RCA’s Winter Art Exhibition: A Celebration of Community and Creativity

Art has the power to bring people together, to provoke thought, and to inspire change. The Winter Art Exhibition at RCA is not just a display of talent; it’s a platform for important community conversations. By showcasing local and national artists, we encourage dialogue about cultural identity, artistic innovation, and the ways in which creative expression shapes our world.?

The end of winter at the Rotary Centre for the Arts (RCA) brings more than just crisp air and snow-covered hills,?it marks the launch of our highly anticipated 2025 Winter Art Exhibition. This vibrant showcase celebrates artistic voices from the Okanagan and across Canada, offering a diverse and thought-provoking selection of works that reflect the beauty, creativity, and cultural richness of our community.?

Gallery Openings: A Time for Connection and Celebration?

At RCA, we believe that art is not just about what hangs on the walls; it’s about the conversations, emotions, and connections it sparks. That’s why, three times a year, we host exclusive gallery openings for our KVPACS members, artists, and VIP guests. These gatherings provide a unique opportunity for art lovers, collectors, and the general public to engage with artists, learn about their creative processes, and celebrate their work in an inspiring and welcoming atmosphere.?

These events are about more than just viewing art, they’re about fostering a deeper appreciation for creativity and the role it plays in our society. Whether you're an established collector, an aspiring artist, or someone who simply loves to be surrounded by beautiful things, our gallery openings offer an inclusive space where everyone is welcome to share in the magic of artistic expression.?

Becoming a KVPACS member not only grants you access to these exclusive gallery openings but also connects you with a vibrant community that values and supports the arts. If you’re passionate about the arts and want to be part of something bigger, learn more about KVPACS membership here.?

Visit the RCA Galleries Today?

If you haven’t yet experienced the RCA Winter Art Exhibition, now is the perfect time. Come explore the latest installations, meet the artists, and immerse yourself in the creativity that makes our galleries so special. Whether you’re looking to add to your art collection, gain insight into different artistic processes, or simply enjoy a day of inspiration, the RCA welcomes you to be a part of this exciting season of art and community.?

Latest from our Galleries: 2025 Winter Exhibitions?

The RCA kicked off the year with some fresh exhibitions in our galleries! From breathtaking paintings to beautifully hand-crafted toques and scarves, each exhibit highlights the extraordinary talent of artists from our community and beyond.?

To mark the arrival of these exhibitions, we gathered on Friday, February 21, for a special evening with our members, artists, supporters, and the wider community for a night of connection, creativity, and celebration.?

Take a closer look at what’s on in our galleries below!?

Atrium?

Beverley Chicoine: Paintings & Poetry?

Beverley Chicoine uses a realistic painting style to capture the essence of Western Canadian animals and landscapes. Using rich and vibrant oils, she can portray the natural beauty of the region with precision and detail. These delightful images of cows, horses, and more, add unmistakable charm to our Atrium.?

Artist Statement?

It is my sincerest wish that the ‘Paintings & Poetry’ exhibit brings you joy and that it provides some respite from a 24-hour news cycle that profits off gloom and doom. I feel lucky to share this world with the plants and animals I felt compelled to capture both in paint and in verse, and I hope this exhibit makes you feel that way too.?????

All of the oil paintings in this collection were completed within the last couple of years. I draw my inspiration from the flora and fauna of British Colombia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan whose valleys, mountains and plains I have wandered and studied with zest for all my life.???

Atrium Display Cases?

Ponderosa Fibre Arts Guild: New Twists on Ancient Themes?

Our tenants at the he Ponderosa Fibre Arts Guild have crafted a delightful collection of whimsical, intricate hats, scarves, and textiles for our display cases. These one-of-a-kind pieces bring a playful twist to everyday winter wear, transforming ordinary accessories into works of art. These works are a must-see in person.?

Artist Statement?

Toques, hats, and scarves are textile items primarily designed to keep you warm. These practical items may have been used for millennia, but members of the Ponderosa Fibre Arts Guild know how to add pizzazz to practicality.??

The display at the Rotary Centre features a range of creations, from the tried-and-true to the outrageous.? It provides the spinners, weavers, knitters, crocheters, and felters of the Guild a venue to showcase their skills in the ancient arts, as well as their passion for creative twists and innovation, all within the narrow range of headgear and scarves. But, as everyone who has visited the Guild’s popular Artisan Sale knows, guild members’ portfolios extend far beyond the making of winter wear.???

Guild members love to share their skills. If you have taken part in a workshop or visited studio #204 during a meeting or event, you have experienced first-hand their passion for exchanging knowledge and ideas, and for promoting excellence in fibre arts.??

Alex Fong Galleria?

Okanagan Artist Coalition: Creations Collection?

Our Alex Fong Galleria is full of stunning paintings from the Okanagan Artist Coalition, a group of local artists dedicated to supporting one another and showcasing their work through collective exhibitions. Walk down our galleria hallway and discover the many large-scale works created by members of the coalition, from scenic sights to abstract worlds.??

Artist Statement?

The Okanagan Artist Coalition proudly presents Creations Collection, a captivating showcase of artistic talent and imagination. This dynamic exhibit brings together a diverse group of artists who share a profound passion for their craft, each contributing unique perspectives and mediums to this vibrant collection.??

The Coalition’s shared commitment to fostering artistic connection and excellence shines through every piece on display, offering an opportunity to appreciate the incredible diversity of talent in our region.??

Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply curious about the creative pulse of the Okanagan, Creations Collection promises to inspire, engage, and spark conversation. Join us as we celebrate the vibrant voices of our local artists and the power of art to bring people together.?

First Floor Studio Hallway?

Students from Art+ Development Center, Shanghai: Bring the Wow?

A group of seven students and artists from Shanghai present a diverse collection of works, each showcasing their unique talents and creative specialties, and each travelling over 9,000 kilometers to get to the RCA! Founded by arts educator Ryan Slivchak, Art+ focuses on youth art education and respects student independence. Students are encouraged to explore creative processes and learn fundamental skills of art making. From typography to portraiture, this art development center has nurtured their growth, allowing their skills to flourish.??

Artist Statement?

As an art development center, our artistic vision is to help our students to be the best version of themselves they can be. Every student that comes through our doors has a different set of interests, level of experience, and skill set. We have no tests, exams, or assignments. Our focus is tailored to the development and ability of each individual student. In this exhibit, entitled Bring the Wow, we are proud to feature seven such students from our development center, each of whom bring their own concepts, themes, and ideas to the forefront.??

Our interests and inspiration aside, our student works are an example of how we are constantly exploring and experimenting with different materials and mediums to express our ideas. Over 9,000 kilometers later, we’ve bridged the ocean to Bring the Wow.?

Full artist statement here.?

Artists:?

Wenqi Wu??

Erci Cai??

Qin Gu??

Youyi Yang??

Chuhan Shan??

Andrew Slivchak?

Tracy Tang??

Mezzanine?

Peter Joch: Thingness?

Peter Joch is a contemporary painter, art educator, musician, art administrator, and curator. He earned his BFA from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, pursued Art Education at Concordia University in Montreal, and was an MFA candidate at the University of Regina. For this exhibition, his vibrant still-life and portrait paintings bring a dynamic burst of color and intricate detail to our Mezzanine wall. We are thrilled to bring his work to the RCA.

Artist Statement?

My work approaches portraiture through strategies of installation and still life. The reason is twofold: to defuse the emotionalism associated with a portrait by bringing out the conceptual as genesis of interpretation and to order the piles of infinite media images through which we experience the world.???

I interpret the world through (moving) media images I don’t understand because they are infinite, move too fast, and often have sound. To comprehend these images, I first paint them. Oil painting is a sluggish process that removes sound and stops media images, keeping them intact indefinitely. So, images I only glimpse at for an instant end up in my gaze for weeks while I paint. Thus, I begin to comprehend the (moving) media images.???

Then, I use the face as a frame for banal connections between images/objects, lucky/unlucky accidents, from things already loaded with meaning, and from painting. This transforms the face from its everyday function into?a metaphor for conceptual processes the viewer uses to create meaning. My body of work is the application of methods to make?faces into concepts as spectators’ experience of the face moves from empathy to sense-making and from face to object. Over the years, I have gone from face/abstract shape hybrids to face/object hybrids. Gradually, the face transforms into text and only objects remain. Nowadays, my work develops by looking for traces of painting in real life thereby positioning paintings as minor utopias.??

Visit Peter Joch website.?

Supporting Artists and RCA: Art for Purchase?

One of the unique aspects of our exhibitions is that most of the artwork on display is available for purchase “off the wall.” This means that if you fall in love with a piece, you can take it home! Not only does this support the talented artists behind the works, but it also helps RCA as a non-profit organization to continue providing exceptional programming, exhibitions, and community events. Your purchase contributes to the sustainability of our arts community, ensuring that artists can continue to create and that RCA can remain a hub for artistic expression in Kelowna.?