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Reception celebrates two new exhibits at The Reach in Abbotsford

Gallery-museum opens Fraser Valley Biennial and Art on Demand 9.2 on March 24
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Among the artists included in the 2023 Fraser Valley Biennial at The Reach Gallery Museum is Cara Guri. Shown here is her 2022 oil-on-panel piece Introvert.

The Reach Gallery Museum holds an event on Friday, March 24 to celebrate the Fraser Valley Biennial and the Art on Demand 9.2 exhibit.

The reception starts at 6:30 p.m. and includes appearances by the artists, light refreshments and a cash bar. Admission is a pay-what-you-can donation.

The Fraser Valley Biennial showcases local talent, bringing together works of art created in the Fraser Valley over the past two years.

Since its start in 2011, the biennial has showcased the work of more than 250 local and regional artists.

The 2023 Fraser Valley Biennial features more than 20 local artists and is guest-curated by Candace Couse, a practising artist and an assistant professor in the School of Creative Arts at the University of the Fraser Valley.

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She has set the theme for this year’s biennial as “the body,” and has encouraged artists to explore this concept as broadly as possible.

“The works represent the diverse and deeply meaningful ways we think about and through the body, exploring illness, gender, sexuality and disability narratives; the body as an organism; the body’s relationship to technology; the labouring body; the body as a site for pain and pleasure; and more. The exhibition speaks to the power of the body,” Couse said.

The exhibition includes a diverse collection of works in a variety of media, with artists approaching the theme from a range of unique perspectives.

Art on Demand is an exhibition series that brings together emerging artists and curators to showcase the talents of young creatives in the region.

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The exhibitions are often participants’ first opportunity to display their artwork in a professional public gallery.

For Art on Demand 9.2, emerging curator Rachel Kehler presents artworks by Krystal Charlston until May 6.

Charlston’s current artworks use photographs and found objects to invite viewers to consider the importance of women’s contributions in male-dominated industries and pursuits.

The exhibition series is part of the Emerge program at The Reach, which supports emerging arts professionals in the Fraser Valley from the ages of 18 to 35.

Visit thereach.ca for more information about these exhibits and other programs.