Oxygen Art Market — An Art Exhibition and Fundraising Event
By Contributor
Every year, the Oxygen Art Market attracts hundreds of art-lovers to the Oxygen Art Centre and it’s no wonder! Over 30 established and emerging Kootenay artists submit their paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and other 2D work for this weekend-long event.
The event runs May 25-27 at the Oxygen Art Centre at 320 Vernon Street (back alley entrance) in Nelson from 7-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The work is hung “Salon” style, in the manner of the Académie des Beaux – Arts exhibitions in Paris at the turn of the century, where work was hung on every available wall space from ceiling to floor. With over 120 pieces on display, the hanging is a major undertaking for the volunteer committee, and it makes for a striking event.
Oxygen Art Market is an opportunity to experience first-hand the breadth of work made by West Kootenay artists, and to get yourself a piece of original, locally-made art! With fifty percent of the sales given to the Oxygen Art Centre, the Art Market has become an important fundraiser for the Centre. Oxygen Art Centre is governed by a collective of professional visual artists, filmmakers, theatre artists and writers.
As one of Canada’s 100 or so artist-run centres, Oxygen shares the common mandate to provide an alternative forum for contemporary art, outside of commercial constraints and interests, while recognizing artists through the payment of professional fees.
2018 Oxygen Art Market artists include:
Natasha Smith, Carol Wallace, Susan Andrews Grace, Brian Kalbfleisch, Deborah Thompson, Micheal Graham, Carol Reynolds, Lindsay Dew, Rachel Yoder, Sally Johnston, Boukje Elzinga, Stephanie Kellett, Keira Zaslove, Heather Hutchinson, Nicole Hobbs, Deirdre McLaughlin, Jennifer Lount-Taylor, Selda Canoglu, Karen Guilbaullt, Mirja Vahala, Barbara Wallace, Mary-Ellen Marshall Michel Hervoche, Ian Johnston, Kelley Shpeley, Anita Levesque, Ron Robinson, Rick Foulger, Patrick McGoey, Tanya Pixie Johnson, Julie Breton, Rielle Oswald and Chrystyna Bykowa.
