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Kootenay Gallery of Art welcomes new curator, announces summer exhibits

Fletcher Quince becomes new curator, new exhibit features fibre arts
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Submitted by Kootenay Gallery of Art

A new fibre arts exhibit is opening at the Kootenay Gallery of Art on June 16.

The show celebrates the works of two extraordinary fibre artists, Theshini Naicker and Jane Kidd, which will be on display through the summer months in the East and West Galleries.

Layers of Connection by Theshini Naicker: Drawing on primitive wet felting techniques and a more contemporary use of a variety of plant and wool fibres, and inspired by nature and fuelled by imagination, Theshini Naicker’s body of work explores the concept of connection.

Physical manipulation, use of wood veneers and the incorporation of various textile techniques such as stitching, knotting, and shibori — a Japanese manual resist dyeing technique — are used to connect the various layers. As such, Naicker’s work seeks to explore the complex matrix of connection which underlies all life on this planet. However tenuous those connections may seem, embracing diversity and connection helps heal fractures and allows us to recognise our common humanity.

In the words of John Muir, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”

Nothing is Indifferent by Jane Kidd: This exhibition draws together a collection of hand-woven tapestries constructed over the last ten years. Jane Kidd employs colour, pattern and detail as an aesthetic cornerstone in her practice, using representational and symbolic imagery to encourage viewers to consider our complex and often destructive relationship with the natural environment. Nothing in the natural world is indifferent or immune to human activities. Kidd is interested in this intense relationship and is perplexed by the human desire to control our environment and assimilate nature into material culture. Kidd sees her works as a warning of environmental disaster and a call to pay attention and recognize our complicity in environment carelessness. She also offers the opportunity to celebrate the skill and value of the handmade object encouraging the viewer to look closely and pay attention.

All are warmly welcome to attend the opening reception for these two exhibits on Friday, June 16 from 5 - 7 p.m. The exhibits will be on display until Aug. 19. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information contact the gallery at 250-365-3337 or email kootenaygallery@telus.net.

READ MORE: Curbside organics collection rolling out this summer in Castlegar

New curator

The Kootenay Gallery of Art has also welcomed a new gallery curator, Fletcher Quince, who started his position in mid-May.

Quince hails from Rossland, where he has been actively involved in the arts community for a number of years, primarily as the operator of the 2000-sq.ft. Rossland Art Gallery at the Quonary. He is also a board member of the Rossland Arts Centre Society, where he chairs the building committee, as well as the Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society, and the Greater Trail Community Skills Centre, for which he serves as vice-president.

Fletcher brings years of experience as a curator and as an active promoter of art and artists to his new position as well as strong leadership skills in community development.

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Fletcher Quince is the new curator at the Kootenay Gallery of Art. Photo: Submitted