In 2012, the Vernon Public Art Gallery held an exhibition and an artist talk featuring the Mackie Lake House’s then artist-in-residence Joyce Devlin.
The residency and exhibition has become an ongoing event, and the partnership between the two organizations is benefitting artists — both local and visiting.
“The Mackie Lake House offers the artist the space and time to create, and the VPAG offers the artist exhibition space and if needed, working space,” said Christine Kashuba, Mackie house manager.
This year is no exception as the Mackie house’s current artist-in-residence, James Postill, is about to show his work at the VPAG in the show Hidden Treasures.
Postill, who is from the Vernon-Coldstream area, is exploring interiors and landscapes, investigating surface and light and their expressions.
“As it always has, the Coldstream Valley will provide abundant inspiration for me to explore and produce landscapes, mainly on canvas, boards, and rag paper,” he said.
The purpose of the Mackie Lake House artist-in-residence program is to foster the discourse and production of visual arts by providing artists a place to pursue their artistic discipline in a tranquil location away from their normal busy life, said Kashuba.
“The program was made possible through the generosity of Patrick (Paddy) Fylton Mackie, who established and funded the Mackie Lake House Foundation,” she said. “Mackie was a patron of the arts and a gifted artist in his own right and the artist-in-residence program was established in his memory.”
Since the artist-in-residence program began in 2010, participating artists have included Angie Francis, Edie McIntyre, and Joyce Devlin, and each has been asked to leave at least one piece of art at the home.
With the inclusion of the VPAG exhibition, the residency hopes to bring in more artists and their talents to the community.
Postill’s Hidden Treasures opens Thursday at the VPAG along with three other exhibitions, Julia Prudhomme’s Just Passing Through, UBCO’s BFA graduation exhibition Continuum, and West Kelowna artist Petula Pettman’s Flowers and Tears. Opening reception with all the artists is from 6 to 8 p.m.
Postill will also give an artist’s talk at the VPAG June 8 at 1 p.m.
The Mackie Lake House is also hosting a reception for Postill June 2 at 2 p.m.
“You will have the opportunity to meet James, talk with him about his work, and see the source of inspiration for his exhibition Hidden Treasures,” said Kashuba.
The Mackie Lake House is located at 7804 Kidston Rd., Coldstream. For more information, visit www.mackiehouse.ca.
