The Reach is set to launch a striking, colourful new season of exhibitions on Thursday, May 24, 2018, at 7 pm at 32388 Veterans Way. The opening reception is free to the public and guests are invited to meet the artists, connect with our arts community, and enjoy appies.
Rebecca Chaperon, Snake Lake, 2017, acrylic on canvas, 72 x 54 in. Image courtesy of the artist.
Tales Untold takes visitors on a journey into the imaginations of artists and writers alike. Works of art by Rebecca Chaperon (Vancouver, BC), Davida Kidd (Langley, BC), and Chris Reid (Brandon, MB) are presented alongside new works of poetry and prose created specifically for the exhibition by acclaimed BC writers Susan Musgrave, Zsuzsi Gartner, Erika Thorkelson, and Chelsea Rooney. The authors, who were commissioned to respond to the visual artists, also assisted in the selection of the works of art included in the exhibition. The resulting project turns the galleries into an immersive experience recalling enigmatic dreamscapes and eerie childhood memories. Tales Untold toys with the relationship between image and text, and draws out themes that will challenge audiences to consider the roles that fact and fiction play in our lives.
In Procession, Saskia Jetten (Hatzic, BC) presents new work exploring the themes of masks and masquerade, and the many ways that we present ourselves to the world, ourselves, and others. Jetten’s practice is rooted in print-based processes, and strategies of repetition come through in stop-motion animation, soft sculpture, and more traditional formats, to expand the possibilities of print as a medium.
Curated by Aboriginal Curatorial Intern, Andrea Pepper, Of The Standard of Taste considers the aesthetics of kitsch and the role that online platforms such as Instagram and Etsy play in the critical reception of contemporary art. Artists Andrea Hooge and Kathleen McGiveron’s use media like ceramic and scratchboards to create works that visually resemble childhood narratives, presenting a menagerie of unusual creatures that are sweetly unnerving.
“I think this season of exhibitions will have broad appeal,” says Laura Schneider, Executive Director of The Reach, “the projects all have a narrative quality and a kind of aesthetic familiarity that will draw people in. With that said, I think that the audience will be challenged by the sophistication and range of ideas that these artists are presenting in their work. There’s an alluring darkness in each of the exhibitions that might come as a surprise.”
Chris Reid, Eggs(many), 2006-2014, egg dye, wax, eggs. Image courtesy of the artist.
The exhibitions will be complemented by two unique programs designed to allow visitors to get to know the artists better. On a Friday, May 25, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, Tales Untold artist Chris Reid will lead an After/Work/Shop. This distinctive twist on the “paint night” trend has participants snack, sip refreshing beverages, and create creepy-comical pysanky eggs like those exhibited in the Tales Untold exhibition. Fee: $20 Reach Friend; $25 Future Friend. Must be 19 years of age to register. Then on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at 10:30 am, the popular Brunch with the Artists is back! Enjoy a delicious brunch and casual conversation with artists, followed by a tour of their exhibitions. This popular event always sells out, so purchase your tickets soon. Advance tickets only, available by pre-registration at $20pp Reach Friend or $25 for Future Friend. Go to www.thereach.ca
This Spring/Summer season of exhibitions that opens on May 24 at The Reach will be on view until September 2, 2018. General admission to The Reach is always free. For more details on the exhibitions and more exhibiting public programs, visit the reach.ca or drop by The Reach at 32388 Veterans Way.
Media contact for exhibitions:
Laura Schneider, Executive Director & Curator, The Reach
Email: lschneider@thereach.ca
T: 604-864-8087 x125