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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For Immediate Release
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Series of vibrant portraits celebrate syilx culture<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Sheldon Pierre Louis: puti kʷala – we are still here<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 8, 2020 to July 2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">at the Kelowna Art Gallery’s offsite exhibition space<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">at the Kelowna International Airport (YLW)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 8, 2020 – Kelowna, BC:
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Kelowna-based artist Sheldon Pierre Louis is the creative force behind a series of new paintings on view at the Kelowna International Airport.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The exhibition is titled
<i>puti kʷala – we are still here</i> and features six colourful multi-layered portraits that celebrate the beauty of the syilx/Okanagan Nation’s history and culture.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The paintings are rich with intricate filigree patterns and incorporate a mix of traditional and contemporary imagery. In them, we see generational snapshots — a grandfather
teaching his young granddaughter how to plant seeds; two nieces snapping a selfie; and a boy proudly showing off the prize-sized fish he caught. The portraits reveal a glimpse into the artist’s own extended family life, but viewers will no doubt find pieces
that resonate with their own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">puti kʷala – we are still here</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> can be seen just before the security screening area near
the departure gates in the Kelowna Art Gallery’s offsite exhibition space at YLW. It opens July 8 and will remain on view until July of 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Sheldon Pierre Louis</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> is an interdisciplinary artist whose versatile work is shown in a variety
of settings ranging from large-scale wall murals to gallery exhibition spaces to public art installations. He is a member of the syilx Nation, a Councillor at Okanagan Indian Band, and a community leader whose work is influenced by his ancestral roots. He
is a mentor for youth from his own and surrounding communities and he finds joy in the mutual inspiration fostered through these collaborations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The artist will speak about his artistic practice and current installation during a virtual talk that will be held on Tuesday, September 1, from 12 to 1 pm. It will be broadcast
live online as part of the ongoing <i>LunchBox Lectures</i>, which is a partnership between the Kelowna Art Gallery, Sncəwips Heritage Museum, and Kelowna Museums. This event is free and open to the public to attend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For more information about current exhibitions, public programming, or other related projects, please visit the Kelowna Art Gallery online at www.kelownaartgallery.com or
call 250-762-2226.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">- 30 –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">[image credit]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Sheldon Pierre Louis,
<i>puti kʷala – we are still here</i>, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48 inches. Photo: Courtesy of the Artist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Webpage:
<a href="https://kelownaartgallery.com/we-are-still-here/">https://kelownaartgallery.com/we-are-still-here</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Instagram:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kelownaartgallery/">https://www.instagram.com/kelownaartgallery</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Artist’s Instagram:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/coyoteslim">https://www.instagram.com/coyoteslim</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Artist’s Website:
<a href="https://boundbyafeather.wixsite.com/boundbyafeather">https://boundbyafeather.wixsite.com/boundbyafeather</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">To arrange for an interview with the artist or for other media enquiries, please contact:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Joshua Desnoyers | Marketing and Events Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Kelowna Art Gallery<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">1315 Water Street | Kelowna, BC | V1Y 9R3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">250-762-2226 ext. 305 | 250-762-9875 fax<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="mailto:josh@kelownaartgallery.com"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">josh@kelownaartgallery.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
| <a href="http://www.kelownaartgallery.com">www.kelownaartgallery.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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