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Photo from the Art Gallery of Grande Prairies' Website
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Art Gallery accepting submissions for new community art installation

May 24, 2020 | 7:00 AM

The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie has begun accepting submissions for a new exhibit called The Curve, a community art installation focused on the current pandemic.

The exhibit will be made up of artwork from community members in the Peace Region.

Jeff Erbach, Executive Director of the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie, says they worked with Revolution Place and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta to create the exhibit.

“Essentially, a really large community art installation, which is going to be an exhibition all summer of peoples’ hopes, fears, frustrations in some cases, anxieties, the strength of community and our resilience through what’s been really one of the largest social upheaval pieces in a few generations.”

He says that during the pandemic, they have shifted their programming, including Art at Home, online, and started this project not long after they temporarily closed in March.

“We’ve actually been as busy as we’ve ever been, and you hear that in some cases, especially with non-profit organizations, so, we’re ready to reopen, we’re going to reopen on June 2, and The Curve exhibition will open for everyone on June 9.”

The exhibit was announced on Thursday, and Erbach says they have a great response from the public so far.

“Our perception for sure, is that people are wanting something like this, and they want to know that there’s an outlet for them to express themselves. Many people, through this period, are going through a lot, and so through art, they can help communicate that to other people in the community. So, they can do that through painting or drawing, or photography or graphic art, or textile work, or music, or poetry.”

Information on the criteria for submissions as well as where to submit to can be found at the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie’s website.

Erbach says the exhibit will continue to grow as more submissions are accepted over the summer.