Articles
9th November 2009
Tony Martin
Friday November 13 at 7pm
Opening Reception: Mail Art Olympix / Gail Challender Originals – Christmas at CVAG/35th Annual CVAG Christmas Craft Fair
Show runs November 14 – December 31, 2009
It’s that time of year again and Comox Valley Art Gallery is gearing up for its 35th Christmas. Remember Woodward’s Christmas displays? CVAG goes one better: For the first time the whole of CVAG’s Window Gallery is being devoted to a very special exhibit of artist Gail Challender’s Santas and Elves which represent her love of Christmas. Her heirloom quality lifelike representations are timeless and are as meticulously crafted as they are beautiful and charming. Challender studied under master sculptor Judith Klawitter in Idaho. She uses only the most high quality opulent fabrics and trims in her custom designed costumes. Most striking are the life like handmade glass eyes she uses in the figures. The faces of her figures show a great deal of character due to the details in the cheeks, brows, noses and mouths. CVAG invites you to come by and take in the scenes of Christmas created by Gail and her family of Santas and Elves, in the window and viewable 24hrs a day.
Many local and BC artists are represented in the Public Gallery and George Sawchuk Gallery for the first ever Mail Art Olympix November 14th – December 31st. This international exhibition is guest curated by Ed Varney who, in 1970, was one of the first Canadian artists to participate in what became the “Mail Art Network” . Mail Art has continued to flourish as an alternative art strategy up to the present. The Mail Art Network had its origins in the late sixties as artists around the world began to exchange works of art through the postal system. It was an early form of social networking between artists and the transactions took place outside the “art world” of galleries, museums, and the art market. For some artists, Mail Art was a means of meeting other artists through the medium of their work, for others it provided a network of fellow artists in other countries to visit and perhaps spend a night while travelling. For others, particularly artists living under repressive governments, Mail Art provided a window on the world and an opportunity to make their concerns known.
New York artist, Ray Johnson, is usually considered the father of “Correspondence Art”, another term for Mail Art. Mail Art had antecedents in Fluxus and, before that, Dada. In the beginning, it was a one-to-one network – each transaction or trade was with one other person and the network expanded by the exchange of personal mailing lists.
Along with hundreds of Mail Art submissions from all over the world, check out the self portraits and see if you can recognize those local entries. The public will be asked to select their favourite artworks by “posting” them into an authentic 19thc. mail box; on display as well is a 19thc. stamp perforator, both items p[art of Ed Varney’s Mail Art collection. Everyone’s welcome to the opening Friday November 13th at 7pm. Until December 31st.
Also mark down on your calendar CVAG’s 35th Annual Juried Christmas Craft Fair that opens on Friday 20th November. From10 am until late night come to Downtown Courtenay for “Christmas Magic”, the traditional moonlight sale. We will be open for you to stock up on all your Christmas Gift ideas. Dozens of handmade stocking fillers, pottery, jewellery, art and crafts. Discounts on everything in the store on November 20th and 21st! Our Christmas Craft Fair remains open to December 31st. Hours: 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday, and Sundays in December.
For more detailed information check out our web site at www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com or phone 250 338 6211. CVAG is located opposite the library, downtown Courtenay.
Opening Reception: Mail Art Olympix / Gail Challender Originals – Christmas at CVAG/35th Annual CVAG Christmas Craft Fair
Show runs November 14 – December 31, 2009
It’s that time of year again and Comox Valley Art Gallery is gearing up for its 35th Christmas. Remember Woodward’s Christmas displays? CVAG goes one better: For the first time the whole of CVAG’s Window Gallery is being devoted to a very special exhibit of artist Gail Challender’s Santas and Elves which represent her love of Christmas. Her heirloom quality lifelike representations are timeless and are as meticulously crafted as they are beautiful and charming. Challender studied under master sculptor Judith Klawitter in Idaho. She uses only the most high quality opulent fabrics and trims in her custom designed costumes. Most striking are the life like handmade glass eyes she uses in the figures. The faces of her figures show a great deal of character due to the details in the cheeks, brows, noses and mouths. CVAG invites you to come by and take in the scenes of Christmas created by Gail and her family of Santas and Elves, in the window and viewable 24hrs a day.
Many local and BC artists are represented in the Public Gallery and George Sawchuk Gallery for the first ever Mail Art Olympix November 14th – December 31st. This international exhibition is guest curated by Ed Varney who, in 1970, was one of the first Canadian artists to participate in what became the “Mail Art Network” . Mail Art has continued to flourish as an alternative art strategy up to the present. The Mail Art Network had its origins in the late sixties as artists around the world began to exchange works of art through the postal system. It was an early form of social networking between artists and the transactions took place outside the “art world” of galleries, museums, and the art market. For some artists, Mail Art was a means of meeting other artists through the medium of their work, for others it provided a network of fellow artists in other countries to visit and perhaps spend a night while travelling. For others, particularly artists living under repressive governments, Mail Art provided a window on the world and an opportunity to make their concerns known.
New York artist, Ray Johnson, is usually considered the father of “Correspondence Art”, another term for Mail Art. Mail Art had antecedents in Fluxus and, before that, Dada. In the beginning, it was a one-to-one network – each transaction or trade was with one other person and the network expanded by the exchange of personal mailing lists.
Along with hundreds of Mail Art submissions from all over the world, check out the self portraits and see if you can recognize those local entries. The public will be asked to select their favourite artworks by “posting” them into an authentic 19thc. mail box; on display as well is a 19thc. stamp perforator, both items p[art of Ed Varney’s Mail Art collection. Everyone’s welcome to the opening Friday November 13th at 7pm. Until December 31st.
Also mark down on your calendar CVAG’s 35th Annual Juried Christmas Craft Fair that opens on Friday 20th November. From10 am until late night come to Downtown Courtenay for “Christmas Magic”, the traditional moonlight sale. We will be open for you to stock up on all your Christmas Gift ideas. Dozens of handmade stocking fillers, pottery, jewellery, art and crafts. Discounts on everything in the store on November 20th and 21st! Our Christmas Craft Fair remains open to December 31st. Hours: 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday, and Sundays in December.
For more detailed information check out our web site at www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com or phone 250 338 6211. CVAG is located opposite the library, downtown Courtenay.
