Clockwise, from top left: Nora Blanck, The Science of Nature: The Principle of Evolution (detail), 2005-2007, photocopy ink on archival paper, coloured pencil, coloured thread, 8´´ x 10´´; Jenny Judge, Imaginings (detail), 2007, fimo, sewing pins, thread, wire, acrylic paint, dimensions variable; Sylvia Kind, wool, wrap, stone, 2006, lightjet c-print, 30´´ x 40´´; Philippe Sokazo, Starland Passage (detail), 2007, acrylic on canvas, 36´´ x 48´´

Message from Director/Curator

Hello and welcome to the RAG E-Newsletter, Issue #10.

The RAG is operated by the Richmond Art Gallery Association and is the City of Richmond's Public Contemporary Art Gallery. On behalf of everyone from the City of Richmond's Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services, and of course, our Gallery Association, I want to thank the City of Richmond, the BC Arts Council, the BC Gaming Commission and the Canada Council for the Arts for their generous financial support. I must always also thank our Volunteers, Staff and Members for their dedicated efforts.

You and your friends are invited to the opening reception of Shift: Working Through Repetition and Difference, featuring works by Nora Blanck, Jenny Judge, Sylvia Kind, Philippe Sokazo and Tim van Wijk, on Thursday, July 12 at 6:30pm. This exhibition brings together a diverse range of art practices exploring the creative potential of labour and repetition in contemporary life, and will be accompanied by a new publication with a text by RAG Curatorial Assistant Carie Helm.

The Second Annual Artist Trading Cards Exhibition will be launched concurrently with Shift in the Gallery space previously used for the Art Access rentals service. Participation in this year's ATC Exhibition has grown exponentially and is international in scope. Don't miss it!

Many thanks to all of the Richmond artists who submitted work to the outgoing juried RICHmondARTs Exhibition "The Changing City". Don't forget to take in the related studio tour event this coming weekend, Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8, 12-4pm.

This year's major Richmond Art Gallery fundraising event, Mirror, Mirror 2007: Little Landscapes and Miniature Worlds, November 10-24, continues last year's Members Exhibition, Auction and Closing Gala Event with an exciting new theme. Preparations are already under way! So far, more than 80 artist-members have signed on for the exhibition/auction. There's still time for you to join them. Fantastic sponsorship opportunities are also available. Support the RAG! Support contemporary art in the City of Richmond and beyond! Get involved now: www.richmondartgallery.org

Lastly, don't forget that the RAG Online Auction Summer Sale is currently under way!
Over 25 original works donated by artist-participants in the Art Access rental service are waiting for your winning bids! Bidding ends August 31st.

Join us this Summer and enjoy all of the great programming, activities and exhibitions the RAG has to offer.

Jeremy Todd, Interim Director/Curator

RAG Community Members Feature
In this issue: Minerva Chow and Angus Ferguson
Would you like to nominate someone for the next Community Members Feature? Email us!

Minerva Chow has been a valued member of the Gallery community for 5 years. She began as a volunteer Attendant and later joined the Attendant staff. She has dedicated many, many hours to assisting with Gallery fundraisers, opening receptions and tours. Minerva also joined the Exhibition Committee and became an effective coordinator/communications person for their various activities. Minerva's involvement with the Exhibition Committee has meant a great deal to her and this has always come across in her alert attention to detail and engagement with daily operations. Interested in learning more about the artists involved with Gallery programs and with contemporary art in general, she would often try to anticipate visitors' questions and have answers at the ready! She took great pleasure from the few times she had the opportunity to lead tours in Cantonese. Minerva and her husband are moving to Hong Kong this August to spend the coming years with her father. We will all deeply miss her caring nature, integrity, and sense of humour.

Angus Ferguson has been the Gallery's Preparator since the Spring of 2004. He also works as an on-call Preparator for the Charles H. Scott Gallery. Angus is a graduate of the Emily Carr Institute and a dedicated artist working first and foremost with painting. He has always been a consummate professional in his dealings with art and artists during his time at the RAG. Each install job has been executed cleanly, precisely and without fuss. We have all depended on him to present RAG exhibitions in the best possible light, both literally and figuratively. Angus recently began work as a regular assistant in the management of Bob Rennie's vast contemporary art collection and its regular display within a newly developed private Gallery site. This work, in conjunction with renovations to a recently purchased house and an ongoing art practice, have led Angus to finally retire from his work at the RAG. We'll be very fortunate to find someone who can fill his shoes.

Welcome to new staff members


We are pleased to welcome 4 new staff members to the Gallery. Natalie Strul and Ella Deer will be leading our 2007 summer art camps. Natalie returns to the Gallery from last year's camp. Natalie recently graduated from Emily Carr and we are delighted she has returned to work with Ella. Ella is a recent graduate from UBC and together they make a dynamic duo. They have been busy preparing projects for the summer and we are excited to see what the children will make.

Cindy Mochizuki is the new Family Sunday Facilitator. Cindy has an MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the School for Contemporary Arts from Simon Fraser. She has an extensive exhibition and performance record as well as curatorial and programming experience. She just completed her first month with the Family Sunday students and says they are all terrific to work with. We know that the students will enjoy working with Cindy and learning from her. Welcome!

A welcome to Marie Ko who has been hired as a Gallery Attendant. Marie started off at the RAG by volunteering for Family Sundays and Summer Art Camp. Currently she is a student at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design studying Communication Design. She has also studied Art and Design as well gained experience in painting, photography, printing and sculpture. We are delighted to have her with us!

What's Happening at the Gallery

RICHmond ARTS Open Studio Event
As part of our RICHmond ARTS exhibition, a selection of participating artists will be opening their studios to the public to offer an opportunity to meet artists in the community and see how they work. Participating artists are Lorna Downie, Astrid Fox, Margareth Fry, Nancy Halifax, Pamela Holl Hunt, Jeanette Jarville, Adrienne Moore, Karen Lorena Parker and Loraine Wellman. The studios will be open on Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 from noon to 4pm. Click here for a map of the studios or come into the Gallery to pick one up and experience the creative wealth in your community!

Artist Trading Card Exhibition
The Richmond Art Gallery is hosting its second annual Artist Trading Card exhibition from July 13 - September 7, in what was previously the Gallery’s Art Access Rental space. We put out an open call to all artists and non-artists and have received approximately 1000 cards from people across Canada, in the United States and as far away as Australia. Join us for the Closing Celebration & Trading Session on Friday, September 7 at 7pm.

Artist Trading Cards (ATC) are tiny works of art (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") that are made to trade. There are no restrictions of medium or theme - the possibilities are endless! ATC’s are intended to be a non-commercial, non-hierarchical avenue for artistic exchange. Cards are traded one for one and all people of all ages and artistic abilities can participate.

The Richmond Art Gallery holds regular trading session on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 7-8:30pm (please note the new time).

Chrissy Cheung, Outsides, 2004, Acrylic on Canvas, 13" x 36"
Online Auction Summer Sale
We encourage you to take the opportunity to check out our Online Auction Summer Sale and support the Gallery by bidding on the artwork. There are works by twelve local artists available at very reasonable starting bids. Get in on the action and place your bid today!

If you live in the area and would like to make an appointment to view the work in person, please contact Carie Helm at 604-247-8317 or by email at chelm@richmond.ca.

Quiz Contest Feature
Answer the following three questions correctly (it is possible to find all of the required information on the Gallery website!) and win a RAG publications package, complimentary drinks at a RAG opening of your choice and the honour of being mentioned in the next E-Newsletter! Wow!

E-Newsletter Issue #10 Questions:

1. How many artists are exhibiting in the upcoming RAG group show Shift: Working Through Repetition and Difference?
2. What on-line exhibition currently hosted by the RAG website directly involves Cambie Secondary School students?
3. Who is the RAG's Cultural Programmer?

Think you can win?
Email your answers to the Gallery. The first responder to correctly answer all three questions wins the contest.

New "Letters" Feature
We Need CONTENT for a New "LETTERS" Feature. We Want Your Feedback. What are your thoughts about the Gallery, Gallery activities and/or exhibitions? Email us and you might get your opinions published in a new "Letters" section of the RAG E-Newsletter Issue #11. Please be sure to type "Letters" in the subject heading of your email.