The Hub continues to highlight its studio artists as Erin Foggoa’s show of roller derby calendar girls and other gems comes down this weekend in time for Emily Rice’s portraiture exhibition.
Along with Foggoa, Rice is one of the four artists who have a studio at The Hub Arts Collective, and her exhibition will be the third one to be held at Vernon’s newest arts space.
A third-year fine arts student at UBC Okanagan, Rice specializes in the human face, and mostly paints portraiture.
“I am very interested in people and individual uniqueness,” she said. “I focus on trying to capture not only a physical likeness of my subject, but also a sort of essence of my subject. I want a personality and a story to be visible in my work.”
With the support of her parents, who put her in a wide range of activities as a child, Rice’s interest in the arts began with music. It wasn’t until near the end of her secondary school studies that she discovered dark room photography, painting and portraiture with the support and encouragement of her teachers, Randy Kaneda and Jill McDonald (the latter whom also has a studio at The Hub.)
“My teachers helped me realize the joy and peace that I could find in creating artwork,” said Rice, who graduated from Vernon Secondary School in 2009 and was awarded the Helen Pitt fund arts scholarship as well as a district arts scholarship.
Now with her own studio space at The Hub, Rice is able to teach art classes, and says she is inspired by the other artists involved in the collective.
“The Hub provides a great space with lots of potential for growth as an artist,” she said. “I’m really excited for Vernon to come see my work in a space that I’m enjoying.”
Doors to see Rice’s exhibition open Saturday at 7 p.m. with the featured sounds of local musicians Cole Friesen and Alex YellowShoes. The Hub is located at 2906-30th Ave. next to The Towne Cinema. Tickets are $5 at the door. Partial proceeds will be donated to The Teen Junction.
