As an activist, visual artist, and radio personality for nearly 75 years, Judy Wapp has lived an incredible life. A teenaged encounter with Elvis Presley, participation in the art card/mail-art scene of the ‘70s and ‘80s, and a decades-long involvement in Kootenay Coop Radio, when it was a fledgling community station, have all helped to lay the groundwork for her intense interest in communication via mass media – the subject of her collage work for nearly 33 years. 

A thoughtful look at Judy’s art career spanning six decades, VisuAlchemy is a never-before exhibited retrospective showing at the Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery from March 23 to June 22, 2024. The show features many of her collage pieces that have been held in private collections for  years and not accessible to the public, as well as samples of art cards that Judy has traded around the globe throughout her storied career. 

“VisuAlchemy is the culmination of a prolific career from a captivating artist,” says Nelson Museum Curator Arin Fay. “Judy’s work has inspired the lives and art of countless of people in the West Kootenay region throughout her career and has contributed so much to the community – we are honoured to host this incredible body of work at the Nelson Museum.”