Gallery #1
10 : The tenth annual North Okanagan Artists Alternative’s Open Members Exhibition

Once a year, all members are invited to submit one or two works for this non-juried exhibition. As always, the resulting assortment of submissions encompasses a wide variety of approaches, the use of many different mediums and showcases the diversity and depth of artistic talent that exists in our region. This year's exhibition contains the work of over 40 artists with nearly 50 works of art.
Gallery Vertigo grew from the seed of an idea planted by a small group of local of artists. In 1999, this group began to meet in local coffee shops, restaurants and pubs, drawn together by the desire to discuss art, art theory and professional art practice. From the beginning a desire for self-governance was voiced. This gave impetus to the movement towards the establishment of more current and more exciting opportunities for artists. A number of exhibitions in vacant storefronts followed and dreams of launching an alternative gallery began to percolate.

Encouraged by an overwhelming response from both local artists and the public, the association, which had grown to about 40 artists, incorporated as a registered non-profit society in 2001 (North Okanagan Artists Alternative). Two years later, the NOAA merged with a small group of dynamic artists who had established a local alternative gallery (Gallery Vertigo). What resulted was an even larger, stronger, and more vibrant artistic community and the North Okanagan’s first and only Artist Run Centre: Gallery Vertigo.

Gallery #2
Sindri Hans aka Softy Smooth

Sindri Hans aka "Softy Smooth" was born in 1982 in Reykjavik, Iceland. He has come to Vernon from Copenhagen, Denmark where he has lived for the past seven years. His Neo Pop paintings and drawings are fun and colourful and reflect the growwing wave of graffittie artist worldwide. The work is accompanied by an interesting background of music and sound which the artist has also created. step into Gallery Two and enter the world of "Softy Smooth".

Artist Statement:

I have no clue when I started doing what I do! I guess its more like a part of my life what I am going to be showing here in Gallery Vertigo is like samples of different styles that I have been creating for the last 12 years along with some new and fresh ones some of the imaiges are remakes of old ones that I have made in the past.

The Softy's Story

After 10 long years globalization and faded human rights the original softy created a softy suit wich protects humans from everything so once you get one you become immortal , the group started growing and a new and better society was born.
one filled with colors and happyness . (Sindri Hans)

NOAA Members Wall Gallery: Nhan Duc Nguyen

Nhan Duc Nguyen’s process-based multi-disciplinary works often include community participation components. His project at Gallery Vertigo this coming June will invite local participation of individuals, organizations and businesses in order to create an installation that is particular to the City of Vernon. This sample is a prelude of great things to come.

The working title of the coming project is "Shrine to Literature" and is based upon shrines to literature in Vietnam, where the artist was born. Books will be borrowed from private libraries, publishers and bookstores in order to create the work. The project will also include video and audio recordings and components created by local artists. Nguyen has exhibited world wide and is the recipient of numerous awards and grants including Canada Council and BC Arts Council grants.

Artist Statement:
... I do not drive. No need to be vigilant with the gas pedal or be aware of the road conditions, I get to look out at the rocks and the trees going past, then, more trees and more rocks, then... a lot.
Most fondly felt on these trips were from the local stories and lore, told or overheard in roadside diners and motel offices or at the local joints over pints (hey, I don't drive, and I make sure whoever does drive isn't getting any (and which are at times... problematic)); these stories make me giggle and often left me in awe – and which then are woven together with that ever-slightly, legally sloshed, very contented view from the passenger seat.
Heard on-the-go once and sometimes repeated with the details faded, most likely with details from other stories grafted on, in my mind's eye the aliveness of the stories is woven with the landscape – one continuous story that is made up of many stories, burnished with the motifs of the land and the seasons, and some rocks. The I wondered... how to make this story-of-stories shift and fallow, summer and winter like the landscape does? What stories of Here? How to show the layered stories that make a place? And WHO should tell them?
Through the stories, the landscape of the imagination twined to the seasons of a real place, and even to the rocks, also breed trees of life, of a different kind that is just as necessary... "
In Vernon another tree grows... invites more stories to be added on as time goes by. (Nhan Duc Nguyen)

Vertigo Window Gallery: It's a Sign!
You may have noticed that our usual gallery space in the window on 30th Avenue is now sporting a new Gallery Vertigo sign. Signage has always been needed and funds never seemed to allow for the installation of expensive signage on the outside of our building. That fact, combined with infrequent access to the window space led us to come up with this solution. Let us know how you like it.

Angela Broad
(The current exhibition can be viewed during college hours from now until October 23rd. )

Artist Statement

I explore existence as a multi-dimensional life-force; and use a myriad of mediums and techniques to illuminate the link between various facets of reality. Visions from the landscape, the cosmos and the body join with impressions of neurons, microbes, and other natural systems, creating a complexity of visual forms that navigate the paradox of inner and outer realities; of self and other.
This amorphous process-palette has recently coalesced, and is now inexorably drawn towards emphasizing personal and social experience within changing times.  My paintings embrace such themes as relationship, how beliefs shape reality, planetary consciousness, and information sifting in an age of information overload.  These complex ideas are balanced and emphasized by a return to nature and the moment.

About the Artist

Angela Broad has exhibited both nationally and internationally.  She holds an MFA With Distinction from the University of New Mexico, and a BFA With Distinction from the University of Calgary.  She has taught at the University of New Mexico and currently teaches at VCAC and Okanagan College.
Broad was born in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.  She began a consistent art practice at age three.  She grew up traveling extensively, as well as camping and skiing in the Okanagan Valley.  She has lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Calgary, Alberta; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The artist now maintains an active artistic practice in Vernon, BC        

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:
Drew Makepeace and Dorian Kohl - Sept. 9 to Oct.8
Almost Famous Auction and Studio Artists - August 10 to 21
Amber Powell and Sylvia Vandekerkhove - June 22to July31
Katie Belcher and Joanne Pringle - May 26 to June 12
Still Here: NOAA juried exhibition - Apr.13 to May 16
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