Appreciating artistic contributions of volunteers
By Caroline Ho, Arts Editor
On Wednesday, October 4, the Gallery at Queen’s Park will unveil its latest exhibition, in celebration of the hard work of community volunteers.
Contribution: ACNW Volunteer Exhibition will feature the artwork of volunteers Robin Chui, Julie Epp, Steve Holmes, Randy Quickfall, Barb Webb, Betteanne Wilson, and Kat Vedah, all of whom generously contribute their time to the Gallery in various ways.
The Gallery is located at Centennial Lodge in New Westminster’s Queen’s Park, and is only about a 20-minute walk or bus ride away from the Douglas College New Westminster campus. Admission is free, so it’s a great place to visit if you have a bit of time before, after, or even in between classes.
Exhibitions at the Gallery usually run for about a month, with 11 exhibitions per year. The previous show, which ended last Saturday, featured the work of Tajah Olson, an artist and dancer born and raised in Malawi and currently based in Vancouver. Her exhibition My Face My Canvas presented a thought-provoking examination of the complex construction of identity.
The Gallery at Queen’s Park is run by the Arts Council of New Westminster, a non-profit organization that promotes visual, performing, and literary arts in the community. In addition to art exhibitions, they also run various musical and other performances, movie nights, craft markets, festivals, and other local events. The space of the Gallery serves as an artistic hub for New Westminster—a hub that would be unable to function without the efforts of its volunteers.
As described by the exhibition statement, the volunteers’ contributions “not only make the daily operations of the Gallery possible, but their passion for the Arts enriches the environment of the Arts Council.”
The Contribution exhibition will hold a free opening reception on October 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Gallery’s regular weekly hours are from 1 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday, and it is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Contributions: ACNW Volunteer Exhibition will be on display until October 29.
