Portraiture - inspired by the Rucker Archive

      In the Okanagan, there is a heavy emphasis on landscape work; in contrast, portraiture is not seen very often - the lovely rolling hills covered in orchards and vineyards are well represented in the valley. 

      And yet, there is an interesting, concurrent trend that has been emerging from the Fine Arts program at UBC Okanagan: Portraiture. Over the last 4 years or so, each graduating class has had some portrait work – Stephen Lee Scott in 2011, and Nadine Bradshaw and Jeda Connor in 2013.

      “It wasnʼt until I learned of the Rucker Archive and got talking with its owner, Mark Rucker, and getting a look at the collection, that this idea of inviting three Okanagan-based emerging artists to make work inspired by the Rucker Archive sprang into being”, explains Curator Katie Brennan. “Having a focus on portraiture naturally followed suit”.

      Nestled in an idyllic orchard above Peachland, the Rucker Archive and its over 100,000 pieces of paper ephemera (such as posters, photos, etc.) make their home. Begun with Ruckerʼs interest in baseball paraphernalia, it has expanded into a collection of the wild and wonderful images of our past. Items from the Archive will be on display beside the work of Bradshaw, Connor and Scott.

      To round out the exhibition is a selection of portraiture from this yearʼs graduating class of UBC Okanaganʼs BFA program. All based in photography, the work of these four artists each approaches it a bit differently: Kelsie Balehowsky investigates the gaze of the camera on our phones, Taylor Crain and Alia Popoff mix in other elements into their portraits, and Anastasia Fox presents fun-loving portraits of manʼs best friend.

      Portraiture - inspired by the Rucker Archive, plus Recent Portraiture from UBC Okanagan runs from June 11th to July 18th, with an open reception to take place on Wednesday, June 11th from 6 - 8pm with remarks at 6:30pm. Admission is free and open to the public.

      On the evening on Wednesday, June 18th at 7pm we will host Jeda Connor and Kelsie Balehowsky for an artist talk and discussion. Admission is free and open to the public.

Dates & Events at a Glance:

Portraiture - inspired by the Rucker Archive, plus Recent Portraiture from UBC Okanagan runs from June 11th to July 18th. 

An opening reception will be held Wednesday, June 11th from 6 - 8pm

Artist Talk Wed, June 18th at 7pm with Jeda Connor & Kelsie Balehowsky

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