Memories in mixed media

Douglas College alumni exhibit in Amelia Douglas Gallery

By Cheryl Minns, Columnist

The Amelia Douglas Gallery presents its latest exhibit, Louise A. DeGagné and Gregg Steffensen’s this part remains with me as part of the 13th Annual New West Cultural Crawl. The opening reception for the mixed media works exhibit will feature the artists and take place at 11 a.m.–2 p.m. on August 13. For an early preview, gallery visitors can check out the works on display beginning August 4.

DeGagné and Steffensen have each created new mixed media works specifically for the exhibit. The theme of this part remains with me comes from “pronounced memories and feelings from a young age that remain with clarity,” according to the artists, who are alumni of the Douglas College Stagecraft Program.

“We chose to use lowercase letters because these thoughts and feelings we’ve drawn from exist in the background of our lives,” they explained.

Both artists work with an acrylic-base medium, as well as their own preferred mediums. Steffensen’s work is primarily photo transfers and mark-making.

“My work is a dialogue between humanity and the mechanical environments we have realized to enable our existence. I am especially interested in decommissioned, abandoned, and forgotten objects, sites, and structures,” Steffensen wrote on his website, GreggSteffensen.net.

DeGagné’s work consists of a combination of plaster, pastel, ink, conté, and paper.

“I work with depth and isolation with multi-layers and multi-textures of materials. Drawing on my experience as a scenic artist, I make use of a range of mediums/materials in achieving depth in my paintings,” DeGagné wrote on her website, LouiseADeGagne.com

The artists have previously participated in the Eastside Culture Crawl, opening their shared studio space to the public.

DeGagné and Steffensen will present a talk about the exhibit at 10 a.m. on September 9 in the gallery. The talk is open to all members of the community.

This part remains with me will be on display in the Amelia Douglas Gallery on the fourth floor of the Douglas College New Westminster campus from August 4 to September 9.