Artists young and old reveal their work at upcoming exhibit

NEWS — More than 90 area artists from ages 14 to 84 will reveal their work at Kamloops Arts Council’s Art Exposed Feb. 15-23.

The exhibit will be in the Old Courthouse Cultural Centre. More than 155 works of art — paintings, drawings, fibre art, carvings, clay and photography — will be on display.

May of the works will be for sale.

Robin Hodgson is one of many artists entering work. Hodgson, a recent graduate of TRU’s Visual Arts program, is a former snowboarder who used to compete on the junior national team.

After an accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury at age 19, Hodgson channelled his energies into art. “His unique style of acrylics and oil painting fuses elements of graffiti with surrealism, dark humour and imaginary landscapes,” said arts council executive director Kathy Sinclair in a press release.

Hodgson and others will attend the opening reception Friday, Feb. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m at the Old Courthouse Cultural Centre. Prizes will be awarded in two categories.

Art Exposed runs Feb. 15 to 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is by donation. The public can vote for their favourite work of art, and will be eligible to win original artwork.

Sinclair said the exhibit is designed to showcase the work of emerging to professional artists of all ages, youth to senior.

“The event provides area artists with an opportunity to exhibit their work in a high-profile setting, as well as a chance to get feedback from established artists.”

Jurors are multimedia artist and gallery owner Tricia Sellmer, multidisciplinary artist and exhibition co-founder Caroline Dick, and Louis-Marc Simard, a Salmon Arm-Revelstoke painter and sculptor.