Abbotsford, BC – A new season of exhibitions opening at The Reach on October 1 enthusiastically embraces the power of fantasy and spectacle. New shows, headlined by artists from BC and Nova Scotia, present a cacophony of colour, texture, and sensory experience welcome visitors back into the space as the organization begins offering public programs and events in-person again.
While The Reach has continued to welcome walk-in traffic to visit its exhibitions since June 2020, public programming has been primarily online. “It’s been tough but necessary to restrict our events and programs to an online audience,” says Executive Director Laura Schneider, “we’re really looking forward to the opportunity to carefully welcome visitors back to engage in more than just a look around.”
The Reach presents four new projects in its fall season. VampSites is a solo exhibition of contemporary artwork by Nova Scotia-based artist Mitchell Wiebe. Wiebe’s complex and fantastical installation combines making and showing, and imports the chaos and theatre of his studio into the well-lit, rational architecture of the art museum. Visitors will be enthralled by the way that Wiebe’s paintings seem to burst out of their frames and seep onto the walls, and mysterious portals invite us into unusual and unexpected viewing experiences. This nationally touring exhibition is curated by Pan Wendt, and is organized and circulated by the Confederation Center Art Gallery in Charlottetown, PEI. The artist will present an online talk, co-hosted by The Reach and University of the Fraser Valley’s School of Creative Arts, on October 6 at 1:00 pm. To register, visit thereach.ca or search for “Mitchell Wiebe” at eventbrite.ca.
Jorden and David Doody are a Kelowna-based husband-and-wife artist team whose exhibition, The Dreaming Machine presents a showcase of new, two-dimensional and three-dimensional work. Known for their trippy, immersive installation works that probe at the intersection between the virtual and the physical worlds, the Doodys produce work of art that explore how our consciousness is impacted by the proliferation and saturation of images in contemporary screen culture. Look for new online curator’s tours coming this fall that will highlight artworks in The Dreaming Machine. Be sure to follow The Reach on social media for the latest video releases.
The Reach’s Curator of Art & Visual Culture, Adrienne Fast, says: “These new exhibitions are truly a sight to behold – we have transformed the Great Hall space into a fantastical, exuberant spectacle. Every time I turn around I discover something new that fills me with joy and wonder, and I can’t think of a better set of exhibitions to welcome our visitors back to in-person events. After these many months of difficulty and struggle, I know I’m not the only one ready for unbridled fun and delight!”
Other exhibitions include Art on Demand 7.3, which presents the work of Faria Firoz and is curated by Emilie Kvist. Both Kvist and Firoz are graduates of the University of the Fraser Valley’s Bachelor of Fine Art Program. Art on Demand is an exhibition series that is part of the Emerge program at The Reach which supports emerging artists and arts professionals between the ages of 18-35. Grade 6 students from Nerlap Sidhu’s class at Eugene Reimer Middle School will also be presenting their Equity Backpack Project in the Community Art Space. The Equity Backpack Project places students at the center of their learning and the curriculum by honoring their lived experiences, language, culture, and traditions.
There will be an opening party to launch the new exhibitions on October 1, from 6:30-8:30 pm. The Reach is following current Public Health Orders to protect visitors. There is no admission fee for the event, but pre-registration is required and capacity is limited. Visit thereach.ca to register. Masks and proof of vaccination are mandatory.
Image: Mitchell Wiebe, Donkey Holds the Line, 2002, acrylic and oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Artist. Photo by Oakar Myint.
