It is not uncommon for artists to work off photographs, but usually it is one of their own.
This Friday, a new exhibit Four Times Four opens at the Revelstoke Art Gallery that sees 16 local artists interpret the work of four local photographers.
The exhibit is inspired by the work of Lazuline, a collective from Salmon Arm that held a similar exhibition in Revelstoke last year. In their case, the members interpreted a single photo.
“I thought this was a great idea, and started thinking about how I could use it as a basis for an exhibition,” said Jackie Pendergast, the manager of the art gallery.
In Revelstoke, the concept was extended to include four photographers and 16 artists. The photos are by Agathe Bernard, Rob Buchanan, Keri Knapp and Krista Stovel.
“I then challenged 16 artists to interpret one of the images in any medium of their choice,” said Pendergast. “I am very excited to see the outcomes.”
Each photograph will be on display, surrounded by the art work they inspired.
Also opening this weekend is Roots, Stumped, Growth, the debut exhibit by the Fierce Art Project.
The Fierce Art Project was started by local artist and instructor Jo Willems after a course she taught at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre called Art of Visual Expression.
A few dedicated students emerged from the course and began painting regularly with Willems, joining her for nine more classes following the original seven. Together, they applied for a grant from the Columbia-Kootenay Cultural Alliance that allowed them to create enough work to put on an exhibit. Out of that came the Fierce Art Project.
Their debut exhibit, Roots, Stumped, Growth, “represents the determination, dedication, and personal artistic excellence of this group,” according to their artist statement.
The title is supposed to represent the group’s shared qualities. “Roots describes the foundation the group shares to find perfection in creative expression. Stumped, was selected by the group to represent the challenges each member was presented with. And lastly, Growth, is what the group is truly about: Positive critique, the challenge of trying something new, helping one another to find solutions, and working together to achieve more than they thought possible.”
Both exhibits open this Friday, July 8, and run until September 2. The opening reception starts at 6 p.m.