Past President: Marion Morrison Trustees: Kyle Britton, Anne-Marie Clancy, Jay Gilman, Louise Mcguire, Destanne Norris, Bonnie Thomas, Sigrid-Ann Thors, & Edward Woolley
STAFF:
Executive Director: Dauna Kennedy
Curator Emeritus & Facility Advisor: Lubos Culen
Curator: Victoria Verge
Bookkeeper: Tom Knight
Preparator: Asana Hughes
Gallery Attendant: Chantelle Bullen
Education Coordinator: Samantha Ahize
Development & Admin Coordinator: Mandi Irmen
Marketing & Events Coordinator: Jordan MacDonald
CONTACT:
Phone: 250-545-3173
Email: education@vernonpublicartgallery com Website: www.vernonpublicartgallery.com
CONTENTS
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
ANNUAL EXHIBITIONS
TOUR INFORMATION
REGIONAL REACH
CRIT CLUB
VPAG acknowledges our presence on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded tmxʷúlaʔxʷ (land) of the syilx / Okanagan people who have resided here since time immemorial We recognize, honour, and respect the syilx / Okanagan lands upon which we live, work, and play.
A NOTE TO EDUCATORS
At the Vernon Public Art Gallery, we’re committed to supporting teachers in bringing contemporary art into the classroom. Our programs are designed to inspire creativity, foster visual literacy, and connect students with the ideas and practices shaping art today.
The tours and hands-on activities will focus on specific prescribed learning standards, big ideas and core competencies from BC’s new curriculum in the area of Arts Education. All tours and hands-on activities at the VPAG are adapted to meet the requirements of each grade and at times will tie into other curricular areas.
NEUFELD THIBEAULT
ROY-BOIS
RHONDA NEUFELD
Topham Brown Memorial Gallery
July 24 - September 24, 2025
RHONDA NUEFELD FAR AWAY HOMELAND (DETAIL SHOT) 2025
Rhonda Neufeld Leaving Home
In Leaving Home, artist Rhonda Neufeld shares a deeply personal body of work that reflects on her connection to the landscape she called home for over 40 years Through walking, touching, and closely observing the natural world around her, Neufeld captures the details of place tree bark, stone surfaces, shifting light and translates them into prints that hold both memory and presence
Using traditional printmaking techniques, Neufeld makes rubbings directly from trees and rocks, transferring those impressions onto copper plates, wood blocks, and lithographic stones The result is a series of works that feel both grounded and poetic, inviting viewers to slow down and experience the land in a more intimate way.
Sylvan Hamburger Soft Architectures
Soft Architectures features prints pulled directly from the surfaces of demolished or soon-to-be-demolished buildings, transferred onto found bedsheets and other soft materials Through this process, Sylvan Hamburger preserves traces of disappearing architecture, layering personal and collective memory into tactile impressions of the built environment
MARK
THIBEAULT
Topham Brown Memorial Gallery
October 2 - December 23, 2025
OCTOBER TO DECEMBER
Caroline Galbraith Gallery Oct 16 - Dec 18, 2025
Mark Thibeault Populated
Populated by northern B.C.–based artist Mark Thibeault features large-scale abstract paintings exploring the shifting connections between people and the natural world Initiated during the pandemic and continuing today, the series embraces intuition and improvisation, drawing on the biodiversity of northwest British Columbia Thibeault’s multidisciplinary practice spans painting, music, and lutherie, with his work reflecting both the fragility of ecosystems and our shared responsibility to them.
Members Exhibition EXPOSED!
Our annual Members Exhibition, Exposed!, provides a unique opportunity to showcase the breadth of talent within our local art community This exhibition offers the public a chance to appreciate the diverse approaches and styles embraced by our members, reflecting a deep engagement with artistic practice.
LINDA MOWAT, SHROOMS, 2023, OIL ON CANVAS
SAMUEL ROY-BOIS
Topham Brown Memorial Gallery
January 9 - March 11, 2026
ROY-BOIS IT’S NOT ME IT’S MY CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (INSTALLATION VIEW) 2021 WAAP, VANCOUVER
SAMUEL
JANUARY TO MARCH
ART FROM THE HEART ART AND SOUL
Caroline Galbraith Gallery
January 9 - March 11, 2026
Samuel Roy-Bois Kitchen Corner
Samuel Roy-Bois is a Quebec-born artist and professor at UBC Okanagan whose practice spans installation, sculpture, and photography. His work often transforms architectural space, examining how we navigate built environments and the memories they hold. For this exhibition, Roy-Bois presents a new site-specific installation alongside recent sculptures and photographs, many being shown publicly for the first time.
SD#22 Student Exhibition Art From the Heart Art and Soul
These two annual exhibitions celebrate the creativity and vision of elementary and secondary students from School District No. 22, offering a glimpse into the next generation of artists as they experiment with materials and ideas. These dynamic exhibitions reflect their diverse perspectives, technical skills, and growing artistic voices.
MAKAYLA CHALLENDER, DANGEROUS BEAUTY, 2024, ACRYLIC ON PAPER MACHÉ SCULPTURE
Topham Brown Memorial Gallery
March 20 - May 20, 2026
MARCH TO MAY
VIVIAN SMITH
Caroline Galbraith Gallery
March 20 - May 20, 2026
VIVIAN SMITH, CUSHIONED, 2024,
Amy J. Dyck Portals to Elsewhere
Amy J. Dyck is a Langley-based artist whose multimedia practice blends painting, sculpture, collage, and drawing into hybrid figures that embody resilience, transformation, and the complexities of living with chronic illness Portals to Elsewhere brings together new and recent works, including ceramic sculptures, mixed-media paintings, and her Bed-Desk drawings, offering a poignant exploration of strength, vulnerability, and imagination in the face of adversity
Vivian Smith I’m in This World, Doing
Vivian Smith is a Calgary-based artist whose practice explores the intersection of unpaid care work, domestic labour, and economic systems. In I’m in This World, Doing, Smith presents mixed-media works and installations that transform personal documentation of daily routines into visible markers of invisible labour Using materials such as textiles, beeswax, and found domestic objects, the exhibition highlights the essential yet undervalued work that sustains our communities.
EMERGENCE
Topham Brown Memorial Gallery
May 29 - July 29, 2026
Emergence is an annual group exhibition showcasing the work of graduating students from the University of British Columbia Okanagan’s Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Media Studies programs.
ELLA COTTIER CANS (DETAIL SHOT) 2025 BISQUE FIRED SLIP CASTS
ANNUAL EXHIBITIONS
Members Show:
Exposed!
On Display: October 16 - December 18, 2025
Marzieh Homayoun
Mackie Lake House AiR
On Display: October 16 - December 23, 2025
SD22 Exhibitions:
Art from the Heart
On Display: January 9 to February 7, 2026
Art and Soul
On Display: February 12 to March 11, 2026
SD22 Indigenous Students: Gathered
On Display: May 21 to June 21, 2026
UBCO Grad Graduates: EMERGENCE
On Display: May 29 to July 29, 2026
GALLERY TOURS
SELF GUIDED TOUR
Looking for flexibility? This is a self-directed option for you and your students to explore the gallery on your own
Please book ahead of time to make sure we can accommodate your class as well as to receive the appropriate Teacher’s Guide to prepare for your visit.
Duration: Flexible
Grades: K-12
Fees: By donation
GUIDED TOUR
Students will have a tour of the current exhibitions with the gallery educator Teachers are welcome to provide an ingallery worksheet or activity to accompany the tour.
Duration: 45 minutes
Grades: K-12
Fees: $3 50 per person
GUIDED TOUR & ART PROJECT
Exhibition tours are immersive and engaging opportunities for all grade-levels to think critically about contemporary art. This option includes a guided gallery tour followed by a hands-on art workshop inspired by the artwork on display Classes are limited to 30 students.
Duration: 75-90 minutes
Grades: K-12
Fees: $5 per person
TEACHER’S GUIDE
This is an in-depth booklet containing the background information about the artist, exhibition, related vocabulary, and suggested pre/post visit activities It is intended to be a teaching tool used to enhance the students’ experiences and to extend the learning outcomes covered within the gallery tour
The guide is provided to teachers prior to any scheduled tour and available on our website.
For more information please contact the art galleries Book A Tour Learning Curator, Samantha Ahize,
Phone: 250-545-3173
Email: education@vernonpublicartgallery.com
Website: www vernonpublicartgallery com
Regional Reach Regional Reach
Regional Reach is a traveling art education kit delivered to schools by the VPAG, proudly sponsored by Kal Tire. These kits make it possible for teachers and students who face barriers such as high bus costs to access gallery-quality art programs right in their classrooms
What’s IncludedOriginal framed artworks from the VPAG Permanent Collection
A teacher’s guide with 10 cross-curricular lesson plans
Biographies of featured artists
Art supplies & equipment for hands-on activities
How it works $75 per class (covers supplies for one activity)
Add a second activity for $40
Teachers can book kits for 2 or 4 weeks
VPAG delivers & picks up the kit
Scan for morel details
C R I T C L U B
What is it?
Crit Club at VPAG is a dynamic, hands-on program that invites high school students to engage in meaningful workshops and critique sessions with established professional artists Each session is designed to provide valuable insights into the creative process while encouraging peer interaction, artistic growth, and self-expression
Why Join Crit Club?
Crit Club provides high school students with the tools and confidence to engage and elevate their artistic practice With expert guidance from professional artists, access to a supportive community of peers, and the chance to showcase their work at VPAG, students will have the opportunity to grow as artists and gain valuable experience in a real-world setting. Whether you’re just beginning your artistic journey or looking to push your skills further, Crit Club offers a safe space to explore, create, and thrive
Thank you to Wayside for being the 2025 print sponsor
Vernon Public Art Gallery Society gratefully acknowledges financial support from:
The Vernon Public Art Gallery is a registered not-for-profit society We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of BC's Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, British Columbia Arts Council, the Government of Canada, Corporate Donations, Sponsorships, Foundation Grants, General Donations and Memberships Charitable Organization #108113358RR
