You can't use up creativity.
The more you use, the more you have.
- Maya Angelou
We are grateful to Treaty 8, on whose land we reside.
Open Sky 2023
June 9 - 22, 2023
Tamarack Hall in the Chetwynd Rec Center,
4512 N Access Rd, | Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0
Opening Reception: June 9th, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Show Open: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, seven days a week
Arts North East Art Exhibition
(Formerly The Regional Juried Art Exhibition - RJAE)
2023 Open Sky Artist in Residence
The Open Sky Artist in Residence program supports any visual artist residing in the Peace River Regional District or the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality. The successful applicant will gain experience installing and curating an exhibition and will be provided with studio space within the Open Sky Exhibition, held at the Tamarack Hall in the Chetwynd Rec Centre in Chetwynd, BC. The Artist in Residence is a representative of Arts North East (Peace Liard Regional Arts Council) and is responsible for welcoming visitors and monitoring the security of the exhibition.
2023 Open Sky Awards and Recognition
Representational:
‘Drowning Yet Surviving’ by Samantha Wigglesworth, Fort St John
Three-Dimensional:
‘On the Backs of Our Ancestors‘ by Curtis Dickie, Fort Nelson
Conceptual:
‘Self Portrait with Chair‘ by kit fast, Dawson Creek
Photography
‘Andrena’s Willow‘ by Caily Oldershaw, Dawson Creek
‘Ethereal Illumination,’ Denise Kearns, Tumbler Ridge
‘Body Works,’ Mary Parslow, PRRD
‘Petals for Kookum,’ Lorissa Scriven, Taylor
‘The Alley, Peter Shaw,’ Dawson Creek
‘Oval Floral Stamped Serving Dish,’ Dori Braun, Pouce Coupe
‘Night Dance,’ Angela Sullivan, Chetwynd
‘Hazel,’ Brogan Didier, Chetwynd
‘Blaze Across the Land,’ Angela Fehr, Dawson Creek
‘Illumination,’ Megan Graw, Dawson Creek
‘Percolating,’ Becky Banack, Fort St John
‘Northern Lights,’ Alison Newth, Fort St John
‘Mesmerized by the Dancing Stairway to Heaven, Saulteau First Nation,’ Alex Landon Richardson, Chetwynd
Meet the Jurors
We are pleased to announce that the 2023 Open Sky | Arts North East Exhibition Jurors are
Gerry Sheena, a member of the Interior Salish Nation carver and mentor, and Mary Anne Molcan, a Canadian visual artist who creates unique hand carved lino block prints.
I am a member of the Interior Salish Nation and been carving for over 30 years. My private work can be found throughout galleries in BC as well as the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. My carving style is traditionally Salish, informed by modern painting techniques and innovative use of colour and design; I have carved masks, bowls, rattles, plaques and various sizes of totem poles.
From 1998-2002, I mentored youth in the Collingwood community to create public art. In four years, we completed four carvings: Synala Totem Pole, The Multicultural Gateway, The Guardian of the Park and the Renfrew Park Eagle. All the carvings were done in the public with many people visiting the carving site and can be found throughout the Renfrew Collingwood Community.
Mary Anne Molcan is a Canadian visual artist who creates unique hand carved lino block prints. She is very grateful to live, work and play on the unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation on Vancouver Island. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with distinction from Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC. Majoring in Visual Arts, printmaking became a strong focus as she developed her practice. Minoring in psychology, she is intrigued by the affiliation we have with our unconscious and how that relates to the physical world. Hours of quiet reflection spent in the natural world inspire and inform her work. Having spent several years in vision care, her interest in perceptual aesthetics is an unwavering constant throughout her explorations.
Molcan is a member of People of Print and has exhibited in both Canada and the United States. Her work is held in public and private collections internationally, including the Vancouver Island University’s digital intellectual and creative archive.
Recent awards include The Los Angeles Print Society, 2022 Print Day in May Award, The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, 2020 Print Day in May Award, the Visual Arts Award of Excellence, the EJ Hughes Memorial Award in Visual Arts, and The Ladysmith Arts Council Fine Art Show’s Best Printmaking Award.
Visit https://maryannemolcan.com/ for more information
ABOUT US
About Open Sky
Held annually at one of the five PLRAC (Arts North East) member locations, Open Sky, formerly the Regional Juried Art Exhibition, provides an opportunity for regional artists to exhibit their work throughout the region. Award-winning works of art are chosen by the jurors and include 4 distinguished awards, chosen awards, and honourable mentions.
With the sponsorship of the BC Arts Council, PRRD, NRRM, Ovintiv, and the partnering arts council, Open Sky is continuing to nurture and grow arts and culture in our region.
Thank you to our Sponsors
Island Mountain Arts
Questions?
Please use our contact form or email us at ed@peaceliardarts.org