Beth Howe  Zoe Kreye  Tiziana La Melia  Holly Ward  
Cloth Tone: Larissa Beringer  Lindsay Lorraine

Opening Reception: Thursday Oct. 3rd, 6-8pm


This exhibition brings together five artists from British Columbia to explore the tacit emotional and experiential resonance that is uncovered through the active labor of material production and bodily awareness. Through the manipulation and engagement with varying soft mediums, these works create a visual language that challenges a pervasive, passive relationship to contemporary material culture. By revealing a sensitivity to the inherent value of bodily experience, tactility, and form - a certain vibrancy calls attention to these artists’ relationship to process and labor, well-being, the environment and body.
Exhibition continues through to November 17, 2019

David Wilson    Barb Marchand     Mariel Belanger    Sheldon Louis    
August 16th to September 29th
Opening Reception: Thursday, August 15th 6-8pm

Atklokem: A collaboration of contemporary Syilx Art brought together by Okanagan Artist David Wilson: featuring the work of Barb Marchand, Mariel Belanger, Sheldon Louis, and the Okanagan Indian Band Youth Group for this Indigenous-focused exhibition that will encompass painting, mixed media, sculpture, and performance. The exhibition runs August 16 – September 29. 

• Atklokem is an Anglicized version of the Syilx word that describes the area of Winfield. The ward of Winfield sits in the heart of Lake Country, nestles between Wood Lake to  the east and Okanagan Lake to the west

David Wilson
Early in my career, I learned through teachings and mentorship of Coast Salish and Haida artists and later began an exploration of West Coast and Plains First Nations’ art forms, with further studies in business at Vancouver’s Langara College. My style of painting has developed through exploring Interior Salish pictograph art forms, combining vibrant colours and linear forms within a circular picture format. 

The creative process happens through discussion and collaborative dialogue with viewers: artistic style, techniques, interpretations and exchanging stories or expressive ideas. Exhibitions are the most ideal times to engage with others, to listen and explore artistic expression.


Barb Marchand
As a respected artist and elder, Barb Marchand had long had an interest in the history of her ancestors, their traditional language and the legends which connected her to the landscape and its inhabitants. This has led her to immerse herself in the study of the traditional Syilx language in an effort to gain a better understanding of the stories and history of the Okanagan First Nations people and in doing so, also her own history. 


Mariel Belanger
Mariel Belanger is dedicated to contributing in the growth of interdisciplinary arts as a method to engage Indigenous community, language, culture, and act as a bridge to society telling stories of our time. Recently graduated with a Master of Fine Arts Interdisciplinary and Indigenous Studies, Mariel is a SSHRC, UBCO Aboriginal Fellowship and Indian Brotherhood scholarship recipient. She was recently awarded Outstanding Indigenous Graduate Student at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry held in Champaigne-Urbana at the University of Illinois. Mariel was nominated to the Canadian Association of Theatre Research board as a graduate board member. As an artist scholar, her research is about identity through the lens of Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being, Customary Law, Indigenous Feminism and Performance Theory, exploring how cultural identity is rebuilt through oral history and performance practice.


Sheldon Louis
I, Sheldon Louis am a member of the Okanagan Indian Band which is part of the Syilx Nation. I am a multidisciplinary Syilx Artist. I sit on the Board of Directors for the Arts Council of the North Okanagan. I was a recipient of the First Peoples Cultural Council Emerging Artist Development Award for 2015. I mentored with Barb Marchand as a curator and visual artist.


Okanagan Indian Band Youth Group
Sheldon Louis:
Youth can at times struggle to lasting connections due to lack of mentorship and role models. By creating a public art piece in the community the youth will be able to interact and form healthy and respectful interactions through the arts. This Mural Project at the Lake Country Art Gallery will allow the youth to engage with all levels of the community. The visual art piece(s) will be inspired and rooted in the history and traditional stories of the Syilx people. The design/image will be based upon the tradition of Syilx history in the Lake Country area.


There will be public programming throughout the run of this exhibition including artist talks and the unveiling of the Youth Mural Project.

Barb Marchand
As a respected artist and elder, Barb Marchand had long had an interest in the history of her ancestors, their traditional language and the legends which connected her to the landscape and its inhabitants. This has led her to immerse herself in the study of the traditional Syilx language in an effort to gain a better understanding of the stories and history of the Okanagan First Nations people and in doing so, also her own history. 

David Alexander   Malcolm McCormick 
Katherine Pickering   Jeroen Witvliet

May 11th to June 23rd

Behind the Studio Door, an exhibition to examine the behind-the-scenes work that goes into an artist’s professional practice.

The gallery will be divided into four separate spaces, giving each artist room recreate aspects of their studios, giving a glimpse of the day to day routines of a full-time practice.

Opening Reception: Friday May 10th, 6-8pm

Existential Cafe: (Artist Talk ) Saturday May 11th, 2pm 

Behind the Studio Door is about the work and time not usually seen by the public. The amount of work that goes into an artistic practice leaves me with an image of ‘guts all over the studio floor’ after a typical studio session, not literally, of course, could be metaphorically, allegorically or imaginary…you pick. Of course, there is no ‘typical’ art studio, the space is diverse as the artwork produced in them. And that is exactly what this exhibition is about, four artists, David Alexander, Katherine Pickering, Jeroen Witliet and Malcolm McCormick let us peek into their process and private spaces.
 
I have spent the past week trying to write in more detail an explanation of this exhibition but in the end, I think Chuck Close and John Cage say it best…
 
Inspiration is for amateurs - the rest of us just show up and get to work. And the belief that things will grow out of the activity itself and that you will - through work - bump into other possibilities and kick open other doors that you would never have dreamt of if you were just sitting around looking for a great ‘art [idea].' And the belief that process, in a sense, is liberating and that you don't have to reinvent the wheel every day. Today, you know what you'll do, you could be doing what you were doing yesterday, and tomorrow you are gonna do what you [did] today, and at least for a certain period of time you can just work. If you hang in there, you will get somewhere.                                                                   
Chuck Close, Inside the Painter’s Studio
 
When you start working, everybody is in your studio- the past, your friends, enemies, the art world, and above all, your own ideas- all are there. But as you continue painting, they start leaving, one by one, and you are left completely alone. Then, if you are lucky, even you leave.”                                                                                                                                                              
John Cage
 
Wanda Lock, Curator
  
David Alexander 
David T. Alexander is an established, award-winning Canadian painter best known for his landscapes and water reflection imagery.
Alexander studied at the Vancouver Art School and at Langara College before graduating with a BFA from Notre Dame University. In 1980, he moved to Saskatoon, SK to obtain his Master's degree while researching in New York, London and Paris. In 2006, Alexander was a special guest artist-in-residence at the Morris Graves Foundation in California. Alexander was inducted to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2018. He continues to live and work out of his studio in Lake Country, BC.
Alexander's signature landscapes (dry series) and waterscapes (wet series) represent his significant forty five year history in painting and drawing with a bold palette and gestural application. Alexander's work can be found in many prominent public, private and corporate collections throughout the world, including the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Museum of London, the University of Toronto, Concordia University in Montreal, the Museum of Art in Iceland, HBC Global Art Collection in New York, and in Embassies in Berlin, Beijing and Krakow. Corporate and private collections include those in major Canadian cities as well as in Dubai, Seoul, New York, Mumbai and Nice, among others.
 
Jeroen Witvleit 
Jeroen Witvliet is an artist who was born in The Netherlands. He has received his BFA from the Willem de Kooning Academie, Rotterdam, has studied at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design , Vancouver BC Canada and received his MFA from the University on Victoria, BC Canada in 2014. He has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in Europe and North America.
 
In his work Jeroen looks for the poetic that seems to be hiding everywhere.
 
Katherine Pickering 
Katherine Pickering is a Lecturer in Visual Arts at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, BC. Pickering’s current research focuses on night-time perception and its effect on the development of abstract painting.. She has participated in several artists’ residencies including The Room’s Terra Nova National Park residency in Newfoundland; the Vermont Studio Centre’s residency in Johnson, Vermont and the Figure in a Mountain Landscape thematic residency at the Banff Centre, Alberta.
 
Malcolm McCormick 
Malcolm McCormick received his BFA from University of British Columbia Okanagan and his MFA from Concordia University in Montreal. Malcolm is currently living and working on his art practice in Montreal.

The 9th Annual Under 100 Exhibition Fundraiser opens to the public on
Saturday November 24th and continues until December 21st 2018.
The Exhibition will be open SEVEN DAYS per week

The Annual Under 100 exhibition is comprised of small, one of a kind, original artworks by Okanagan artists who are all supporting members of the Lake Country Art Gallery.

Hundreds of artworks will be available for sale starting at $30 - $100,
with a small selection of larger feature pieces.

~~~ THIS YEAR we have some exciting NEW features and events ~~~

On Friday 23rd November we will have a SPECIAL PREVIEW DINNER event.
Enjoy getting a first look at the art in comfort with a sit-down meal and a gentle pace.
Tickets available soon - watch this space

Saturday 24th November 10am-4pm first sales day - open to the public

On Thursday December 6th we will be bringing in some selected vendors to create an INDOOR NIGHT MARKET
to pair with the U100 exhibition, giving you even more original art & artisan gifts to choose from


30% of proceeds from the sale of art will help support exhibitions and programs at
the Gallery & ArtHouse in the coming year.

Your purchases will support Local artists, PLUS the help fund the gallery
and You get to give thoughtful, original gifts that will be enjoyed for years to come. 
Win, Win, Win!

Exhibiting Artists this year are: 
Arlene Buick ~ Anne Gidluck ~ Alexandra Goodall ~ Angela Hansen ~ Angela Maher
~ Anita McComas ~ Amy Piquette ~ Audrey Peat ~ Beryl Beaupre ~ Bailey Ennig ~ Bev Gordon ~ Betty Morrison ~ Cherie Hanson ~ Ceren  McKay ~ Clint Olson ~ Cheryl Turner
~ Chris Waneck ~ Carol Zuckerman ~ Danielle Erickson ~ Diana Hilliard ~ Denise Patrick ~ Dianne Postman ~ Doreen Velin ~ Diane Wilde ~ Elizabeth Christie ~ Elizabeth Flesher ~ Elaine Gowryluk ~ Eveline Wallace ~ Fern Helfand  ~ Fiona Neal ~ Gillian Rau ~ 
Gabrielle Strong ~ Helen Kovacs ~ Heidi Smith ~ Jean Allen ~ Jennifer Bednar ~ Janice Cheng ~ Jamie Frazer ~ Jane Johnsson ~ JoAnne Legree ~ Jolene Mackie ~ Joan Norkum ~ June Seed ~ Joyce Thompson ~ Jax Dolman ~ Kara Barkved ~ Kayleigh Mace ~ Laura Adams ~ 
Linda Oldfield ~ Lynette Stebner ~ Leona Senez ~ Lynn Stevens ~ Maud Besson ~ Maryam Dirk ~ Michelle Droettboom ~ Michael Griffin ~ Margaret Kyle ~ Maureen Lejbak ~ 
Meghan Nimegeers ~ Marlene McPherson ~ Michelle Sinotte ~ Marla Wilson ~ Peggie Collins ~ Paul Lewendon ~ Patricia Nelson ~ Pat Ryan ~ Renata Kerr ~ Sandra Cook ~ Susan Collinge ~ Sea Dean ~ Sarah Gagnon ~ Spero Ginis ~ Shauna Oddleifson ~ Shelley Johnson ~ 
​Sharlene McNeill ~ Sofie Hartwick ~ Shelah Pansegrau ~ Sheila Tansey ~ Tina Knooihuzen ~ Tina Siddiqui ~ Valerie Thompson