Creativity is a wild mind
and a disciplined eye.
- Dorothy Parker
We are grateful to Treaty 8, on whose land we reside.
Open Sky 2025
This year we are celebrating the creativity and talent of North East BC at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery!
Whether you’re an artist showcasing your work or an art enthusiast eager to explore, mark your calendars for this exciting experience. Let’s make this a vibrant hub of inspiration and connection.
Important Dates for 2025:
May 26: Last day of online registration
May 26-June 2: Artwork drop off at the DC Art Gallery
June 7: Opening Reception & Awards at the DC Art Gallery
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.
2024 Open Sky Awards and Recognition
Representational:
‘Apricity’ by Payge Fortier, Dawson Creek
Three-Dimensional:
‘Smoke Break’ by Donna Bozarth, Fort St. John
Conceptual:
‘Inclement’ by Angela Fehr, Dawson Creek
Photography
‘Sodding Gas Service Inspection Holes‘ by Kai Pettifer, Tumbler Ridge
“The Vibe” by Amy Gothard, Dawson Creek
“Autumn Day by Peter Shaw, Dawson Creek
“Breath of Wilderness” by Denise Kearns, Tumbler Ridge
“Resilience” by Jona Ballena, Dawson Creek
“Ripple Effect” by Becky Banack, Fort St. John
“Gastown” by Joe Johnston, Charlie Lake
“The Light of September” by Lorri Langevin, Pouce Coupe
“Shirakawa Bubbles” by Azaria Richards, Fort St. John
“Departing Day” by Hilde Kirschbaum, Chetwynd
Meet the Jurors
We are pleased to announce that the 2025 Open Sky | Arts North East Exhibition Jurors
After graduating with a BFA from Memorial University, Jamie-Lee Cormier opened an Art Gallery in Corner Brook, NL. Cormier owned and operated JL Modern Art & Design for over 6 years selling her work along with 40 other local artists original artwork. Also offering artist studio rental space out of her Gallery and was able to offer Art Lessons to the community.
After moving to Grande Prairie, AB Jamie-Lee was hired at the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie. During her time there, Cormier has engaged with the community in numerous ways. While working in the Learning department (2017-2022) she was instrumental in initiating learning activities with families in the Carlstrom Green Space, making art kits available for the community during the pandemic, and teaching school and community groups how to engage with art and create artwork of their own, inspired by exhibitions. Since Cormier was hired as the Travelling Exhibitions Manager/Curator in 2022, she continues to create programming for the exhibition guides and engage with the communities who host the travelling exhibitions by bringing in visiting artists for talks and/or workshops; these initiatives are an important mandate in her practice.
Kiren Niki Sangra is visual artist residing in Grande Prairie, Alberta. She works in a variety of media. Her preferred mediums cycling through depending on what she is in the mood to create, though painting, in both acrylic and watercolours, often rise to the top. She enjoys an illustrative style in much of her representational work, as well as portraiture of both people and animals. Ms. Sangra is also the Curator/Marketing and Events Coordinator at the Centre for Creative Arts, where she has worked for the last 17 years and spearheaded the Wearable Arts Show and many other community events.
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, 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
Questions?
Please use our contact form or email us at ed@artsnortheast.org