Double Vision at the Kelowna Art Gallery

No, not the legendary 1978 song by Foreigner, nor the outcome of a bone-jarring hit in football, this reference to Double Vision is to two local artists, Connor Charlesworth and Malcolm McCormick, who are both in a new exhibition at the Kelowna Art Gallery.

One of the first things visitors may notice upon entering the gallery space is that the work is “hung differently.” In fact, some of it is not hung at all. One large painting by Charlesworth stands on the floor leaning against the wall, while McCormick has actually embedded his three canvasses into a new slanting wall he has constructed.

Both painters have taken up the stance and exploration of taking painting apart, as if to see what makes it work. Their unusual installation methods nudges the viewer to consider not only the work, but also its placement in the space – perhaps even causing visitors to think about the act of the viewing experience itself.

Charlesworth also has seven new watery blue works on paper in the show that relate specifically to the ocean shoreline on Vancouver Island. McCormick has a reproduction of a painting by Bruegel peeking out behind his slanted wall, thus complicating his installation even further.

Both artists recently received BFA degrees from the University of British Columbia Okanagan in Kelowna. Malcolm McCormick is currently enrolled in the MFA program at Concordia University in Montreal, and Connor Charlesworth in the MFA program at the University of Victoria.

Double Vision is on view until March 26, 2017.

The Kelowna Art Gallery is located at 1315 Water Street in downtown Kelowna. For more information about current exhibitions, public programming or special events, please visit the Kelowna Art Gallery online at www.kelownaartgallery.com or call 250-762-2226.