The work of artist Rebecca Chaperon is included in a new exhibit, Tales Untold, at The Reach Gallery, starting May 24. Shown here is her piece Snake Lake, crylic on canvas, from 2017.

The work of artist Rebecca Chaperon is included in a new exhibit, Tales Untold, at The Reach Gallery, starting May 24. Shown here is her piece Snake Lake, crylic on canvas, from 2017.

Three new exhibits to open at The Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford

Opening reception with the artists on Thursday, May 24

The Reach Gallery Museum (32388 Veterans Way) launches three new exhibitions with an opening reception at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 24.

The reception is free to the public, and guests are invited to meet the artists, connect with the arts community, and enjoy appetizers.

The exhibit Tales Untold takes visitors on a journey into the imaginations of artists and writers alike.

Works of art by Rebecca Chaperon (Vancouver), Davida Kidd (Langley), and Chris Reid (Brandon, Man.) are presented alongside new works of poetry and prose by acclaimed B.C. writers Susan Musgrave, Zsuzsi Gartner, Erika Thorkelson, and Chelsea Rooney.

The authors, who were commissioned to respond to the visual artists, also assisted in the selection of the works of art included in the exhibition.

The resulting project turns the galleries into an immersive experience recalling enigmatic dreamscapes and eerie childhood memories.

In Procession, Saskia Jetten of Hatzic presents new work exploring the themes of masks and masquerade, and the many ways that we present ourselves to the world, ourselves, and others.

Jetten’s practice is rooted in print-based processes, and strategies of repetition come through in stop-motion animation, soft sculpture, and more traditional formats.

Curated by Aboriginal curatorial intern Andrea Pepper, Of the Standard of Taste considers the esthetics of kitsch and the role that online platforms such as Instagram and Etsy play in the critical reception of contemporary art.

Artists Andrea Hooge and Kathleen McGiveron use media such as ceramic and scratchboards to create works that visually resemble childhood narratives, presenting a menagerie of unusual creatures that are sweetly unnerving.

The exhibitions, which run until Sept. 2, will be complemented by two unique programs designed to allow visitors to get to know the artists better.

Tales Untold artist Chris Read leads an After/Work/Shop session on Friday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m.

This distinctive twist on the “paint night” trend has participants snack, sip beverages, and create creepy-comical pysanky eggs like those exhibited in the Tales Untold exhibition.

The following day at 10:30 a.m., the popular Brunch with the Artists is back.

The event includes brunch, casual conversation with the artists and a tour of their exhibitions. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Cost for the workshop and the brunch is $20 each for Reach members and $25 for guests. Visit thereach.ca to register.

Abbotsford News