The Vernon Public Art Gallery is proud to host Art and Soul, an annual exhibition of artwork by students in Grades 8 to 12, from School District 22.
Starting Thursday and running until March 10, students from all high schools in the Vernon School District have the opportunity to display their artwork in a professional setting at the gallery. With all the bells and whistles of a big exhibition — including the right lighting, an opening reception and plenty of community buzz — young artists get a taste of what it’s like to show their work to the public, often for the first time.
“We are pleased to present Art and Soul, a selection of works by high school students from the North Okanagan,” said executive director Dauna Kennedy. “Following our elementary school exhibition, it’s always exciting to see the development of creativity in the students at this next level of education and how their artwork expresses that.
“I encourage you to come out to our opening reception and join us in celebrating the accomplishment of these young emerging artists.”
Works in the secondary school exhibition are displayed alongside professional Canadian artists elsewhere in the gallery, which holds four exhibition spaces. For students thinking about post-secondary education in the arts, showing next to established artists is an inspiration and a motivator to continue developing their own artistic styles while still in high school.
“Each year the diversity of mediums and subject matters, and the inclusion of some work intended for university applications, creates a unique and varied exhibition of strong student artwork,” said Laura Ashton, marketing and programming coordinator at the gallery.
Art and Soul will be open for viewing from Thursday to March 10. The artwork will fill the walls of the Caroline Galbraith, Community and Up-Front Galleries at the Vernon Public Art Gallery, and will run concurrently with Neil McClelland’s exhibition, Apperception.
Members, friends, family and the general public are invited to attend the opening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Enjoy appies, sweet treats, punch and music compliments of the gallery.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by Kal Tire. Admission to the gallery is by donation.
VPAG is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information on exhibitions and events visit www.vernonpublicartgallery.com
