Mikie Spillett has the audience in the palm of her hand
Dawn McRae belts out a solo
Yes, it really is Rebel Luv for Ken Repkow and Mikie Spillett
Dawn encourages the audience to dance
and they do. Here, Mikie accepts Wayne’s invitation to dance.
The Museum of Unknown Civilizations is a project started in Oliver BC by transplanted artist Kurt Hutterli (left). The museum follows a childhood dream of the artist to explore the unknown in objects encountered in museums as a child. Years later, myth comes to life through recycled materials creating mysterious and invented artifacts. These works are designed to make the viewer ask questions ordinarily overlooked, to prod the viewer to seek answers to the unknown. The work seems to probe an uncertain, uncomfortable future.
Kurt Hutterli emigrated to Oliver, Canada with his wife Marianne in 1996 from Bern, Switzerland leaving behind a stable and successful career as a school teacher, artist and writer. Kurt is a multi-faceted artist; a builder, a painter and a writer, often combining some combination of his tool box when working on a new piece of work, all traits of a Dada artist, which Hutterli is foremost. As a form of inspiration, it is important to note Dada was an artistic and literary movement that began in Switzerland as a reaction to the First World War and the ridiculous state of affairs by creating equally nonsensical work as a form of protest. While art forms come and go, Dada appears to be an art form with no end in sight, with Dada artists like Hutterli using its form to create discourse on subjects that are important to the time.
This exhibition is Kurt’s second in Penticton. In 2003 the (then) Art Gallery of the South Okanagan hosted ‘A Colourful Meeting”, an eclectic collection of brightly coloured display made from found and made objects. The exhibition was a precursor to this exhibition in ways. It was around this time that Kurt began a new project entitled The Museum of Unknown Civilizations. This exhibition will showcase Hutterli’s latest installment of this ongoing project and fifteen years of work.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff and friends of the Penticton Art Gallery, I would like to thank Mr. Urs V. Strausak, Consul General of Switzerland, for his financial support enabling the publication of a catalogue to document this exhibition.
by Glenn Clark, curator
Penticton Art Gallery,
199 Marina Way
Penticton, BC
Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm
Saturday & Sunday 11am – 4pm
Closed Monday & Stat Holidays
T: +1 250 493 2928
E: info @ pentictonartgallery.com
Marion Trimble and Tara Hovanes are shown ready to exhibit their art, Thursday to Saturday on Main Street.
This is the first time the artists have shown together and the first time to have a show on this scale not connected with a group. Although their styles are completely different they share a love of art and an appreciation of each other’s talent. Both are members of the Oliver Arts Council, the Sagebrusher Art Club and the RipOff Artists and both have won awards in their categories at the Oliver’s Fall Art Show and Sale. In 2013 and 2014, the two organized “Art Without Borders”, very successful exchange visits with artists from Oliver’s sister city, Lake Chelan. Over time the two have crossed paths, immersed in art and become good friends.
“It’s a Tara & Marion thing” is open daily 10 am to 4 pm from Thursday August 11 through Saturday, August 13 at 6220 Main Street. Take the doorway between The Oliver Shoe Store and the Artisan Bakery to the back of the building. Here you’ll find Tara and Marion welcoming you to view and purchase some of their fine art.
