Upholding One Another

November 16 2023 - January 13 2024

upholding one another

A comprehensive program of projects and community events, that unfolds over time, and includes:
Exhibitions | Installations | Cultural Sharing | Video Programs | Community Conversations + Art-Making | Activism Events — empowered through intersectional discourse, vulnerability, and respect for each other.

Community collaborations stitch together creative actions + cultural teachings + knowledge-sharing to instigate social change through a convergent program that explores the topics of misogyny, gender-based + racist violence, and resiliency.

PROJECTS

Inheritance | Magic For Realists — GATHER:PLACE Gallery + George Sawchuk Gallery

Understanding, accepting, and transcending genetic, cultural, and emotional inheritance.

Fibre Works | Time-Based + Video Performance | Interactive Installation

Lindsay Celeste

ARTIST WILL BE ON-SITE: Wednesdays + Fridays from 2PM – 4PM and Thursdays + Saturdays from 10AM – 2PM.

Consent — Window + Plaza Media Gallery

A curated video program of thematically engaged artist projects.

This digital program represents fragments of what it means to give, receive, acknowledge, and examine consent through various modes and mediums. It is an on-going visual conversation — one that empowers through intersectional discourse, vulnerability and respect for each other.

Various Artists

Held Space — South Gallery

A sanctuary for learning from one another shoulder to shoulder and hand to hand through art — hand work, installation, performance, lens-based work, words + text — as a way of fostering strength, empowerment, and advocacy.

Arts-based – Installations | Conversations | Interactive Engagement

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES | EVENTS

Thursday, November 16 | 6:30PM – 9PM — Opening Event — Inheritance | Magic For Realists | Comox Valley Art Gallery

Friday, November 17 | 5PM – 8PM — Moonlight + Magic — SHOP:MADE Artisans + Tarot with Lindsay Celeste | Comox Valley Art Gallery + Downtown Courtenay

Saturday November 25 | 11AM – 5PM — Indigenous Winter Festival — Organized + Presented by the Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society | Florence Filberg Centre, Courtenay

November 25 – December 10 — 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence — National Campaign | Resources, Actions to Take, Films to Watch, + More

Saturday, November 25 | 11AM – 5PM — Pick Up a Purple Ribbon to Wear During the 16 Days of Activism — Comox Valley Art Gallery

Wednesday, November 29 | 11AM – 1PM — Making Ribbons + Felted Pins — With Diana McKenzie + Elder Donna Mitchell | Comox Valley Art Gallery

Saturday, December 2 | 2:30PM — Marker of Change: The Story of the Women’s Monument — Film Screening + Community Conversation with the Filmmaker | Presented by World Community + Comox Valley Transition Society | Stan Hagan Theatre at North Island College

Wednesday, December 6 | 12PM –– Vigil — Commemorating the National Day of Remembrance + Action on Violence Against Women | Organized by the Comox Valley Transition Society | Public Plaza at the Comox Valley Art Gallery

Thursday, December 21 | 10AM – 5PM –– Solstice Celebration — Building a Labyrinth | Walking a Labyrinth with Diana McKenzie + Stitching Joy with Lindsay Celeste + Lori Ann Kenney | Comox Valley Art Gallery

The thematic materials in the upholding one another convergent program may trigger strong emotional responses. Elders + trauma care support + resources for finding community support will be available to visitors during gallery hours and at events.

Programming is open to the public during CVAG hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 10AM – 5PM + by appointment. All ages are welcome.

The Comox Valley Art Gallery is committed to creating safer spaces where everyone can participate in CVAG Programming.

CVAG spaces are accessible, and programs are barrier-free (no cost). DONATIONS: are appreciated and contribute to ongoing community interactive programming.

PUBLIC HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS: we ask that visitors choose not to visit if they are experiencing symptoms of colds and flus. Hand sanitation dispensers are available at CVAG. Wearing a mask is at the discretion of the visitor.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Comox Valley Art Gallery is grateful to operate on the Unceded Traditional Territory of the K’ómoks First Nations.

CVAG is honored to collaborate with artists, writers, guest curators, community partners + volunteers. We are grateful for the support of our members + donors.

This convergent program is made possible through the support of our FUNDERS: City of Courtenay, Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, Government of Canada, Province of BC, The Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation, Comox Valley Regional District, Town of Comox | LOCAL SUPPORT: School District 71 Printshop, Sherwin Williams, Hitec Screen Printing, Shine-Eze Ltd., BoomBright Media, Helen’s Closet Patterns | COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS: Comox Valley Transition Society, Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society, SD 71 Indigenous Education, Lil’ Red Dress Project, MIKI’SIW Métis Association, Noojim Owin Kwe, Kumugwe Cultural Society

IMAGES: Alun Macanulty, Taylor Robinson, Griffin Halpin, Dave Lawson, Gordon Ross, Gwen Monett, Lindsay Celeste, Diana McKenzie

Exhibitions

Held Space - Arts-Based Installations | Conversations | Interactive Engagement
A sanctuary for learning from one another shoulder to shoulder and hand to hand through art.
December 6 2023 - January 13 2024
Stolen Sisters
An ongoing project to create awareness and honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls+.
December 6 2023 - January 13 2024
Story Sanctuary | Resilience
An evolving social art project that counters misogyny and upholds resilience.
December 6 2023 - January 13 2024
Noojim Owin Kwe
"We are taught that we are a collective community, and our strength is found when we come together in ceremony and spiritual practice. Our Ancestors have handed down these teachings through the generations...."
December 6 2023 - January 13 2024
Inheritance | Magic For Realists
Understanding, accepting, and transcending genetic, cultural, and emotional inheritance.
November 16 2023 - January 13 2024
Consent - Mobile Public Video Program
A curated video program of thematically engaged artist projects.
September 16 2023 - January 13 2024

Events

Reveal | Resistance | Resilience - Empowerment Workshops
CVAG will be CLOSED on Thursday, January 4 for private empowerment workshops co-hosted by the CV Transition Society.
January 4 2024 / 11:00am - 8:00pm
Solstice Celebration | Taking Time for Joy
A day of celebration and making together. All Ages.
December 21 2023 / 10:00am - 5:00pm
Vigil for The National Day of Remembrance + Action on Violence Against Women
In collaboration with the Comox Valley Transition Society, there will be a vigil at CVAG Plaza.
December 6 2023 / 12:00 - 1:00pm
Film Screening | Community Conversation - Marker of Change: The Story of the Women’s Monument
At NIC's Stan Hagen Theatre, there will be a screening of the film "Marker of Change: The Story of the Women’s Monument" followed by discussion with the director, producers, and members of the Women's Monument Committee.
December 2 2023 / 2:30 - 5:00pm
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
An annual international campaign to call out and speak up on gender-based violence, and to renew our commitment to ending violence against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals.
November 25 - December 10 2023
Moonlight + Magic 2023 - SHOP:MADE Artisans | Tarot with Lindsay Celeste
Join us at CVAG Plaza during this year's Moonlight + Magic event in Downtown Courtenay!
November 17 2023 / 5:00 - 8:00pm
Inheritance | Magic for Realists - Opening Event
Join us at CVAG for an art opening and talk with artist Lindsay Celeste.
November 16 2023 / 6:30 - 9:00pm