‘Sync or Swim’ explores the nature of water and inspires connection and conservation
~Connor Arsenault
The current show at the Revelstoke Visual Art Centre (RVAC) is a tribute to the ocean in all its power and beauty. Featuring the work of local artist Hayley Stewart and artist and collaborator Kris KUPS from Whistler, these pieces explore the multi-faceted nature of water.
The exhibit opened on Oct. 26 and will run until Nov. 19.
Featuring the bright colours and vibrant style of Hayley’s work, this show is inspired by the time that she spent in Mexico and her connection with the natural world.
Stewart and KUPS embraced the challenge of capturing this elusive medium on canvas, and both appear to have thrived and benefited from the collaborative nature of their artistic process for this exhibition.
When artistic frustration kicked in, Stewart and KUPS would trade off pieces and their styles proved to be complementary.
“He really mastered that spray, and I feel like I really stylized where the water’s translucent in the wave and made that part good… so he finished all my spray and I finished all that part of [a couple of] his paintings,” Stewart said of this dynamic when she spoke with the Review.
Stewart and KUPS look forward to continued collaboration and more exhibitions in Mexico and California.
Running alongside ‘Sync or Swim’ is the members’ show ‘Big and Bold.’ In this particular members’ show, all of the work on display has been contributed by artists local to Revelstoke, according to Taylor Sandell, RVAC programming director.
“The members’ shows are a really cool way for people to share their work if they’ve never done it before. It’s super approachable, it’s non-juried, you just have to have a membership and you bring your stuff in.”
The next members show is the winter art market.
“The whole gallery turns into a really big gift shop, basically,” Sandell said.
This opens on Nov. 30, and submissions are due Nov. 25. For anyone interested in putting their work in the winter art market, it’s possible to show up and do the whole process of getting a membership and submitting the work all at once.
Other exciting events to keep an eye out for are artist workshops as well as artist social events. Every Wednesday from Nov. 22 to Dec. 13 is a free drop-in art night for adults and teens where people can hang out and make art together between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. This is a bring-your-own-art supplies event and Sandell encourages people to bring a snack and a cup of tea as well.
Visiting the art gallery this month can be a great way to soak in the ocean vibes and get a splash of colour in your life before the winter season begins.
The gallery is open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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