Armstrong resident Jessica DeBruin is expressing the love of her community through her photography.
A volunteer with seniors at Pleasant Valley Manor and an active member of a local knitting circle, DeBruin has a strong interest in her community and compassion for her fellow citizens, and she expresses that interest and relationship through her camera.
She also has an attraction to colourful, interesting and unusual sights that will be highlighted in the exhibition Community Fall Photos, opening Monday at Vernon’s Brew Gallery.
She has worked hard and persevered in bringing her hobby of photography to a high level, said Gary Arbuckle, Kindale Developmental Association’s director of services and co-curator for the exhibit
“I would like to recognize the enabling efforts of Jessica’s family, friends and support providers to facilitate her ability to capture and reflect her personal perception of what our community has to offer through photos and video.”
DeBruin’s sense of humour also comes out in her photos. Asked about her favourite colour, she says, “Green, of course, I’m from Saskatchewan. Go Riders!”
Happy to share her work, DeBruin is inviting lots of people to come and see her show and thanks Brew Gallery curator River Lewis for the opportunity, as well as photographer and photo studio owner Brenda Hala, who donated frames and matting for the photos, Kindale staff Joanne Sandaker and Bette Worthington, and Bruce Mol, of Instructional Design and Delivery, who is the video and photo coach at Kindale’s Mainstreet Connections location in Vernon.
“Within minutes of meeting Jessica for the first time, she began showing me pictures on her camera and talking about the places she’s been and the people she’s seen,” said Mol, adding DeBruin has the gift of taking pictures that tell stories and, in some instances, images that words cannot fully describe.
“Jessica’s holiday imagery often, and delightfully, captures the mystique of such luminaries as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. Jessica’s pictures of friends and family can surprise you with their candidness. Her pictures are always charming, often express her humour and are sometimes quite thought provoking.”
DeBruin’s Community Fall Photos is on display at the Brew Gallery (inside the Bean to Brew Coffee House at 3202-31st Avenue next to the Vernon Public Art Gallery) to Dec. 17. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays. An opening reception with the artist takes place Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
