First Friday Art Trail — Featuring Sara Wiens
2026-01-02 12:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver)
Date: Friday, January 2, 2026Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art Gallery, 3228 31st Ave, Downtown VernonAdmission: Free | Everyone welcome

As part of Greater Vernon’s First Friday Art Trail, the Vernon Public Art Gallery is pleased to host local artist Sara Wiens for an open studio experience. Visitors are invited to drop in throughout the day to meet Sara, learn about her creative process, and see her artwork in progress.

About the ArtistGrowing up in the Coast Salish territory of Musqueam, Squamish, Stó:lō, and Tsleil-Waututh nations implanted the power and beauty of the ocean, mountains, and forest in Sara from a young age. Seeking to understand local ecologies and their connection to wider global ecologies has been a stubborn passion. Her work is informed by rigorous academic pursuits paired with local projects focused on equity and accessibility of large ideas and aesthetics for all people. Sara brings together her years in education, community organizing, and consistent interest in conservation to her art practice to move collectors and participants to contemplation and action to protect the natural world. As a parent to 3 teens and partner to another advocate for youth, she values mentoring the next generation with hope. Sara Wiens is a current graduate student in the Ecological and Sustainable Practices MFA program at Emily Carr University. She holds a BA in Studio Arts and a Bachelor of Art Education both from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Currently, she works from her studio situated on the stolen lands of the Secwepemc people of the North Okanagan in Salmon Arm, British Columbia.

artist website

Discover more about the First Friday Art Trail and explore participating artists across Greater Vernon — or get involved as a featured artist at VPAG.Learn More / Apply to Be a Featured Artist

Opening Reception
2026-01-08 18:00 - 20:00
Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art Gallery

The Vernon Public Art Gallery is pleased to invite you to the opening reception of Kitchen Corner, by Samuel Roy-Bois.

This special evening offers an opportunity to experience Roy-Bois’ latest body of work, engage in thoughtful conversation, and hear directly from the artist as he shares insights into his creative practice.

Guests are warmly welcomed to connect with fellow community members, enjoy light refreshments and beverages, and celebrate the launch of this exhibition together. Admission is by donation. All contributions support the Gallery’s exhibitions, programs, and commitment to enriching the cultural life of our region.

Kitchen Corner
2026-01-09 09:00 - 2026-03-11 17:00
Samuel Roy-Bois

Topham Brown Memorial GalleryJanuary 8, 2026 to March 11, 2026

Opening Reception: Thursday, January 8, from 6–8 PMArtist Talk: Saturday, January 24, from 1-2 PM

Exhibition Publication

Kitchen Corner is the title of a Depression-era photograph by Walker Evans. While not adirect source for the works assembled here, its rediscovery during the preparation of thisexhibition proved resonant. Evans’s image operates as a portrait of a context articulatedthrough objects. Documentary in nature, it renders a modest interior where things—a frayedrag, a slanted broom, a patinated chair—assume the status of characters seemingly asking tobe observed, “objects in a moment of pause between use.”1 What is striking, however, isthat Kitchen Corner withholds the very signifiers conventionally associated with a kitchen(no sink, no stove). In this disjunction between title and referent, the photograph underscoresthe complexity of representation and the capacity of objects to exceed their functionalidentity.

The works in this exhibition similarly dwell in thresholds of recognition. They positionobjects, sculptures, and bodies in states of indeterminacy: what reads as structure functions assupport; what appears fragmentary gestures toward wholeness; what suggests immediacyproves resistant, even opaque. Produced over the course of eighteen months, these workswere not initially conceived as a unified installation. Their subsequent convergence, however,revealed affinities of form and sensibility, generating conditions for thought and affect thatexceed the sum of individual pieces.

The works composing this exhibition invite tension into the domain of the built environment.Each references architecture obliquely: through the evocation of house foundations, theabstracted language of the maquette, or vestiges of timber-frame construction. Despite theirvaried scales and spatial logics, they converge around a shared problematic: the negotiationbetween the self and the possible. In their oscillation between recognition and estrangement,they foreground the contingencies of agency and the fragility of ideals. Failure, unfulfillment,and speculation emerge not as deficiencies but as constitutive modes of experience, openingonto a broader meditation on how subjectivity is continually shaped, unsettled, and redefinedthrough material encounter.

1 Richon, Olivier. Walker Evans: Kitchen Corner. MIT Press, 2019.

Kitchen Corner, 2026. (install image)

Balloon (Vent), 2025.

Unit (Arts and Gun Club), 2025.

Balloon (Schematic), 2025.

Art from the Heart
2026-01-09 10:00 - 2026-02-07 16:00
SD#22 Elementary Students

Caroline Galbraith Gallery, Up-Front Gallery, and Community GalleryJanuary 9 – Febuary 7, 2026

Opening Reception: Saturday, January 10, from 1–4 PM

The Vernon Public Art Gallery is delighted to welcome back Art from the Heart, our annual exhibition showcasing the creativity and imagination of elementary students from School District No. 22. This community favourite celebrates the joy, curiosity, and honesty found in children’s art, offering a vibrant snapshot of how young learners see and interpret the world around them.

Featuring a wide range of mediums and subjects, Art from the Heart fills the gallery with colour, energy, and excitement. We invite families, teachers, and community members to join us in supporting these emerging young artists and celebrating the value of arts education in our schools.

The Vernon Public Art Gallery extends its deepest gratitude to the dedicated art educators across School District No. 22. Their unwavering commitment to nurturing creativity in the classroom makes this exhibition possible each year and plays a vital role in fostering the next generation of artists and community leaders.

Opening Reception
2026-01-10 13:00 - 15:00
Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art Gallery

We invite you to celebrate the opening of our latest exhibition: Art from the Heart

Art from the Heart is the annual exhibition by elementary students from School District No.22. Their artwork delights viewers with their creativeness under the guidance of their art teacher.

Artist Talk: Samuel Roy-Bois
2026-01-24 13:00 - 14:00
Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art Gallery

The Vernon Public Art Gallery is pleased to present Kitchen Corner, a new exhibition by award-winning artist and Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, Samuel Roy-Bois. The exhibition will be on view at the Vernon Public Art Gallery from January 9 to March 11, 2026.

Born in Québec City, Roy-Bois is known nationally and internationally for his ambitious installations that explore architecture, everyday materials, and the environments we shape. His work has been featured at major institutions including the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, the Audain Art Museum, and the Esker Foundation, and is held in numerous Canadian collections.

The sculptures in Kitchen Corner resemble the exposed framing of buildings; supports, joints, and partial structures that suggest spaces still being built. Using familiar materials and forms, the works reflect the environments we inhabit every day and encourage viewers to notice how these structures influence how we move through and understand the world around us.

An artist talk with Samuel Roy-Bois will be held on Saturday, January 24, from 1–2 PM, offering visitors a unique opportunity to hear directly from the artist about his practice and the ideas behind Kitchen Corner.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the work of award-winning Canadian artist Samuel Roy-Bois and experience Kitchen Corner at the Vernon Public Art Gallery. Entry is by donation.

Mini Artists
2026-01-29 10:00 - 11:30
Date & Time: January 29, 2026, 10:00–11:30 AMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: Children under 5 (with parent or guardian)Admission: By donation

Join us for Mini Artists, a hands-on art program for little ones and their caregivers! Each session invites children to explore a variety of art materials and creative processes that foster creativity, sensory awareness, and early learning. Using safe, non-toxic materials, kids get to play, imagine, and create while developing fine and gross motor skills.

Parents or guardians must accompany children for the duration of the session.Register online to ensure space and materials:

Register for January’s Mini Artist

Learn More about mini artists

Crit Club
2026-01-30 15:30 - 17:00
Date & Time: January 30, 2025, 3:30–5:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: TeensAdmission: Free + Pizza included!About the ProgramCrit Club is a free, hands-on workshop for high school students. Each month, a different local artist leads a session where teens can try new materials, explore techniques, and share their work in a relaxed, no-judgment space.

All supplies are provided, and there’s pizza to enjoy during a mid-session break. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, Crit Club is a fun space to create, connect, and be inspired!

RSVPs are encouraged so we know how much pizza to order — but walk-ins are welcome!

RSVP for January’s Crit Club

Learn More about Crit CLub

Family Saturdays
2026-01-31 02:00 - 02:30
Date & Time: January 31, 2026, 1:00 – 2:30 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: Kids of all agesAdmission: Individuals: $3/members $5/non-members. Families (4 or more): $10/members $14/non-members.

Join us for Family Saturdays, a fun, hands-on art program for kids of all ages and their caregivers. Explore art, learn new skills, and create together in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

Each session begins with a short tour of the current gallery exhibition led by Samantha, our Learning and Community Engagement Curator. After the tour, families participate in guided, hands-on art projects inspired by the exhibition. Materials are provided — all you need is art-appropriate clothing and a willingness to get creative!

Family Saturdays is designed to foster creativity, connection, and a sense of community. Everyone is welcome to participate, whether it’s your first time making art or you’re a seasoned creator.

Parents or guardians must accompany children for the duration of the session.Register online to ensure space and materials:

register for January’s family Saturday

learn more about family saturday

First Friday Art Trail — Featuring Sarah Hope
2026-02-06 11:00 - 15:00
Date: Friday, February 6, 2025Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art Gallery, 3228 31st Ave, Downtown VernonAdmission: Free | Everyone welcome

As part of Greater Vernon’s First Friday Art Trail, the Vernon Public Art Gallery is pleased to host local artist Sarah Hope for an open studio experience. Visitors are invited to drop in throughout the day to meet Sarah, learn about her creative process, and see her artwork in progress.

About the ArtistSarah Hope is an autistic artist whose work is quite diverse, spanning from watercolour and oil paintings to hand dyed and handmade paper installations. Her themes have also traversed from the beauty of impermanence, grief and death, to women and neurodivergent researchers, to biodiversity and pollinators. Much of her artwork combines foraged and handmade materials with video, sound and lights to create immersive experiences. She also combines pigments made from rock and bone with traditional watercolour paint, creating paintings of local hummingbirds and owls that she photographs near her home. She has been extensively researching and creating with the under-represented mediums of handmade paper, natural dyes, and artist-made colour for many years. These multi-step processes are old crafts that align with her natural deep focus. Grinding rocks for colour or shredding plant fibres for paper both appeal to her needs to move the body and align with striving towards a sustainable art practice. By making slow art, she finds there is space created to process emotionally, which then transfers to the final work. Being recently diagnosed, she is still processing how her autistic traits such as sensory sensitivity and attention to detail have been instrumental in her art. Sarah has a diploma of Fine Arts and in 2023, she spent 6 weeks learning about the craft of fine paper at Penland School of Craft, North Carolina. With support from Canada Council for the Arts and BC Arts Council, she has presented her work in various galleries as solo and group exhibitions. In 2019 Sarah won the Marie Manson Art award which launched her interest in artist-made palettes. Sarah is a settler born and raised in Tkemlúps, (Kamloops), and works on the traditional lands Switzmalph te Secwepémc, (Salmon Arm).

Sarah Hope’s Instagram

Artist Website

Discover more about the First Friday Art Trail and explore participating artists across Greater Vernon — or get involved as a featured artist at VPAG.Learn More / Apply to Be a Featured Artist

Uncork & Create
2026-02-09 08:30 - 09:00
Date: Monday, February 9, 2026Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAdmission: $45.00 + GST

The Vernon Public Art Gallery is excited to present Uncork & Create: Sculpture Edition, a hands-on sculpture & sip experience as part of Vernon Winter Carnival. Put a creative twist on the classic paint-and-sip as you design and build your own wire figure sculpture, guided by a local artist in a relaxed, social setting.

Enjoy a selection of wines, connect with fellow creatives, and take part in our Go for Gold theme, Complete with Olympic-style prizes awarded at the end of the evening. Whether you’re an experienced artist or simply looking to try something new, this event invites you to unwind, connect, and explore the world of sculpture in a fun and social setting.

Gather your friends and get ready for an unforgettable night of art, wine, and inspiration at the Vernon Public Art Gallery.

Reserve your spot

Opening Reception
2026-02-12 18:00 - 20:00
Date: Thursday, Febuary 12, 2026Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art Gallery

We invite you to celebrate the opening of our latest exhibition: Art & Soul

Art & Soul is the annual exhibition by the high school students from School District No.22. Their artwork delights viewers with their creativeness under the guidance of their art teacher.

Art & Soul
2026-02-13 09:00 - 2026-03-11 17:00
SD#22 High School Students

Caroline Galbraith Gallery, Up-Front Gallery, and Community GalleryFebuary 13 – March 11, 2026

Opening Reception: Thursday, Febuary 12, from 6–8 PM

This exhibition offers a sophisticated look at how emerging artists navigate their world through visual media. Featuring a diverse range of mediums, from traditional painting and drawing to modern digital works and sculpture, Art & Soul fills the gallery with the energy of a new generation. These works reflect not only technical growth but also the deep personal expression and critical thinking developed in the secondary art classroom.

We invite families, teachers, and the community to join us in celebrating these talented students. This exhibition is a testament to the power of arts education in our schools and its role in helping young people find their voice.

The Vernon Public Art Gallery extends its deepest gratitude to the dedicated art educators across School District No. 22. Their unwavering commitment to nurturing creativity and technical skill makes this exhibition possible each year, fostering the next generation of artists and community leaders.

Mini Artists
2026-02-26 10:00 - 11:30
Date & Time: February 26, 2026, 10:00–11:30 AMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: Children under 5 (with parent or guardian)Admission: By donation

Join us for Mini Artists, a hands-on art program for little ones and their caregivers! Each session invites children to explore a variety of art materials and creative processes that foster creativity, sensory awareness, and early learning. Using safe, non-toxic materials, kids get to play, imagine, and create while developing fine and gross motor skills.

Parents or guardians must accompany children for the duration of the session.Register online to ensure space and materials:

Register for February’s Mini Artist

Learn More about mini artists

Leaving a Lasting Legacy
2026-02-26 13:00 - 14:00
Date & Time: February 26, 2026, 1:00–2:30 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: All agesAdmission: Free

You don’t have to be a Millionaire, or even Old, to think about your legacy now!

Have you ever thought about how you could make your estate larger by doing some smart tax planning now?

Have you ever wondered about what sort of a legacy you want to leave behind once your kids and family are taken care of?

Have you ever hoped you could set an example for those close to you to follow in your footsteps by giving to the community?

This inspiring introductory workshop will introduce you to the simple steps of how and why to add Planned Giving into your estate planning. By doing so you will create a lasting legacy for future generations while also saving taxes and growing your hard-earned estate.

This free one-hour workshop hosted by Vernon Public Art Gallery gives you:

An overview – what is Planned Giving and how it works?

Legal mechanics of estate planning

Tax saving opportunities – while you are living and when you pass

What you can do right away to plan for life time income

The Vernon Public Art Gallery as a potential beneficiary – why and how

Followed by an optional tour of the Vernon Public Art Gallery with the Executive Director and Curator.Note: This workshop is not designed to give you advice on your personal situation but to overview the process of planned giving, avoid typical pitfalls and help set next steps.

Click Here to Register

Other Upcoming Dates:May 13, 2026 – Tuesday 4:30 – 5:30 pmSeptember 17, 2026 – Thursday 1:00 – 2:00 pmNovember 16, 2026 – Tuesday 4:30 – 5:30 pm

Workshop led by

Tom Christensen K.C Nixon Wenger

Tom started his legal career in Vernon in 1996. He took a leave from practice from 2001 to 2009 to serve as MLA for Vernon-Monashee and held a number of cabinet portfolios during that time.

Tom has a general solicitor’s practice, assisting clients with business matters, wills and incapacity planning, the administration of estates, and real estate conveyancing and financing matters. He has a particular interest in assisting families with the transition of assets from one generation to the next through effective personal and business succession planning as well as resolving estate disputes outside of court.

Kyle Britton – Partner, BComm, CPA, CGA, Clark RobinsonBorn and raised in Vernon, Kyle has been a partner at Clark Robinson CPAs for over 8 years. Kyle practices primarily in individual and corporate taxation, helping clients navigate complex tax matters.

Laura-Lee Locheed – FMA (retired)

With parents settling in Vernon in 1945, Laura-Lee is truly a Vernonite! Now retired, her career in financial planning as a CFP and FMA has spanned 39 years. Her work specialized in retirement income, tax and estate planning and charitable gifting. Her community involvements have included directorships with the Chamber of Commerce, the Okanagan Landing Association, the Okanagan Symphony and the Vernon Flying Club.

Dauna Kennedy – Executive Director, Vernon Public Art Gallery

Dauna has been the Executive Director for 17 years, guiding it through a huge transition from a small town public gallery to a regionally recognized leader in public art programming. She and her team now face the exciting challenge of preparing to move into the new Greater Vernon Cultural Centre in 2028.

Crit Club
2026-02-27 15:30 - 17:00
Date & Time: February 27, 2026, 3:30–5:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: TeensAdmission: Free + Pizza included!About the ProgramCrit Club is a free, hands-on workshop for high school students. Each month, a different local artist leads a session where teens can try new materials, explore techniques, and share their work in a relaxed, no-judgment space.

All supplies are provided, and there’s pizza to enjoy during a mid-session break. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, Crit Club is a fun space to create, connect, and be inspired!

RSVPs are encouraged so we know how much pizza to order — but walk-ins are welcome!

RSVP for February’s Crit Club

Learn more about Crit Club

Family Saturdays
2026-02-28 13:00 - 14:00
Date & Time: February 28, 2026, 1:00 – 2:30 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: Kids of all agesAdmission: Individuals: $3/members $5/non-members.Families (4 or more): $10/members $14/non-members.

Join us for Family Saturdays, a fun, hands-on art program for kids of all ages and their caregivers. Explore art, learn new skills, and create together in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

Each session begins with a short tour of the current gallery exhibition led by Samantha, our Learning and Community Engagement Curator. After the tour, families participate in guided, hands-on art projects inspired by the exhibition. Materials are provided — all you need is art-appropriate clothing and a willingness to get creative!

Family Saturdays is designed to foster creativity, connection, and a sense of community. Everyone is welcome to participate, whether it’s your first time making art or you’re a seasoned creator.

Parents or guardians must accompany children for the duration of the session.Register online to ensure space and materials:

register for February’s family Saturday

learn more about family saturday

First Friday Art Trail - Featuring Rachel Prins
2026-03-06 12:00 - 16:00
Date: Friday, March 6, 2025Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art Gallery, 3228 31st Ave, Downtown VernonAdmission: Free | Everyone welcome

As part of Greater Vernon’s First Friday Art Trail, the Vernon Public Art Gallery is pleased to host local artist Rachel Prins for an open studio experience. Visitors are invited to drop in throughout the day to meet Rachel, learn about her creative process, and see her artwork in progress.

About the ArtistRachel Prins is a contemporary painter living and working in Vernon, BC. Through images of landscapes and interiors, her paintings weave together the inner world of personal reflection with the outer natural environment, exploring the sensitivity and connection between the two.Rachel studied Art and Design and Psychology, earning her Bachelor of Arts (2014) and Bachelor of Education in Art Education (2018) from the University of Alberta. Her work has been exhibited across Canada and the United States and is held in private collections throughout Canada.

Artist Website

Discover more about the First Friday Art Trail and explore participating artists across Greater Vernon — or get involved as a featured artist at VPAG.Learn More / Apply to Be a Featured Artist

Opening Reception
2026-03-19 18:00 - 20:00
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art Gallery

The Vernon Public Art Gallery is pleased to invite you to the opening reception of Portals to Elsewhere by Amy J. Dyck, I’m in this World, Doing by Vivian Smith, and Blooming Together by Cool Arts.

Guests are warmly welcomed to connect with fellow community members, enjoy light refreshments and beverages, and celebrate the launch of these wonderful exhibitions together. Admission is by donation. All contributions support the Gallery’s exhibitions, programs, and commitment to enriching the cultural life of our region.

Blooming Together
2026-03-20 10:00 - 2026-05-16 16:00
Cool Arts Society

Community GalleryMarch 20 – May 16, 2026Opening Reception: March 19 from 6 to 8 pm

Blooming Together is a collaborative exhibition that explores themes of community, diversity, and collective growth. Created by the artists of Cool Arts Society, the exhibition highlights how individual voices come together to form a vibrant, colourful, and ever-evolving whole.

At the centre of the exhibition is a large collaborative artwork representing community as a shared landscape. It is built through layers, colours, and connections. Alongside this work, the artists present a series of clay masks, each one unique, illustrating the diversity of identities, expressions, and perspectives within the group.

The exhibition unfolds through three closely connected themes: Dream, Birth, and Growth. Lush jungle scenes inspired by the world of Henri Rousseau evoke imagination and a dreamlike atmosphere. Raised floral elements symbolize the birth of a growing community, while the collective compositions emphasize the strength that emerges through collaboration, inclusion, and shared creation.

Portals to Elsewhere
2026-03-20 10:00 - 2026-05-20 17:00
Amy J. Dyck

Topham Brown Memorial GalleryMarch 20 – May 20, 2026Opening Reception: March 19 from 6 to 8 pmArtist Talk: April 18 from 1 PM

Exhibition Publication

Portals to Elsewhere invites viewers into a dreamlike, psychological landscape populated by strange, shifting, and resilient beings. Drawing from her lived experience with disability and chronic illness, Amy J. Dyck creates hybrid figures that are continuously evolving, layered with elements of human, animal, and mechanical forms. These creatures act as visual metaphors for imagination, memory, instinct, resistance, and self-protection—reflecting the complexity of what it means to endure and adapt.

At the heart of the exhibition is a large circular installation that transforms the gallery into a contemplative, immersive environment. Seven evolving figures suggest movement through time, even as they were created during a period when the artist’s body was in collapse. Windows appear throughout the work as a central metaphor—portals to other spaces and possibilities, offering escape, reflection, and the hope of becoming something different. The exhibition ultimately becomes a wild, otherworldly place where both artist and viewer are invited to imagine new ways of belonging, resilience, and home.

Amy J. Dyck is a contemporary multimedia figurative artist and writer based in Langley, British Columbia. After a sudden and severe illness in her early twenties left her using a wheelchair, Dyck turned to art as a way to process and survive her changing reality. Her practice draws on classical approaches to anatomy and figurative painting, combined with experimental mixed media processes that explore the body as a vessel for memory, emotion, and lived experience. Dyck exhibits widely, with work held in private collections internationally. She has received multiple international awards, was granted a Canada Council for the Arts award in 2024, and is a frequent podcast guest and speaker. She is currently working on a memoir exploring the intersection of art, illness, and resilience.

Twist with Moons

Bed-Desk Series (detail)

Amy J. Dyck with Portals to Elsewhere

I'm in this World, Doing
2026-03-20 10:00 - 2026-05-20 17:00
Vivian Smith

Caroline Galbraith GalleryMarch 20 – May 20, 2026Opening Reception: March 19 from 6 to 8 pm

Exhibition Publication

I’m in This World, Doing is a body of work that explores the hidden systems of labour that quietly sustain our daily lives. Through mixed-media works and installations, Vivian Smith examines how unpaid care work, domestic labour, and affective labour remain economically invisible despite their essential role in supporting society. The exhibition draws attention to the intersection of the gift economy and capitalism, embedding images of unpaid work into objects that hold greater market value than the labour they depict. In doing so, Smith challenges viewers to reconsider how we assign worth, productivity, and compensation in contemporary life.Rooted in personal documentation, the works feature photographs of the artist performing everyday tasks—cleaning, cooking, and caregiving—printed onto domestic textiles such as chiffon, satin, silk, and linen, then coated in beeswax. These materials reference both gendered expectations of care and the natural labour of worker bees. By transforming these images through hand-stitching, quilting, and sculptural installation, Smith reveals how women’s labour connects intimate home spaces to global economic systems. The exhibition ultimately advocates for recognition and systemic change, including the need for Universal Basic Income as a way to value essential work that remains unseen.Vivian Smith is an artist based in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), Alberta. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Distinction from the Alberta University of the Arts and has participated in numerous residencies, including at the Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre and the Similkameen Artist Residency. Her work has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Calgary Arts Development Authority, and she has exhibited widely across Canada. Through her interdisciplinary practice, Smith focuses on labour, gender, and economic systems, creating work that encourages dialogue about how care, value, and community are interconnected.

In the Corners of the Eye, 2024.

A Place for Relaxation, 2025.

Glass Walls, 2024.

Mini Artists
2026-03-26 10:00 - 11:30
Date & Time: March 26, 2026, 10:00–11:30 AMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: Children under 5 (with parent or guardian)Admission: By donation

Join us for Mini Artists, a hands-on art program for little ones and their caregivers! Each session invites children to explore a variety of art materials and creative processes that foster creativity, sensory awareness, and early learning. Using safe, non-toxic materials, kids get to play, imagine, and create while developing fine and gross motor skills.

Parents or guardians must accompany children for the duration of the session.Register online to ensure space and materials:

Register for March’s Mini Artist

Learn More about mini artists

Family Saturdays
2026-03-28 13:00 - 14:30
Date & Time: March 28, 2026, 1:00 – 2:30 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: Kids of all agesAdmission: Individuals: $3/members $5/non-members.Families (4 or more): $10/members $14/non-members.

Join us for Family Saturdays, a fun, hands-on art program for kids of all ages and their caregivers. Explore art, learn new skills, and create together in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

Each session begins with a short tour of the current gallery exhibition led by Samantha, our Learning and Community Engagement Curator. After the tour, families participate in guided, hands-on art projects inspired by the exhibition. Materials are provided — all you need is art-appropriate clothing and a willingness to get creative!

Family Saturdays is designed to foster creativity, connection, and a sense of community. Everyone is welcome to participate, whether it’s your first time making art or you’re a seasoned creator.

Parents or guardians must accompany children for the duration of the session.Register online to ensure space and materials:

register for March’s family Saturday

learn more about family saturday

First Friday Art Trail – Featuring Atlas Passmore
2026-04-10 12:00 - 16:00
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art Gallery, 3228 31st Ave, Downtown VernonAdmission: Free | Everyone welcome

Please note, this session will be held one week later than usual due to the April holidays.

As part of Greater Vernon’s First Friday Art Trail, the Vernon Public Art Gallery is pleased to host local artist Atlas Passmore for an open studio experience. Visitors are invited to drop in throughout the day to meet Atlas, learn about their creative process, and see their artwork in progress.

About the ArtistAtlas is a contemporary abstract artist living and working in Vernon, BC. Their work explores light, emotion, and persistence through layered texture and luminous colour- not representations of specific places, but inner landscapes shaped by memory, experience, and survival. Beginning as a form of emotional processing, their practice remains an outlet for Big Feelings, built intuitively through scraping, layering, and return. The light in their work is not about serenity. It is about refusal. A reminder of presence. A declaration: something tender can still take up space.

Atlas’ Instagram

Discover more about the First Friday Art Trail and explore participating artists across Greater Vernon — or get involved as a featured artist at VPAG.Learn More / Apply to Be a Featured Artist

Art After Dark
2026-04-17 19:00 - 22:00
Friday, April 17, 2026 | 7:00 – 10:00 pmVernon Public Art Gallery | 19+ EventStep into the gallery after hours for Art After Dark, a social and creative evening for all experience levels. Explore hands-on art activities, enjoy live music, sip cocktails, and snack on light bites while connecting with friends—or meeting new people. Each event offers a fresh, interactive experience that brings the gallery to life after hours.

Tickets:

Online Pre-Sale: $25 – Purchase in advance to secure your spot.

At-the-Door: $30 – Tickets available at the gallery on the night of the event.

Gallery Members In-Person Pre-Sale: $20 – Members can purchase discounted tickets at the gallery before the event. Valid membership card required.

Art After Dark is a 19+ event. Please bring valid ID.

Proudly sponsored by

Artist Talk: Amy J. Dyck
2026-04-18 13:00 - 14:00
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art Gallery

The Vernon Public Art Gallery is pleased to host an artist talk by Amy J. Dyck on Saturday, April 18, from 1–2 PM. This event offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from the artist about her practice and the ideas behind Portals to Elsewhere.

The exhibition will be on view at the Vernon Public Art Gallery from March 20 to May 20, 2026.

Amy J. Dyck is a contemporary multimedia figurative artist and writer based in Langley, British Columbia. After a sudden and severe illness in her early twenties left her using a wheelchair, Dyck turned to art as a way to process and survive her changing reality. Her practice draws on classical approaches to anatomy and figurative painting, combined with experimental mixed media processes that explore the body as a vessel for memory, emotion, and lived experience. Dyck exhibits widely, with work held in private collections internationally. She has received multiple international awards, was granted a Canada Council for the Arts award in 2024, and is a frequent podcast guest and speaker. She is currently working on a memoir exploring the intersection of art, illness, and resilience.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the work of award-winning Canadian artist Amy J. Dyck and experience Portals to Elsewhere at the Vernon Public Art Gallery. Entry is by donation.

Crit Club
2026-04-24 15:30 - 17:00
Date & Time: April 24, 2026, 3:30–5:00 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: TeensAdmission: Free + Pizza included!About the ProgramCrit Club is a free, hands-on workshop for high school students. Each month, a different local artist leads a session where teens can try new materials, explore techniques, and share their work in a relaxed, no-judgment space.

All supplies are provided, and there’s pizza to enjoy during a mid-session break. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, Crit Club is a fun space to create, connect, and be inspired!

RSVPs are encouraged so we know how much pizza to order — but walk-ins are welcome!

RSVP for April’s Crit Club

Learn more about Crit Club

Family Saturdays
2026-04-25 13:00 - 14:30
Date & Time: April 25, 2026, 1:00 – 2:30 PMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: Kids of all agesAdmission: Individuals: $3/members $5/non-members.Families (4 or more): $10/members $14/non-members.

Join us for Family Saturdays, a fun, hands-on art program for kids of all ages and their caregivers. Explore art, learn new skills, and create together in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

Each session begins with a short tour of the current gallery exhibition led by Samantha, our Learning and Community Engagement Curator. After the tour, families participate in guided, hands-on art projects inspired by the exhibition. Materials are provided — all you need is art-appropriate clothing and a willingness to get creative!

Family Saturdays is designed to foster creativity, connection, and a sense of community. Everyone is welcome to participate, whether it’s your first time making art or you’re a seasoned creator.

Parents or guardians must accompany children for the duration of the session.Register online to ensure space and materials:

register for April’s family Saturday

learn more about family saturday

Mini Artists
2026-04-30 10:00 - 11:30
Date & Time: April 30, 2026, 10:00–11:30 AMLocation: Vernon Public Art GalleryAge Group: Children under 5 (with parent or guardian)Admission: By donation

Join us for Mini Artists, a hands-on art program for little ones and their caregivers! Each session invites children to explore a variety of art materials and creative processes that foster creativity, sensory awareness, and early learning. Using safe, non-toxic materials, kids get to play, imagine, and create while developing fine and gross motor skills.

Parents or guardians must accompany children for the duration of the session.Register online to ensure space and materials:

Register for April’s Mini Artists

Learn More about Mini Artists
