The Kelowna Art Gallery has been collecting and storing masterpieces in its vaults for years. But, as we all know, art is meant to be seen.
Currently, the gallery’s vault contains over 1,000 art works, of which 100 have been selected for an upcoming exhibition called Rise/Fall: Works from the Permanent Collection Which will open on Saturday, October 5.
“In our case, we do not have any permanent collection gallery. In other words, our permanent collection always sits in the vault unless we have an exhibition,” said Clea Haugo, registrar and assistant curator of the Kelowna Art Gallery.
Opening the safe is easy, but getting 100 paintings ready to start with them is hard.
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“Most of our artworks are on paper and stored in boxes. So, when the opportunity comes to display them we can take them out of those spaces and hinge and frame them,” said Haugo.
One-tenth of the collected collection has been earmarked to be hung and displayed for all to see over the weekend in a show led by curator Christine May at the Kelowna Art Gallery.
“Every time I open one of those drawers it’s like Christmas morning [in the vault] There’s always something to discover,” May said.
One of those discoveries is a painting by AY Jackson, who was a member of the Group of Seven, a group of painters. The Canadian painter was known for his works inspired by nature.
“It was painted in 1961 so it’s a nice modern piece and it reflects the Canadian landscape he’s known for,” May said.
It will be displayed along with 99 other masterpieces on Saturday for the inauguration of the exhibition, which will run till January 26, 2025.
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