Message from Director/Curator
Hello and welcome to the RAG E-newsletter, Issue #14

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.

Opening reception for Between Hope and Politics

In recent issues of RAGe, this is the space that would have included a message from our Director/Curator. The position has not yet been filled at the Gallery, and I want to take this opportunity to bring you up to date on what has been happening at the Gallery, and the steps being taken to fill important positions of leadership.

Corrine Corry, our previous Director/Curator, went on extended leave in the fall of 2006. Jeremy Todd accepted the interim appointment and served at the Gallery from February – December 2007 as interim Director. Jeremy was responsible for curating the fine exhibition program we are enjoying this year.

Corrine Corry retired, effective November, 2007. The City agreed that her dual responsibilities should be separated into two positions: Director and Curator. With the involvement of City management, Gallery Staff and the RAGA Board, job descriptions were prepared for the new positions and they were posted widely through the arts community. We are now in the process of interviewing and filling the positions.

Large organizations sometimes work very slowly, and we have encountered a number of setbacks in the process. We are hopeful that the situation will be resolved in the very near future and that the Richmond Art Gallery will continue to pursue our vision: “to be one of the most important public galleries in Canada and to increasingly enlarge our audiences and their understanding and enjoyment of contemporary art.”

During the past two years, our Gallery staff has provided service above and beyond the call of duty. We offer our thanks and express our appreciation for their dedication to keeping the Gallery on course during these challenging times.

Please join us Friday Richmond Art Gallery presents two new exhibitions, featuring Vancouver artist Dan Starling and Anishinabe artist Charlene Vickers.

Sincerely,
John Richardson
President and Director, Governance
RAGA Board



Community Members Feature
In this issue: Jay Bowdish
 

Jay Bowdish

The Gallery thanks Jay Bowdish for his ongoing support of the RAG. Over the years Jay has built cabinets, bulletin boards, plinths, painting racks, coat racks and even a gavel for our GM. Recently Jay arrived with nifty clipboard that had a calculator built into the clip. We suggested he patent it and begin a new business venture. Either way, the RAG owns the prototype and we will use it proudly. Thanks Jay!



Coming up
For Adults and Families

COME AND TRADE!
Artist Trading Card (ATC) Trading Session.
Sunday, March 9 from noon – 1:30pm

Join us at the Richmond Art Gallery for our monthly ATC Trading Session. ATCs are tiny works of art (2.5” x 3.5”) that are made to trade. Everyone is welcome! Bring cards to trade or come see what it is all about.

This March will be our last Sunday session, as we are moving ATC Trading Sessions back to their original time on Wednesday nights, starting April 2008.

ATC by Michelle Hendrickson


NEW! Re-Launch of ATC’s at the RAG and on Facebook Groups
Wednesday, April 16 from 6:00-7:30pm.

In April we are re-launching ATC Trading Sessions to the third Wednesday of the month from 6:00-7:30pm. The RAG is also introducing themed ATC challenges to compliment our gallery exhibitions. Each month traders or online participants can respond to an ATC theme posted on our website and on our new ATC at the RAG Facebook Group. After each monthly trading session, we will post themed ATC’s by trading participants on the Facebook Group page. Online participants may also post their themed ATC’s onto the Facebook Group pages. Join our Facebook group to upload your ATC submissions, make connections with other RAG traders, and keep up to date with ATCs at the RAG!


ATC Trading Session

ATC Theme for April 16th session: Portraits of a Hero.

Who is your hero? How would you depict yourself as a hero? Check out our online Teacher’s Guide for the Dan Starling/Charlene Vickers exhibition to see how the exhibiting artists examine the idea of heroes in our culture.

Please note that all ATC cards are welcome at our Trading Sessions. The theme is a suggestion only.

ATCs at the RAG Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9104983993&ref=nf

Current Teacher’s Guide:
http://www.richmondartgallery.org/pdfs/Teachers_Guide.pdf


Finn Slough Show


Caption?

The 8th annual Art about Finn Slough Show is presented by the Finn Slough Heritage and Wetlands Society and Richmond Art Gallery. Join us for the opening reception; live music, snacks, and good conversations on March 7th. Harold Steves will speak about bridge related history 8 pm.

This year’s theme for the Art About Finn Slough Show is "A Bridge to History".

This year’s “bridge” theme provides an opportunity for artists and writers who want to participate in this show to reflect on the idea that Finn Slough, as it still exists, provides a kind of bridge, joining present day Richmond to its own history.

EXHIBIT VIEWING HOURS

Staff News


Flower Patch (detail), Kathy Tycholis, 2008

Kathy Tycholis, the RAG’s School Art Program Coordinator/Instructor, is part of a group exhibition at the Seymour Art Gallery in North Vancouver from April 15 – May 11, 2008. Kathy has made an interactive installation work specifically for the Serious Women Artists Don’t Do Flowers exhibition. Join her at the Opening Reception on April 15 from 7:00-9:00pm.

Seymour Art Gallery:
http://www.seymourartgallery.com/events.htm



Gallery News


Richmond ArtGallery's Facebook profile

The RAG is now interactive online! We’ve launched the RAG Facebook page so that more people can keep up to date with our activities and stay in touch with us. We invite you to become our friend on Facebook, where you will see postings of news items, photos of our events and community, and reminders of upcoming events. You will also be able to send us photos and comments to let us know what you are up to.

Richmond ArtGallery on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040907504


New Gallery Wine Label

The winning design for our new wine label was selected at the Gala the winning entry is Prairie Summer, by Artist Jennifer Lee. Congratulation to Jennifer. Watch for our new label coming soon.

Prairie Sumer (acrylic, 5" x 7")

Jennifer was born in Manila and at an early age, Jennifer had always enjoyed to draw and paint. When she was 10 years old, her family emigrated from the Philippines to the United States. There, Jennifer attended Viewpoint Preparatory School in Malibu, CA where her aptitude for visual art was encouraged and developed. During her elementary and secondary school years, Jennifer’s works were featured on PBS and various local art shows in Los Angeles County.

In 1989, Jennifer’s family moved north to Canada, settling in South Surrey. Though she did not pursue art as her studies in university, Jennifer continued to expand her creativity by enrolling in various fine art classes. This helped her develop a unique eye for balance and use of colours, which have been fundamental in helping her establish a career in graphic design.

Jennifer currently resides in South Surrey with her husband and two children. She continues to find beauty and inspiration in her surroundings, resulting in colourful creations that she hopes will stir minds and hearts.



Looking Back
Artist Talks

On Saturday, February 16, Jim Breukelman, Ricarda McDonald and Donna Szoke presented their work to an appreciative audience. The Gallery thanks the artists for their presentations and for provoking thoughtful discussion. On Saturday, March 29, at 2pm Charlene Vickers will speak about her work. Talks are free and a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the artist and their work.


TD Canada Trust



We are delighted to announce that TD Canada Trust is supporting our RAG School Art Program. TD Canada Trust began supporting our educational programs when it began funding our Studio Satellite Program in 2003. In 2007 TD Canada Trust agreed to expand its role and financial contribution and shifted focus to our RAG School Art Program. Over the years, TD Canada Trust has contributed, including its commitment in 2008, $29,100. Part of this funding package includes the publication, I See at the Richmond Art Gallery Education Page in the Richmond Review. This full colour page features a current exhibition at the Gallery and targets teachers, parents and students. It is written by Kathy Tycholis our School Art Coordinator who gives an overview of the exhibition, includes a glossary and a few questions for our readers and visitors to think about. The RAG School Art Program is a core educational program at the RAG and we are thrilled that TD Canada Trust has committed its generous support of this important Richmond community resource. Thank you, TD Canada Trust!


Apologies

The Gallery incorrectly listed several artists in our Mirror Mirror promotional materials as participants in the Art Auction for 2008. We would like to apologize to Madeleine Wood, Sonny Assu and Colleen Brown, for the error.