 1:30 pm - Meet our BC gallery artists
1:30 pm - Artist Talk. BC artist JAMES WIENS will talk about his upcoming Solo Exhibition at Kurbatoff Gallery.
2 pm to 4 pm - Reception. Meet some of our BC artists.
Marie-France Boisvert, "Random"
Opening Reception with the artist in attendance is
on Saturday, September 28th, from 2 to 4 pm.
Artist Talk: 2:30 pm
'Random' is a pictorial exhibition inviting the visitor to live an immersive experience on resilience. The theme stands out in a sometimes uncertain, indefinite and vague universe, but often suggests a gathering place. Like a poetry, the thematic framework reflects on the individual and his relationship to the world. These enigmatic spaces and places in which the characters evolve transcend a different reality, renewed in each of the works presented. Without seeking to create doubt or uncertainty, this corpus of works offers rather a reading on the acceptance and adaptation of man as individual entering in relation with different elements of its environment.
David Ellingsen and Dolf Vermeulen
"Elemental Aura"
Opening Reception with the artists in attendance is on Saturday,
April 6, from 2 to 4 pm
Artists Talk: 2:30 pm
'Elemental Aura' brings together two photographic artists whose work connects strongly to land and place.
David Ellingsen’s photographs speak to the relationship between humans and the natural world. A restless artist, Ellingsen maintains a varied practice of which intersections form the foundation – intersections of observer and participant, documentary photography and contemporary art, archivist and surrealist. His work lives within the sphere of advocacy and activism, supporting photography’s dominant role in these areas. The large-scale works in this exhibition are selected from several of his projects.
Dolf Vermeulen’s images reveal close observation of the landscape and his practice is rooted in kinship with these environments. His process focuses on translation of these elemental, natural spaces into prints that radiate a deep connection between mankind and the earth. Vermeulen’s exhilarating vistas recall this connection at a most crucial time and endeavour to inspire viewers to slow down, protect our wilderness, and look forward to the unknown.
VALERIE RAYNARD "Life is More Glorious Than
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, FROM 2 TO 4 PM
Artist Talk: 2:30 pm.
'Life is More Glorious than Photographs' addresses the notion that photography is the most “true” representation of three-dimensional space in two dimensions. In this series of paintings, Valerie Raynard continues to explore scenes of her beloved West Coast, using photography to inform the work while seeking to enrich the visual experience with dimensions of memory and emotion far beyond what a photographic lens can achieve. Using broader perspectives, strong foregrounds, and powerful colours, the paintings create intense, immersive encounters with these familiar landscapes.
The title of the exhibition comes from the artist David Hockney, who has said that photographs homogenize space and thus discourage 'active looking'.
HOLIDAY SEASON GROUP SHOW OF NEW WORKS BY GALLERY ARTISTS
OPENING RECEPTION WITH SOME OF OUR ARTISTS IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15th, FROM 2 TO 4 PM.
We are celebrating this Holiday Season with an exciting variety of the newest works by our outstanding gallery artists. It is a perfect time to enjoy the range of styles and techniques, from realism and figurative works to impressionism and abstraction.
New paintings by Andrew Benyei, Marie-France Boisvert, Jane Bronsch, Chris Charlebois, JG Freedman, E. Andrea Klann, Kim La Fave, Chris Langstroth, Soizick Meister, Pim Sekeris, Beatrix Syjuco, Marleen Vermeulen, James Wiens, Andy Wooldridge.
Photography by David Ellingsen and Dolf Vermeulen. New sculpture by Reinhard Skoracki, Trinita Waller, Andrew Benyei.
JANE BRONSCH, "New Works"
OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE ARTIST IN ATTENDANCE IS ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17th, FROM 2 TO 4 PM
A Vancouver-based artist, Jane Bronsch holds Masters Degree in Fine Art. She has been successfully exhibiting her work nationally and has her paintings in many private and corporate collections.
'With my life-long passion for visual arts I have never been too appreciative of talk around it. I am a believer in an non-expert eye. Nothing can teach you to admire, dislike or remain indifferent to what you see. Some history around the piece or the artist could be entertaining at times, but will not help your soul feeling touched by it.
Your eye stopped and the process has begun. The slight impulse pulled out of your memory a similar scene, familiar warmth, a momentary emotion, and you are reliving it again.
That is all I am hoping for. Enjoy if you do. I certainly had while working on it.' Jane Bronsch
REINHARD SKORACKI
"The Taught Ignorance"
Reinhard Skoracki was born in Germany in 1942 and immigrated to Canada in the early 1990s. He studied at the Alberta College of Art And Design and received his BFA from the University of Calgary in 1997.
Reinhard Skoracki exhibits nationally and internationally including the 2015 'NordArt' (Germany), the largest exhibition of contemporary art in Europe, the Toyamura International Sculpture Biennale, the Museum of Fine Arts in Ostrava, Czech Republic, the WG Kunst in Amsterdam, the Liu Haisu Art Museum, Shanghai, China.
His work has been published in 'New Art International' (Book Art Press, NY, 1998), 'Artful Jesters' ( Nicholas Roukes, 2003), 'The Sculpture Reference Illustrated' (Arthur Williams, 2005), among many other publications.
Reinhard has completed numerous large scale commissions in recent years, including an outdoor donor recognition piece for the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation in Edmonton, Alberta, a 17-foot tall outdoor sculpture of the University of Calgary, Alberta, and two multi-media installations for the Alberta Investment Management Corporation in Edmonton, Alberta.
'De Docta Ignorantia' is also the title of the philosopher Nikolaus von Kues' main work which translates to 'The Taught Lesson of Ignorance', which is a paradox in itself. Relating to my sculptures where many questions are asked but not answered with the underlying provocative thesis that true knowledge abides in the consciousness of ignorance. As Socrates already said:
'I know that I don’t know'. And Karl Popper added: 'And not even that!'.
Art can offer great visual pleasure, combining qualities from reality and imagination, criticism, and humor. The artist decides to reform reality from his personal point of view, portraying dreams and conflicts of today's life and culture; an investigation into the human condition as an individual and in larger social structures'.
Reinhard Skoracki