<div dir="ltr">
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
March 20, 2017<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Caetani Centre and
Vernon Arts Centre are pleased to present<br>
Three events scheduled for Ceramic Artist Kristina Brandeus Kirkkopelto,
visiting from Stockholm, Sweden. Public is Welcome to all events!<span></span></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">HAPPY HARVEST: Exhibition
& Opening Reception<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Thursday,
March 30, 7-9 pm, Caetani Centre Studio Gallery<br>
3401 Pleasant Valley Road, Vernon, BC<br>
Exhibition continues to April 13<br>
Gallery Viewing Hours: Mon - Sat 1-6 pm, Closed Tues & Sun<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">KITSCH-IT: Ceramic
Workshop<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Saturday,
April 1, 10 am - 1 pm<br>
Vernon Community Arts Centre<br>
All Age Levels Welcome ~ Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult <br>
Register<b> </b>at VCAC: 250-542-6243<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Artist Presentation <br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Wednesday,
April 5, 7-8 pm<br>
Vernon Community Arts Centre<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Heartbreak can be a catalyst for inspiration.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Kristina
Brandeus Kirkkopelto uses ceramic fountains, everyday objects such as cookie
jars, and furniture as a means to communicate stories. Many of the objects were
first inspired by Andy Warhol’s collection. </span><span style="font-size:10pt"><span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Life incidents often shapes an artist’s response to their
materials and images. The artist began this series of work upon the ending of a
long-term relationship that had not been notably marred by arguments or discord,
except when it came to home decorating. <span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">“He wanted really sterile and clean furniture, and I wanted
colors and just pretty much the opposite of his style in general.” said
Kirkkopelto.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">After living in this relationship where everything about
decorating the home was a compromise and unsatisfying for her love of decorating
and collecting; she now longed for creating the objects and furniture she
always wished for. She began to dream of creating fountains, garden
accessories, cookie jars, and furniture such as a ceramic base living room
table.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">“I started working with ceramic sculpture in relation with the
functioning aspect of fountains. I wanted to make sculptures where the fountain
would act as the scene for the tale which I wanted to tell. Later on, my ideas
surrounding the fountain evolved, and instead of using it only as a “platform”
or a “base”, the idea of a ceramic object and a fountain that were
interdependent of each other became more interesting. I discovered that by
combining these two elements equally, it would exaggerate what I wanted to tell
with my pieces. I want to further discover to what extent I can use this
interdependence.”<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial">Her work is fresh, charming, humorous and a
little bit dark! </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Kirkkopelto explains, “The fountain adds an element of surprise
and humor to my sculptures. I believe this sort of “fun” function is something
to dig deeper into. I would like my ceramic objects to use function in such
sophisticated way, that they are mainly pieces of art rather than functioning
objects.”<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Titles are an important part of the pieces. A cute and kitschy
sculpture can, with the right title, suddenly become something with a deeper
meaning. She likes to work with multiple objects where individual titles can
tell stories when placed together.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">This desire to create wonderful colorful objects, which would be
out of the ordinary and amazing for any adventurous decorator to have in their
homes, provided the impetus behind her current residency. She hopes to use her
time here to hone her artistic and professional skills, while experiencing
Canadian culture.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">Originally born in Kymmenedalen, Finland, Kristina has lived in
Sweden since 1994. In 2016 she graduated from the Academy of Arts and Crafts,
majoring in Ceramic Art, in Gothenburg. In 2015 she attended the Exchange at
Dunedin School of Art, in New Zealand. Her work has been exhibited in several
group shows in Sweden and New Zealand.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">The final exhibition to showcase the work she had created during
her residency in Canada has been designed to have matching podiums for her work
and other decorative elements to enhance the meaning of the artistic project by
playing with the whole exhibition space. The exhibition will be held in the new
Caetani Studio Gallery at the Caetani Centre, opening March 30, 7 pm.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">The public is invited to also sign up for a clay workshop to
explore techniques used by the artist on April 1 held at the Vernon Community
Arts Centre. Finishing up the events will be an artist talk and discussion of
her work on April 5 at 7 pm also held at the Vernon Arts Centre.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">About the CeramAIR
Ceramics Residency<span></span></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">CeramAIR is a ceramics-based residency and partnership between
the Caetani Cultural Centre and the Vernon Community Arts Centre/Arts Council
of the North Okanagan in Vernon, BC. <span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">The program provides regional, national, international ceramic
artists the ability to work in a supportive community environment of
like-minded individuals from our own arts community, to share their expertise
and vision, to inspire excellence and create work at the highest level in a
nurturing and creative environment. The artist is provided with accommodations
at the Caetani Centre, and is also provided with use of a<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span>shared<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span>studio
workspace and equipment at the Vernon Community Arts Centre (VCAC) operated by
the Arts Council of the North Okanagan (ACNO).<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">The residency is a multi-faceted experience that includes
opportunities for teaching, community outreach, interaction with other artists,
and studio care, and culminates in an exhibition of new work.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:3pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial;color:rgb(64,64,64)">For more information please call the Caetani Centre 250-275-1525
<a href="http://www.caetani.org">www.caetani.org</a>.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0cm 0cm 3pt 36pt;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial">-<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'times new roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial">0 -<span></span></span></p>
<div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">Susan Brandoli<div>Executive Director</div><div>Caetani Cultural Centre</div><div><a href="http://www.caetani.org" target="_blank">www.caetani.org</a></div><div>250-275-1525</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
</div>