The VISAC Gallery and Creative Arts Centre is excited to open their latest exhibit to the public on Thursday and it features a theme everyone can relate to — the colour blue.
The “Bring It On Home” exhibit explores the colour through different mediums, interpretations and subject matter, said executive director Laurie Merlo.
“We have blue interpreted through pottery, textiles, oil paintings, water colour paintings and it’s just a beautiful, beautiful show.”
Over 30 submissions from local and regional artists will be on display at the gallery from July 22 to August 19, with opening night this Thursday from 6-8 p.m.
Merlo is hoping to have a blues musician on hand to supplement the theme.
According to the news release, the “blue” culture is diverse, conveying importance and confidence, love, trust and stability. It also represents a musical and artistic genre that alludes to emotional extremes of sadness or phases of work, such as Picasso’s “Blue Period.”
A piece of the exhibit that stands out personally to Merlo is “Prussian Blue,” a painting by local artist and exhibit director Kevin Johnson.
“It’s a portrait study of two young twin girls and they’re staring right out at you,” Merlo said, at a loss for words to describe the piece that incorporates blues and yellows further. “It’s just stunning.”
Merlo gushed about all of the submissions, each unique in their own style and interpretation of the theme.
“There are just so many lovely things here. I’m just so pleasantly thrilled by the pieces here.”
The 2012 exhibition schedule is pending final approval, but Merlo said the public can expect to see local favorites as well as those from places like Nakusp, Invermere and Nelson.
The highlight though will be the exhibition on Trail, titled “A Golden Age of Childhood.”
That exhibit would see the gallery partner up with the Trail Historical Society and Museum, showcasing what it was like growing up in this area from the 1930’s to the 1960’s.
“We chose that (name) because of ‘golden’ referring to that age category of 50-plus and a subtle referral to the mining and resource industry that’s based here,” she explained.
“It just totally gives me goosebumps, it’s going to be wicked.”
Artwork will be available for purchase at the show, which opens Thursday at 6 p.m.