The Comox Valley Art Gallery invites the community to an opening celebration this Saturday for The Photovoice Project at the gallery from 2 to 3 p.m.
Everyone is welcome and light refreshments will be served. The exhibition takes place in the George Sawchuk Gallery until Aug. 24.
Members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited, queer (GLBTTQ) community in the Comox Valley recognized a need for social events and support services for GLBTTQ youth. Comox Valley Pride collaborated with Elizabeth Kulczycki — a local artist, art therapist, and art educator — and the Courtenay Recreation Association to offer the Photovoice Project to GLBTTQ youth.
For six sessions in July and August 2012, a small group of queer youth took photographs, wrote about their photographs, and shared their works with the group and Elizabeth Kulczycki, the Photovoice Project facilitator.
The youth then selected one photograph that became part of a three-dimensional work that tells the very personal story of their experiences as queer youth.
The Photovoice Project was created by Vancouver Coastal Health’s CALL Out! (Creating Action, Learning and Leadership) program, an alcohol and drug prevention initiative for GLBTTQ youth ages 15 to 24.
Communities across British Columbia participate in the Photovoice Project in July and August. The purpose of the project is to encourage youth to take photographs that reflect their experiences of being GLBTTQ, to include photographs of places where they feel comfortable being their true selves, and of people with whom they feel a sense of acceptance and belonging.
CVAG is in downtown Courtenay at 580 Duncan Ave. Visiting hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free or by donation.
For more information, contact 250-338-6211.
— Comox Valley Art Gallery
