Message from Director/Curator
Hello and welcome to the RAG E-Newsletter, Issue #13

The RAG is operated by the Richmond Art Gallery Association and is the City of Richmond's Public Contemporary Art Gallery under the auspices of the Office for Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services. The Gallery receives generous and ongoing financial support from the City of Richmond, the BC Arts Council, the BC Gaming Commission and the Canada Council for the Arts. On behalf of everyone involved with the RAG I wishto thank our funders, amazing volunteers and dedicated staff.

Michelle Allard, Highlife; Erica Stocking, Proscenium Home

You and your friends are invited to the opening reception of our first concurrent exhibitions of the 2008 programming year, on Friday, December 7, at 6:30pm. Highlife is an ambitious new installation in Gallery One by Michelle Allard. Proscenium Home reconfigures Gallery Two for a new site-specific work by Erica Stocking. Join us in celebrating the debut of these two new projects and the dedicated emerging artists behind them. RAG publications relating to these exhibitions, featuring texts by Kristina Lee Podesva, will be available at the reception.

 

Visitors at this years Mirror Mirror event

This year's major Gallery fundraising event, Mirror, Mirror 2007:Little Landscapes and Miniature Worlds was a phenomenal success. The Gallery gained so many new and wonderful members (!) while raising always needed operational funds! We also pulled off the most exciting closing Gala and contemporary art social Richmond has ever seen! Our sincerest thanks to everyone who got involved and gave the RAG their support. Welcome to the Gallery community!

Page Hope-Smith speaking at the Mirror Mirror event

RAGA Board Member Willa Walsh welcomes patrons to the event

The RAG 2008 Programming Catalogue is now available. This free publication presents all of our upcoming 2008 contemporary artexhibitions, off-site exhibitions at Richmond City Hall and the Gateway Theatre, artist talks, curator tours, educational programmes, new initiatives and activities. Get your copy soon.

I am leaving the RAG as interim Director/Curator this December and two permanent senior staff positions, those of Director and Curator, will be instated in the New Year. It's been a great privilege to work at the RAG through 2007, to programme 2008 exhibitions and activities, to join a truly amazing staff (particularly Paula Hickey, Nan Capogna, Carie Helm, Kathy Tycholis, Karm Sidhu and Gillian McQuade) and to inherit the legacy of excellence Corrine Corry established over her tenure. I'm looking forward to the RAG's further development in the coming year.
 

Jacob Gleeson

The RAG welcomes Jacob Gleeson to the Gallery community. Jacob is now digitally documenting RAG exhibitions for archival and grant writing purposes. He is a respected artist and facilitator within the Lower Mainland contemporary art community and has worked collaboratively to realize many artist-run initiatives and projects over the last five years, including St. Georges Marsh and the ongoing Cornershop Projects inVancouver. We are fortunate to have him with us.

Visit the RAG this Holiday Season for exciting new explorations in contemporary art and ideas!

Sincerely,
Jeremy Todd
Interim Director/Curator

 
Community Members Feature
In this issue: George Pissarra
 

George Pissara

George Pissarra has been an invaluable friend to the Richmond Art Gallery over the last 14 years. He has generously assisted founding Director Page Hope-Smith, Director/Curator Corrine Corry, and most recently interim Director/Curator Jeremy Todd, as well as Gallery Staff and exhibiting artists, with all sorts of odd jobs, deliveries, technical problems and facility oriented challenges. George is the Building Service Worker of the Richmond Cultural Centre and everyone in the centre, from Librarians to Heritage Museum Staff rely on him for assistance and support in their daily operations. George always brings an affable attitude and a generous disposition to the workplace, helping us all work more effectively together. George grew up in Burnaby the son of Portuguese immigrants. His family ties remain strong and he continues to reside in the community he was brought up in. Many colleagues enjoy George's easy going manner on a regular basis outside of the workplace during fishing trips, bbqs and lunchtime soccer matches. We can't thank him enough for all of his help over the years! Yay George!

Looking Back
Fond Farewell & Best Wishes


Jeremy Todd speaking to Gallery visitors
 
RAG staff would like to thank and acknowledge Jeremy Todd for his invaluable contribution to the Richmond Art Gallery this year. The 2008 exhibition programming put in place by Jeremy is exciting and challenging and our only regret is that he will not be here to personally see it realised. Other initiatives begun by Jeremy include the Hope-Smith Art Lounge, a space re-allocated for the express purpose of growing a publicly accessible Exhibitions Archive and Publications Library.

We will miss his integrity and sense of humour and most of all his creativity and vision for the Gallery. He built upon the fine work of Corrine Corry and he is leaving the RAG a healthier place thanks to his energy and insightful imprint. Jeremy has promised to stay in touch and we are holding him to it.

Nan Capogna, Mary Castellanes, Curtis Grahauer, Paula Hickey, Gillian McQuade, Karmjit Sidhu and Kathy Tycholis

Coming Up

Join us this winter for our Art Course for Teachers – 2-D Projects. Designed specifically for Elementary teachers to try out various art materials and lesson plans for use in the classroom. This shorter version of the course focuses on basic techniques in drawing, painting, and printmaking. No art experience is necessary. All art materials and detailed lesson plans are provided so that you can bring what you learn to your own classroom immediately.

The upcoming Art Course for Teachers runs from January 22-February 26 on Tuesdays from 4:00 – 6:00pm, at $128 for 6 sessions. Register now through the City of Richmond’s Call Centre or Online Registration by asking for Course # GA-10122 at: 604-276-4300 or www.richmond.ca.

The Richmond School District is generously co-sponsoring this course, providing Richmond teachers a 50% reimbursement of the course fee upon completion of this course.