Event Info
Avis Rasmussen: The View From Here
Local artist recognized with major survey exhibition, spanning six decades!
12:00pm - 5:00pm
By Donation
Event Description
Avis Rasmussen: The View From Here
Exhibition: 12 April - 28 May 2023
Opening Reception: Saturday 15 April, 3PM
Artist-in-Conversation: Sunday 30 April, 3PM
In this retrospective exhibition, spanning six decades of production, the Victoria Arts Council recognizes the astounding output by local artist, Avis Rasmussen. A focus on Rasmussen's oscillating points of view from the intimate to the international, offer a much needed look at this artist's work.
Exhibition curator and VAC executive director, Kegan McFadden, first approached Rasmussen to work on this project together last year, noting, "The idea of The View from Here is to show Avis has always been paying attention and engages her surroundings to make her artwork; this is closer to the poet's eye for recollection. So whether glancing around the gardens where she grew up, strolling through Beacon Hill park, taking in the landscapes of Greece, or the stage at Herman's, and at times even her own reflection... Avis's images have always been informed by her specific vantage point."
Across the decades Avis Rasmussen has become known as a painter, printmaker, and poet. The selection of works in this sprawling survey will offer everything from sketches done in the 1950s to experimental prints from the 1970s to watercolours of the 1980s through to a linocut finished earlier this year. Gathered for the first time will also be work on loan from the University of Victoria's Legacy Art Gallery and Library's Special Collections, including an important oil on canvas painted at the internationally renowned Emma Lake Workshop in the 1990s. A publication of Rasmussen's new and selected poems and texts, edited by McFadden and co-published with the University of Victoria will be launched during the exhibit. The book, also titled The View from Here, features poems from the 1970s up to 2022.
A selection of Rasmussen's original art, limited editioned prints, cards, and books, will be available for sale during this exhibit. Of her practice, Rasmussen has said, "As a visual artist my art and life is influenced by my life-cycles, the world around me, my family, friends and other supporters of my art during my long life. I often work in series creating from an idea, a fascination, an inspiration, a vision, a view, an activity, a live performance/performer, music or scenes on my travels."
Rasmussen's art can be found in collections across the country and beyond, including: University of Victoria, Government House (BC), Burnaby Art Gallery, Keyano College (Alberta), Dunlop Art Gallery (Saskatchewan), University of Saskatchewan, Wilfrid Laurier University (Ontario), York University (Ontario), University of New Brunswick, and University of of Prince Edward Island, among others.
Victoria Arts Council
1800 Store Street (wheelchair accessible) | Wednesday to Sunday, 12 to 5 pm
by donation: $2 - $20
Vicartscouncil.ca
Venue
Resource
1800 Store Street Victoria BC
since 1968
In-Person Event
Sun. May 28th 2023 + Add to Calendar
Victoria Arts Council
