<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div dir="ltr"><div><img src="cid:ii_ia5opnwk1_14d9195b4c415b5e" width="368" height="471"><br></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">Image:
</span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Katie Lyle,<span> </span></span><i><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">The
Writer and The Reader</span></i><span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">(2014), Oil on canvas,
12"x16"</span><b><i><span style="font-size:24pt;font-family:Univers,sans-serif"> </span></i></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><i><span style="font-size:24pt;font-family:Univers,sans-serif"><br></span></i></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><i><span style="font-size:24pt;font-family:Univers,sans-serif">Spirit Gum</span></i></b><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"></span><b><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"><br><br>May
30 to August 8</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"><br>Opening
May 29, 7pm</span></b>
<b><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"></span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"> </span></b>
<b><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"><br><br><span>Nanaimo</span>
Art Gallery</span></b><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><b><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">150
Commercial Street</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"></span></b></div></div></div><b><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"></span></b><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"><span>Nanaimo</span>,
BC, V9R 5G6</span></b><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"><b><a href="tel:250.754.1750" value="+12507541750" target="_blank"></a></b></span></p></div></div></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"> <span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"><b><a href="tel:250.754.1750" value="+12507541750" target="_blank">250.754.1750</a></b></span><i><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"><br> </span></i>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">Mike
<span>Bourscheid</span>, Claude <span>Cahun</span>, Gilbert & George, Jack Harman, Carole <span>Itter</span>, Katie Lyle,
Elizabeth Milton, Shana <span>Moulton</span>, Frank <span>Ney</span>, <span>Skawennati</span>, Krista Belle Stewart,
and <span>Luo</span> <span>Zhijian</span></span><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">Spirit
Gum is a kind of glue used to adhere costume to skin. This compound of alcohol
(spirit) and resin (gum), suggests a double reading. By way of this sticky
substance, objects are not only adhered to bodies, but also inspirited with
character. In the exhibition <i>Spirit Gum,</i>
this merging of costume and wearer is activated through newly created and
existing artworks, alongside works from the permanent collection. Performing
through a range of media, artists enact the self, as it begins to resemble
another.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">Spirit
Gum is invisible, and with it the contrast between adornment and body can
disappear too. Through this process, a self is rendered as truth or a part of a
very good lie. Herein identity itself can be both revealed and disguised. Dressing
becomes a personal act of display, and </span><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif;color:black">a means to create a public narrative. </span><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">At <span>Swy</span>-a-<span>lana</span> lagoon, a
former <span>Nanaimo</span> mayor is fixed in his favourite role, in bronze he dons a Jolly
Roger hat and pirate costume. This figure reminds us that disguise and costume
are a part of a communal performance, and when caught in the act, visitors too
enter its behavioral composition. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">This
exhibition marks another transformation, as the first show since <span>Nanaimo</span> Art Gallery’s
two locations have merged into one. <br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">For information on programs related to the exhibition visit our website at <a href="http://nanaimoartgallery.com" target="_blank"><span>nanaimoartgallery</span>.com</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">Curated
by Jesse Birch and Kara Hansen</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">Kara
Hansen’s curatorial internship at <span>Nanaimo</span> Art Gallery is funded by an Early
Career Development grant through the British Columbia Arts Council.</span><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif;color:black" lang="EN-CA">Thank you to our sponsors: British
Columbia Arts Council, City of <span>Nanaimo</span>, Vancouver Island University. </span><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif;color:rgb(17,17,17)" lang="EN">We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British
Columbia.</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Univers 45 Light",sans-serif">For
more information please contact: <a href="mailto:chrisk@nanaimogallery.ca" target="_blank">chrisk@nanaimogallery.ca</a><br></span></p></div></div></div></div></div>
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