Gallery #1 and #2
Still Here...
The Ninth Annual North Okanagan Artists Alternative Members Juried Exhibition

The current exhbition, Still here..., marks the North Okanagan Artists Alternative's Ninth Annual Members Juried Exhibition. The NOAA is the vibrant group of artists and friends of the arts who are behind Gallery Vertigo. What started as a small group of artists looking for alternate venues for the exhibition of challenging and experimental works has grown to include over 140 members and a permanent location! The longevity of the organization and the continued existence of this venue is clear testament to the fact that much needed services and opportunities are being provided here and that an alternative gallery continues to be relevant in this community.
 
The works included in this exhibition represent a wide variety of mediums and different approaches to art making. Close to 50 artists are represented in the show with examples of stone carving, assemblage, woodcut and lino prints, bronze sculpture, assemblage, and drawing and painting. It is a strong group of works that clearly displays the depth of talent we enjoy in the North Okanagan region.
 
Thank you to juror Wanda Lock, who has done a skillful job of selecting from the over 100 works submitted. She has succeeded in creating an exciting and unified exhibition from the diverse works put forth for selection.  Lock has graciously consented to attend the opening reception and will present a short talk about the jurying process.
 
Thank you to all who submitted works to be juried! Your involvement in the process is appreciated whether or not you were lucky enough to have work selected. The juried exhibition is a necessary component of every artist's list of accomplishments (curriculum vitae) and so acceptance into juried exhbitions is highly sought after. Often response to the call for submissions is so great that many worthy works must be edited from a juried exhibition. Nevertheless, the courage to face the possibility of rejection is a part of being an artist and you are among those brave enough to take this risk, so congratulations!

About the Juror: Wanda Lock

Artist Wanda Lock lives and works in Lake Country. Lock graduated from Emily Carr College of Art and Design in 1992 and returned to the Okanagan shortly thereafter.  Recent exhibitions include ‘Pitching Tents’, Vernon Public Art Gallery 2009 and ‘Stacks and Piles’ Kelowna Art Gallery 2008.  The artist is represented by Elevation Gallery in Canmore, Alberta and The Front Gallery in Edmonton, Alberta.

Still Here...
 
What does the title of this exhibition mean? This year, Gallery Vertigo is celebrating its tenth year of existence! Surviving and prospering in a difficult economic climate is no small feat! Gallery Vertigo has every reason to celebrate the fact that we are "still here"!
 
It takes many interested and committed individuals and organizations to keep a small gallery alive and well, and so there are many thank you's to be said on such an anniversary. A huge thank you goes to a devoted arts community that values and supports the arts in all forms. The fact that we are "Still here..."  is largely due to those people who work on the front lines...the volunteers. On behalf of the North Okanagan Artists Alternative, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your time and your commitment. A particular thank you goes to those of you who volunteer to hold a position on the board of the organization. I would also like to thank the City of Vernon for their support over the past two years. The moral and financial support that has come from our own community has helped to ensure our continued success. This year, we applaud the Regional District of the North Okanagan for their decision to fund Gallery Vertigo in 2010. This financial shot in the arm could not have come at a better time! Thank you to the other arts organizations in the North Okanagan. Your support and encouragement is appreciated by everyone at Gallery Vertigo!  Thank you also to the many patrons and artists who regularly attend or lead events at the gallery, and to those who exhibit their work here. Your participation keeps Gallery Vertigo alive and inspired! Thanks to the support of the North Okanagan community, we are "still here" and we will continue to be because of you!
 
Gallery Vertigo is one of more than 150 artist-run centres across Canada.  For almost 40 years, artist-run centres have played a major role in Canada's visual arts history. As small but highly efficient think tanks, artist-run centres are at the core of research, development, and creation. From  every major city to many smaller communities such as ours, these centres have produced thousands of exhibitions, performances, screenings,  readings, workshops and special events. The vitality of artist-run culture is recognized across Canada and abroad, and is often seen as an effective model.
 
Artist-run centres are an essential link in the network of visual arts in this country. They complement and and nurture experimentation in the visual arts which in turn feeds museums, public and commercial galleries. Often, artist-run centres offer artists their first opportunity on the art scene, as many of the best-known Canadian visual artists can testify.
 
In British Columbia this year, the provincial government has shown little regard for the plight of artist-run centres. Currently many artist-run centres across our province have lost the majority or all of the provincial funds they once received. This has placed great financial hardship on artist-run culture and has threatened its very existence in some cases. Fortunately, this has presented new and difficult challenges, but not insurmountable ones thanks to the forward vision of our community and its leaders.
 
I encourage everyone to continue to support Gallery Vertigo and other arts venues in  our region by being as involved as possible. Volunteer. Attend as many events as you can and take along friends and family. Become a member of the organization if you aren't already. Keep your membership current.
 
These may be difficult times, but we are STILL HERE! thanks to you.
 
Judith Jurica,
Director, Gallery Vertigo
 

NOAA Members Wall Gallery

Artist Statement:

Many things have happened universally and personally in the past few years that have had a huge impact on all of us. All have been forced to contemplate priorities and the effects of them on ourselves, our families, our communities and our dear
Mother Earth.

One person meditating can make a huge difference in changing the energy to that which will benefit all.

My personal journey (having a kidney removed due to a genetic disorder, dialysis, and waiting a transplant) and my awareness of the needs of our human and animal family, combined with the need for awareness of Mother Earth and Her needs has lead me deeper down my path of meditation to the Love and Light that is available to us all. 

This series is testament to that journey. (Seward)

Vertigo Window Gallery:
Time Machine, Earth and Water: Kevin Michael Witzke

Artist Statement:
 
My current series of work looks directly at the concepts and devices involved in time.  With Time Machine I have created a device to investigate time and to document its markings.  When observing the work I encourage you to become an archaeologist, a scientist, and student of the past.  The markings reveal a history you read on the canvas document. 
 
The markings are made using earth samples from the Okanagan valley, collected from sites in the mountains and on the valley bottom. These pigments are an integral part of the valley we call home; a fundamental component of the land.  As your eyes meander across the canvas, the various time-marks become stories you read; a visual narrative of what is 'Okanagan'.
 

Biography:

Born in Vernon, BC, Kevin Michael Witzke has spent his lifetime in the Okanagan Valley pursuing and developing his career in fine arts. Kevin received his Diploma of Fine Arts in 2003, and his Bachelor of Fine Arts at UBC-O in 2007.  Since 2007 he has continued creating in his studio in Kelowna, BC, and exhibits his work locally and abroad.

Corporeal Fancies - mixed media drawings by Tia McLennan

Kalamalka Vertigo presents these sensitively-executed,  biomorphically-inspired drawings produced while the artist was completing her BFA at the Nova Scotia School of Art and Design. 

About Tia McLennan
Originally from Vancouver and Vancouver Island, Tia McLennan has been studying and producing art for the past 15 years. From 1998-2000 she attended Capilano College University, where she completed a diploma in fine arts as well as attending the Art Institute program in printmaking in 2002-03. She completed her BFA in interdisciplinary studies at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University in 2005. She is currently attending UBC Okanagan, working on an interdisciplinary MFA in the areas of creative writing, visual arts and multi media.

KALAMALKA VERTIGO
All are invited to view the works at Kalamalka Vertigo, located at Vernon's Kalamalka Campus of Okanagan College. The gallery is located just past the college lecture theatre in the main building adjacent to the college office.
"Kalamalka Vertigo" , located at the Kalamalka campus of Okanagan College, represents a joint venture between Gallery Vertigo and Okanagan College. This is the newest incarnation of the ongoing partnership between the two institutions. 

Exhibition Proposals: Please print a copy of our form and send it off to us with the information requested.
A selection committee reviews proposals once a year, usually in the spring.
Contact us for more information.
info@galleryvertigo.com
proposal form and information for exhibitions in gallery #1 and gallery #2
members wall application
window display

Previous Exhibitions:
2010:
Susan Bizecki and Kevin Michael Witzke - Mar.9 to Apr.1
UBC Okanagan Students: Architecture Digress - Feb. 9 to Mar.4
School District 22: Incognito - Jan.12 to Feb.5
2009:
Headshots, Wheeltown: Noel Bullock - Oct.15 to Nov.7
Philomena Caroll, Margarita Alejandre, Sookinshoot - Sep.10 to Oct.3
Almost Famous Auction - August 22
Microbial Tales - Arthur Desmarteax and Allison Moore - July 2 to July 25th
Pfannschmidt, Newell and Mace - May 26 to June 23
Heidi Thompson and Stephan Bircher - Apr.21 to May 15
Lucky Number 7: NOAA juried exhibition - Mar.17 to Apr. 9
Social Spectrum: A Group Exhibition by UBC Okanagan Photograpy Students - Feb.10 to Mar.7
Fusion: Fourth Annual High School Exhibition - Jan 13 to Feb 17
2008:
Picasso's Cupboard/ Book Fair - Nov.25 to Dec.13th
not with a Bang, but with and SUV - The 7th Annual NOAA Members Open Exhibition - Oct.7 to Nov.1
the coming night - Jorden and David Doody / Typoportraits - kevin mcpherson eckhoff
Almost Famous Auction - August 17
Ten - Studio Artists - Current Work - July 29 to August 9 / Joanne Sale-Hook:Introduced Species - July 29 to August 17
Katie Brennan - Stasis Strategy / Floribunda - June 23 to July 19
Space (re)Constructed - Miranda Aschenbrenner / Memory/Recall - Suzanne Phillips - May 27 to June 21
March to May - Faith Moosang/Candies - Sabrina Ovesen
Sixth Annual NOAA Members Juried Exhibition - March 18 to April 12
Drawing Conclusions - UBC Okanagan Student Exhibition - Feb.12 to March8
The Wheel: School District #22 High School Students - Jan.15 to Feb.2
2007:
Picasso's Cupboard and Even Dozen
Mellow Yellow - The 6th Annual NOAA Members Open Exhibition - Oct.16 to Nov.10
Look What we Have Done.. Carolina Sanchez de Bustamante / Mutation - Howard Brown - September 11 to October 5
Almost Famous - Ken Jeanotte - August 7 to August 24
Zotz Collective - Kurt Hutterli - July 3 to July 28
Flesh nor Meat - Ila Crawford /All our Ancestors - Tanya Dubick - May 29 to June 23
Spectacles of Intimacy - curated by Lora Carroll - April 24 to May 18
Green - The Fifth Annual NOAA members juried exhibition - March 20 to April 14
Pressing Engagements - UBC Okanagan Printmaking Students - Feb.13 to March 16
Bugs - School District #22 High School Students - Jan.16 to Feb.3
2006:
Picasso's Cupboard, Studio Artists - Nov.21 to Dec.9
Fall Forward - Oct.21 to Nov.10
Helm, Seward, Began - Sept.8 to Oct.6