PAST EXHIBITS

Aliens Among Us

The Royal BC Museum’s popular exhibition Aliens Among Us is about to invade Nelson! The exhibition aims to educate British Columbians about the growing threat of alien species in our natural environment. “By raising awareness about the issue of alien species, we hope to inform people so they can make good choices about protecting B.C.’s natural environment,” said Pauline Rafferty, CEO of the Royal BC Museum. Visitors will learn how alien species arrived in BC, how they can affect our environment, and what people can do to help protect their communities.

Klang & Squeal

When was the last time you were invited to touch a piece of art? Klang and Squeal, a two-person exhibition featuring interactive sculptures by Megan Dickie and sound drawings by Diana Burgoyne will give viewers the chance to do just that! In their respective practices, both artists explore the notion of interaction through very different, but complementary means.

Diana Burgoyne refers to herself as an electronic folk artist. Her work combines electronic components with traditional art media in simple but often unexpected ways. The result is work that not only invites participation, but changes and evolves in response to it.

What I Eat: Around the World in 13 Diets

What do you eat in a day? In a compelling collection of photos and descriptive text, photographer Peter Menzel and writer Faith D’Aluisio will answer that question for 13 people from around the world. Interesting, engaging, and at times disturbing, the portraits offer a unique insight into other cultures. They also give our own diets a more global perspective, and allow us to consider some of the wider implications of our food choices.

Landon Mackenzie: Mapping History

Landon Mackenzie’s enormous paintings (over 7 feet tall and 10 feet long) dazzle the senses with layers of vibrant colour, intricate meandering lines, clusters of dots and radiating shapes. What appears at first to be purely abstract is actually informed by Mackenzie’s research into Canadian history, geography and cartography. Continents, time zones, satellites and shipping routes overlap into complex networks, forming a new vision of place and history. This combination of the sheer beauty of painterly abstraction with intellectual depth and has lent her work broad appeal. Currently residing in Vancouver, Mackenzie has garnered national and international acclaim for her work including many commissions and awards. Mapping History will feature some of her most celebrated large scale paintings, as well as a selection of other work.

Baker Street Then and Now

Nelson is unusual – since its inception, it has managed to retain a main street that has consistently been a vital and dynamic part of the community. Since being re-discovered in the early 80’s, the historic buildings and pedestrian-friendly downtown continue to characterize the heritage that the city has become so well known for. This exhibit will feature a montage of past and present photos of many of the historic buildings on Baker Street from the Touchstones Nelson Archives, as well as considering other examples of what heritage may look like as we move further into the 21st century.

Deborah Thompson: Tales from the Underworld

In Tales From the Underworld she continues to explore the human psyche through her intuitive and gestural paintings, as well as through a number of sculptural pieces. Although visually and thematically complementary, the sculptures are quite different from her two dimensional work, and are further evidence of an artist whose practice continues to challenge both herself and her audience.

Kootenay School of the Arts at Selkirk College Graduation Show

This exhibit features the work of graduating students from the Kootenay School of the Arts at Selkirk College. Student work from each of the four studios: Clay, Fibre, Jewellery & Small Object Design and Metal will be displayed. KSA’s programs place emphasis on the skills necessary to become a successful and professional arts practitioner. Hands-on studio work combined with the study of design, drawing, history, and professional practices leads to an in-depth understanding and refined ability to apply the essential elements for success in the industry.

Forest for the Trees

Forest for the Trees brings together four local artists whose work explores the interplay between nature and culture. Through photography, sculpture, painting and installation, the artists reveal the tensions and connections between society and the natural world. Artists Ian Johnston, Tanya Pixie Johnson, Barbara Maye and Nadine Stefan present diverse approaches, with references to science, history, spirituality and First Nations culture. By reflecting on our relationship with the natural world, perhaps we can come to a deeper understanding of our own place within it.

The History of Radio in Nelson

In its earliest days, radio had an almost magical quality, with its ability to draw voices seemingly out of thin air into small black boxes. As its name suggests, this exhibit looks at the history of radio in Nelson, with a focus on the earlier years of broadcasting when the medium was at its most popular. Selected artifacts from the Touchstones Nelson permanent collection will be featured, as well as amateur, or “ham” radio, (which continues to be a viable communication option for backcountry enthusiasts and others in our region), and a timeline of selected radio highlights from the early 20th century up to the present day.

Jan Kabatoff: Ice Flows and Sound Retreats

Jan Kabatoff has a fascination with ice. Not the household variety, but glacial ice, and more specifically its relationship to global warming. Kabatoff has travelled to glaciers on seven continents from Argentina to Nunavut documenting and recording the movement and morphing of glacial ice. The result, Ice Flows is a multi-media installation focusing on the ephemeral nature of ice.

According to Kabatoff, “science tells us that with a few exceptions, glaciers worldwide are receding at an alarming rate, due to their sensitivity to temperature fluctuations. Like the canary in the gold mine, they are speaking the loudest about the effects of climate change.