“Color” is dancing all over the walls of The Hub Arts Collective as Vernon artists Emily Rice and Emerald Holt show their respective paintings.
“The past two exhibits, Global Ed’s Worthless, took on bullying and Jessika LaFramboise’s, She was standing there, and then she was gone, addressed the missing women in B.C. They were two very powerful and dark shows,” said Hub curator Ryan Robson. “Emily and Emerald have completely transformed that energy into something very light and beautiful.”
Rice has been a resident artist with The Hub since it opened more than one year ago and this will be her second exhibition in the gallery.
“Her use of colour and line brings the viewer to another place,” said Robson.
A Grade 12 student at Vernon Secondary School, Holt’s artwork is an expression of who she is as an individual.
“It is positive, original and exuberant,” said Robson.
Like Holt, Rice became serious about painting while in her final year at high school.
“Jill MacDonald, my Grade 12 art teacher (at VSS), was a big inspiration for me. She saw something in me. She gave me the freedom to create and self direct,” said Rice, adding she believes MacDonald’s encouragement will stay with her always.
MacDonald has also influenced Holt’s growth as an artist.
“Her encouragement and support always gave me that extra boost of confidence I needed in order to try new techniques and extend my artistic ability,” she said.
Holt and Rice host an opening reception for their exhibition, Color, April 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is a $5 donation at the door.
The exhibition is up for the month of April followed by Melissa Dinwoodie’s figurative show in May.
