The Nicola Valley Community Arts Council (NVCAC) is putting out a call for submissions for their first show of 2021.
This show will be a display of pieces that will potentially be considered for the Arts Council’s ‘Street Art’ initiative, in partnership with the City of Merritt as part of a project to beautify the downtown district.
“We want simple sketches of ideas, or actual pieces of art you have created that can be used as-is, or modified for translation to outdoor public art,” said Arts Gallery Director, Jano Howarth.
“The pieces for this January show can be small to large, but still need to be ready to hang. So, you may have something already framed, or that hangs up somehow. Or props on an easel. We can also accept 3D pieces if you have ideas for how it could be created for public art, say a wood carving, or inset stone.”
Space for the show is limited, but at least a couple dozen pieces will be needed, with other submissions kept in mind for ongoing and future street art and shows.
For this show it is not necessary to submit previously unshown art, artists who have already had a particular work displayed at the Arts Gallery are welcome to resubmit it, provided it will translate well to street art.
The show, titled ‘Street Art!’, will run from Jan. 13 to 31, with a COVID-safe reception tentatively planned for Friday, Jan. 20.
Collection for this show will be Monday Jan. 11 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Art Gallery’s new location on Voght St. next to the Kekuli Café.
Regular Art Gallery hours will resume following the holidays on Friday, Jan. 8.
Two more community Art Shows have been scheduled for later in the year, following ‘Street Art!’.
From Feb. 3 to Mar. 3, 2021 the Arts Gallery will host ‘Art of COVID’, a working title that reflects how creatives may have been putting their time to good use during the pandemic.
What creativity have you been up to during this time of COVID?” the Gallery asks.
“Lots of people have been spending way more time at home and we want to see how you have been art-inspired over the last months. Has COVID-19 given you time to work on your favorite art expression? Or have you tried a new art or craft during this time?”
Submissions of wall art, mixed media and 3D art, fibre art, written word, music and digital works will be accepted, with collection for the show on Feb. 1, 2021.
The third community show will centre around every day, wearable art.
‘Art of Clothing’ will run from Jul. 28 to Aug. 29.
“Are you a clothes designer? Or wish you were one because you have fashion ideas? Are you a screen printer, sewer, beader, crocheter, leather worker? Do you love creative fashion?
We are inviting local creatives to get ready for a Gallery Show all about the art of what we wear.”
Collection for this show will be on July 26.
Also in the works is a show centred on body art, including local and cultural designs for tattoos, henna, body work and possibly hair and nail design as well.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed down the NVCAC, and they are hard at work putting together a new year of art for Merrittonians to create and enjoy.
