Category Archives: FINA Gallery Exhibitions

The FINA gallery in the foyer of the Creative and Critical Studies Building hosts exhibitions throughout the year.

YOU ARE ON SYILX TERRITORY

You are on Syilx Territory  features recent acquisitions from UBC Okanagan’s Public Art Collection by Sheldon Louis, Coralee Miller, David Wilson and Manuel Axel Strain.

JUNE 7 TO AUGUST 24, 2023, CCS

Land acknowledgements were just one of the 94 calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report published in 2015. UBC Okanagan’s Public Art Collection was founded in 1963 by Okanagan College, and contains over 800 works of art from outdoor public art to paintings, prints, etchings, sculptures, installations, photography, video, carvings and more. Unfortunately of the over 800 works in the collection, only 8 are by Syilx artists, less than 1% of the Public Art Collection.

David Wilson Sookinakin, Northern Lights, 2021, acrylic on canvas

Coralee Miller, Coyote Returns to Life, 2021, acrylic on canvas

The 6 paintings displayed, 3 of which are recent acquisitions funded by the BC Arts Council and Okanagan School of Education, are joined by two outdoor installations by Interior Salish artists on campus, Syilx artist Les Louis’s sn̓ilíʔtn (Story Poles) commissioned for the the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit in 2016 and For Future Matriarchs (2022) by Krista Belle Stewart (Syilx) and Tania Willard (Secpwépemc) commissioned by UBC Okanagan School of Engineering for the 14 Not Forgotten Ceremony to commemorate the École Polytechnique massacre.

Leading arts institutions around the world are prioritizing decolonizing their art collections, and embracing more inclusive art histories. UBC Okanagan’s acquisition policy was updated in 2020, to prioritize commissions and purchases from local Indigenous artists, to balance out the deficit of Syilx contemporary art in the collection.

Manuel Axel Strain, puti kʷu alaʔ (excerpt 2017-2018)m 2022, oil on canvas

Indigenizing the Public Art Collection relies on donations, and we would greatly appreciate your support, so we can build a collection that recognizes and celebrates the cultural achievements of the Interior Salish Indigenous peoples: Syilx, Nlaka’pamux, Secwépemc, Sinixt and extending to the Plateau; Stl’atl’imc, Ktunaxa, and Tsilhqot’in and Lil’wat among others.

Please donate today to help Indigenize UBC Okanagan’s Art Collection.

This exhibition is presented as part of the Indigenous Art Intensive, organized by the UBC Okanagan Gallery, and curated by Dr. Stacey Koosel.

Misanthropocene: The New Epoch

 Misanthropocene: The New Epoch
These works by students of VISA 382: Advanced Practices in Media Arts are inspired by the term used by poets Joshua Clover and Juliana Spahr in their poem #MISANTHROPOCENE: 24 THESES. Exploring the negative and the positive, our students have created work that observes the effect humans have on the planet and also on one another.

Jenna Cooper

Cloud Angel

Hannah Palomera

Arthur Pielecki

Hei Yu Wong

Wayne Xie

Kailee Fawcett

Bethany Hiebert

Matthew Kenney

Amanda McIvor

Sarah McNeil

Jade Molen

Jessica Williams

Marcus Hobkirk

Heads Up! : Advanced Practice in Sculpture

Heads Up!

 

VISA 322T: Advanced Practice in Sculpture

Instructor: Crystal Przybille

 

Thom Ayling

Carmen Bouvier

Clara Cho

Makeena Hartmann

Bella Jiang

Yaya John

Garvin LeBlanc

Amy Marui

Ziv Wei

Wayne Xie

 

Heads Up! is an exhibit of plaster casts of sculptures first created in clay. The casts are the result of an intensive, skill-building process involving the creation of an armature, clay sculpture, silicone mold, rigid shell mold, and finally, a plaster cast. Beginning with the concept of a sculpture “about a head, or about the size of a head”, the students conceptualized and created their work, combining classical approaches to sculpture with contemporary ones.

 

 

Assemblage II: MFA Group Show

Assemblage II is the second iteration held by the Visa 582/582 MFA graduate student class with instructor Tania Willard. Assemblage II takes on development from the studio of diverging artistic practices but aligns resultant artworks in the gallery in ways that position new dialogues between practices, concepts and materials.

From sculptural works that are conceptually driven by the state of women in Iran to; graffiti sentiments, the beauty of photographic archives of daily life, augmented reality, mixed media works informed by Persian miniature painting and figurative painting that focuses on our complex mental states, the exhibition positions differently informed works into conversation with one another and an assemblage of our human experience emerges. Assemblage highlights the engaging and dynamic work of graduate students in the MFA program showing a range of practices and emerging dialogues.

UNPRECEDENTED – Bachelor of Media Studies VR Exhibition

Unprecedented is a showcase of third year Bachelor of Media Studies (BMS) student works that explore the realms of virtual reality, dreamscape, and interactive experiments.

This exhibition presents a unique opportunity to delve into the minds of these emerging artists and designers, who have brought their visions to life through innovative mediums. The world of virtual reality has captivated audiences with its ability to transport us to new and exciting places. In this exhibition, our students have pushed the boundaries of this technology to create immersive experiences that blur the lines between reality and imagination.

Through the use of 3D modeling and coding, they have created virtual worlds that are both visually stunning and interactive, allowing the viewer to explore and engage with the environment. Dreams have long been a source of inspiration for artists, and our students have tapped into this rich tradition to create works that explore the surreal and otherworldly. These pieces offer a glimpse into the subconscious mind, where reality is distorted and the impossible becomes possible. These works engage the senses and encourage exploration and play, creating a dynamic and engaging experience for all who visit.

We invite you to join us on this unprecedented journey through the worlds of virtual reality, dreamscape, and interactive experiments. We hope that this exhibition will inspire you to explore new frontiers in the world of art and design, and to embrace the limitless possibilities of the digital age.

 

PRINTMAKING

Printmaking at UBC Okanagan is extremely varied.  In our modest print studio, students work with five different media areas – stone lithography, zinc-plate etching, ultra-violet screen printing, relief printing, and letterpress.  Not only do students become adept at whatever print media they are studying but they learn how to work cooperatively in what can sometimes be a bustling and chaotic environment.  Everyone is constantly being influenced by everyone else in our close-knit print community.

The exhibition PRINTMAKING (February 20 – March 9, 2023 in UBCO’s FINA Gallery) was comprised of prints selected from each of the five major print media practiced in the BFA program.  Most of the works were made throughout the last year.

 

Hearts Together: Cool Arts Society Group Exhibition

HEARTS TOGETHER

Cool Arts Society Group Exhibition

Together with art educators during the weekly programs held in the Cool Arts Studio in the RCA, artists worked on the concept HEART, digging into the question – what does HEART mean? Artists discussed their feelings, thoughts, and ideas; then began their step-by-step big picture planning. These pieces are all representations of these collaborative ideas.

Each piece was created with a group of 6 to 8 artists working together. This process encouraged and affected constructive communication and sharing ideas; including skill-building, listening, problem-solving, and planning.  

The concepts that were shared covered a broad variety. Heart symbolism often conjures up a wide range of emotions, from joy to pain, love and devotion to moral courage and physical strength. The shape is securely embedded in western culture. Represented by an anatomically inaccurate shape, the heart is often used to represent the center of emotion, including affection and love.

Cool Arts looks forward to our annual partnership with the FINA Gallery at UBCO where artists get the opportunity to professionally exhibit their art. Creating these important opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities, neuro-diversabilities, and other exceptionalities aids in broadening connections and creating relationships with other artists on campus and beyond. 

Furthermore, It is important to have this recognized and well-funded FINA space to share the work done by people in our community who are seriously passionate about art and who want more public opportunities. What you will see are 24 artists working together on art of all kinds that includes painting and collage. 

Please share with your friends! And if you would like to learn more about how you can get involved withCool Arts, please visit our website at https://coolarts.ca/

More on the Cool Arts Studio

The Cool Arts studio is a safe, inclusive art studio that offers programs and artistic mentorship with a variety of professional artists who share their skills and lead classes. Cool Arts is a registered not for profit charitable organization managed by a volunteer Board of Directors and others who share their time in many ways; as classroom assistants, event supports, exhibition installations, and so much more.  Cool Arts relies heavily on sponsorships and donors; we welcome your support. For more information, please visit our website at https://coolarts.ca/

 

Please also take a look at the artists at work for this exhibition:

https://fccs.ok.ubc.ca/2023/02/01/hearts-together-cool-arts-society-group-exhibition/

 

 

Cultivations: Advanced Painting, Term One

Cultivations is an exhibition of paintings created by students in VISA 312S: Advanced Practice in Painting. Students in this class determined their own subject matter and explored different approaches to scale, space, value and materiality as a method of refining their body of work throughout the semester.

Cultivations includes work by Katya Meehalchan, Sara Richardson, Tin Laam Au (Eunis), Taylor Carpenter, Melissa Clark, Makeena Hartmann, Josie Hillman, Chloe Jenkins, Carly Johnson, Amy Marui, Karina Nardi, Julia Pearson, Christine Wakal and Abigail Wiens.

Algorithmic – Connor MacKinnon

 

Connor MacKinnon graduated in the Masters of Fine Arts Visual Art programme at the University of Victoria in 2022. He is now a Workshop and Studio Technician for the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBCO.

 

A Gold Pan stoneware 2023

Generating and using algorithms as tools for creation is a curious process. In many ways, they can be deterministic, repetitive, and reduce the creative act by limiting it to solutions allowable within their bounds. In other ways, they can be generative, speak to unimaginable potential, and ignite a deep sense of questioning. The algorithms at work here are simple. They do not make use of A.I. or neural networks. They don’t feed off big data and aren’t hooked up to any endless networks. In reality, they are more like math equations that deal in digital 3D geometry. Each series follows a unique set of steps which translates some piece of data into 3D models ready for production whether that be 3D printing, CNC milling, or other forms of digital fabrication. While the function of these algorithms ranges from imaginative historical reconstructions to explorations of non-human centered design, and object-based evolution, they all produce and demonstrate a range of variability within a defined system. While some of the strangeness and variability are genuinely produced through the action of the algorithm, it is important to understand that it is a very controlled environment that inherently carries the bias of the person who developed it.

Historical Fictions (Lisbon) 3D Printed PLA & composite gold leaf 2021

While their algorithmic nature directly links these works, they are also a part of a larger and longer-term exploration of material culture through the properties, qualities, and attributes that we associate with objects.  In particular, these algorithms examine those object characteristics as variables or parameters. How far can traits be pushed or changed? When does it become a new object or even a new type of object? Like the algorithms themselves, when does a value break the system completely?

Con•com•i•tance

Con•com•i•tance

 

The fact of existing or occurring together with something else.

 

by Jordan MacDonald, & Nayaab Master

 

Con•com•i•tance: the fact of existing or occurring together with something else, features elevenartists from VISA 482: Advanced Art Practices who work with a variety of, mediums, including drawing, painting; printmaking, sculpture, photography, and new media, to explore themes related to the relationship of interactions that take place alongside one another. Sharing common interests through the exploration of interconnections.

Entering the gallery space, Julia Pearson utilizes a combination of new technologies and printmaking to form an installation that investigates self-identity with overlapping realms of reality. Delainey Vogan uses cyanotypes as a means to reconceptualize the male gaze through a feminine perspective. While Jordan MacDonald’s installation addresses the relationship between fabric and skin as a representation of mental health issues, and the use of natural materials, revealing the many facets of the self. Claire Worrall’s textile art, likewise, confronts her personal mental health struggles by merging objects and garments to build a tale that ties the audience to the piece. Simone King’s textile work explores themes of catharsis and healing while utilizing animal forms t<? portray emotions that are difficult to put into words. Josie Hillman’s interactive performances challenge one’s physical and psychological understandings of social norms by disrupting the underlying societal standards.

The artworks offered by Nayaab Master engages with the process of creation, focusing on themes of intimacy and moments hidden in privacy through the use of mixed media. Moving into the conventional realm of art, Hei Yu Wong’s paintings engage with the concepts surrounding surrealistic illusions via the exploration of elements found within nature. Whereas Chloe Jenkin’s paintings explore themes of place, atmosphere, and individual experience through still images of spaces gathered from film and television. Moving into the natural world, Makeena Hartmann’s graphite drawings on handmade paper elevate native wildflowers to foster the development of a nurturing relationship with nature in the modern world. Lastly, Bella Jiang’s drawings capture and depict the faded-insignificant moments of memories that carry subtle and sensitive emotions.

Con•com•i•tance aims to open conversations around intimacy, discomfort, memory, and self within the natural world; providing a space for reflection on how these themes affect us psychologically and physically. Exploring themes around relationships, body, land, memory and place, the exhibition invites us to reflect on what defines each one of us and our relationships to the ever-changing world around us.