Artist’s tapestries address current hot topics
Local audiences are invited to explore the shifting relationship between humans and nature in the 21st century in Curious, a new exhibition by artist Jane Kidd, that opens at the Kelowna Art Gallery.
The labor-intensive process of hand woven tapestry has been Kidd’s primary medium throughout her long career
Her works are technically demanding and thoughtprovoking.
The works on exhibition from her Curiosities and Wonderland series draw attention to contemporary issues, such as genetically modified and engineered organisms and the human manipulation of the environment.
One example of this is a pair of scrolls visitors will encounter that present aerial views of planted crops, along with alpha-numeric codes for GMO seeds.
Kidd takes on the role of a pseudoscientific collector with her series, pairing human, animal, plant, or mechanical images. The artist views these works as engineered aberrations of the natural order, while asking: “Will what we create solve our problems, or create new ones?”
Kidd is an internationally recognized artist who lives and works on Salt Spring Island.
In 2016, she received a Governor General’s Award for her work in the visual arts.
An opening reception for the exhibition was held last night.
The exhibition is accompanied by a fully-illustrated catalogue with essays by Vancouver-based writer Amy Gogarty and Kelowna-based writer, curator, and artist, Jane Ritchie. Jane Kidd: Curious will be on view until Jan. 14. The Kelowna Art Gallery is located at 1315 Water St. in downtown Kelowna.
For more information about current exhibitions, public programming, or special events, visit them online at kelownaartgallery.com or call 250-762-2226.