[BCMA] For Immediate Release: 31 Okanagan artists open new green exhibition

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

<http://www.alternatorgallery.com>Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art 
<http://www.alternatorgallery.com>

  a welcoming site for radical art-making and community-building

MediaRelease

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday December 12, 2009
ATTENTION ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS

*Concept Green: Exhibition runs December 11- 31, 2009

Concept Green*Passers by the window display are directed to follow the 
words of poet Greg Younging, "...my beloved beautiful life-giving sacred 
curving Earth..."

His words are situated in a cascade of reclaimed plastics, lit up in 
disco green, a collaborative presentation with painter/sculptor Kevin 
Michael Witzke.

The message of this first point of contact is clear. There are many 
possible directions to take, however there is guidance to be found from 
the elders of this beautiful land,"...Elder, teacher, survivor, warrior..."

Enter through the doors and into the main gallery.  The messages begin 
to develop in hue and tone. Unusual juxtapositions and an eclectic mix 
of green directions mark this 20th annual members' exhibition at the 
Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, bringing together 31 artists 
from the Okanagan Valley.

The works on display in the main gallery appear to be drawn around a 
central work, a second sculpture by Kevin Michael Witzke. Using water, 
earth pigments and time, Witzke has built a three dimensional painting, 
a time piece not unlike an hourglass which he uses to bring us back to 
ages of ice and rock and the stories of the people and the land who have 
occupied this valley for thousands of years.

A new work by artist David Wilson reminds us of these stories. A 
stunning and powerful painting couched in red and gold, /Path of the 
Sacred Tree/, tells us that the earth will heal when people as 
individuals find balance within themselves.

Wilson, an artist of the Syilx nation tells us:
"The elders say that our minds are like two opposite snakes one good and 
one bad this must be so as this makes us whole like the creator.  We can 
not be too far at either end of the spectrum we must be in the middle it 
is like taking black and white and making grey."
 
Contrasts of history and the now collide like blue and yellow as artists 
of the Okanagan take us on a journey through time.  From the first 
peoples of this land to the Alternator's new 1960's lounge through to 
the modern day clinical, commercial and poetic approaches, these artists 
provide a rich array of voice and consideration of time, place and 
vision in an exciting exhibition offering a direction for all.

The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art gratefully acknowledges the 
generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Province of 
British Columbia through the BC Arts Council; the BC Gaming Commission; 
the City of Kelowna; the Central Okanagan Foundation; the Kelowna and 
District Arts Council; the Vancouver Foundation, members, volunteers, 
Lois Lane Warehouse and the Okanagan community.

The Alternator would also like to offer a special thank you to all of 
the participating artists including; Miranda Aschenbrenner, Scott 
August, Susan Bizecki, Vanessa Bohay, Chris Bose, Gabe Cipes, Aunaray 
Carol Clusian, Adrian  Duceac, Timothy Fehr, David Jefferess, Robert 
Jenkins, Mary B. Jenkins, Katfish, Sandra Kessler, Jake Kennedy, Santa 
Tom Kliner, Shawn Laraby, Heather Martin, Mattoo, Mike Macleod, Kathryn 
Newman-Renwick, Erika Meissl, Richard Moncion, Alice Pallett, Jennifer 
Pickering, Arthur Schwimmer, Lacia Vogel, Kim Walker, David Wilson, 
Kevin Michael Witzke and Kyle Zsombor.
*        *

Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
#103-421 Cawston Ave. Kelowna, BC, V1Y 6Z1
250-868-2298

Follow the Alternator on
Facebook: Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
Twitter: Alternatortweet
Google Calendar: Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art






-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20091212/fed84308/attachment-0001.htm 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Concept Green.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 24576 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20091212/fed84308/attachment-0001.doc 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: kevinwitzke.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 380962 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20091212/fed84308/attachment-0001.jpg