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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For Immediate Release
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">‘The Marginalized’ opens at Kelowna Art Gallery<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Roland Samuel: The Marginalized<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">March 29 to June 1, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><a name="_Hlk178692282"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">March 27, 2025 – Kelowna, BC:
</span></b></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk178692282"></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This weekend offers Okanagan audiences something new to see at the Kelowna Art Gallery.
<i>The Marginalized</i> showcases the MFA thesis project of <b>Roland Samuel</b>, who is a candidate at UBC Okanagan.
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Through the assemblage and repurposing of found objects,
<b>Roland Samuel</b> creates richly detailed sculptures that symbolize the discarded and overlooked materials, which he says “mirror the experiences of marginalized groups worldwide.” The exhibition is a personal one for the artist—it draws on his own background
growing up as an Igbo child in southeastern Nigeria. The exhibition highlights the emotional and psychological toll of being excluded and offers a powerful commentary on segregation and societal alienation.
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Visitors will be able to explore the exhibition space that features salvaged car doors mounted on walls where they might expect to find paintings. The car doors become
works of art when laced with the beautiful patchwork of textiles, diverse materials including wicker, and intricately carved narratives that the artist has imbued within the sculptures. In the middle of the exhibition stands
<i>Njirimara</i> (“Identity” in Igbo), a figurative sculpture meant to represent the artist himself. A large, colorful fabric covers its head and torso, symbolizing the concealment of his true identity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Roland Samuel</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> says, “This work aims to empower those who face similar struggles, giving
a voice to the silenced and shedding light on the impact of marginalization.” <o:p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Marginalized</span></i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> runs from March 29 to June 1, 2025.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Roland Samuel is an artist, environmentalist, and musician currently based out of Kelowna. He earned a BFA from Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria, and
is currently pursuing his MFA at UBC Okanagan. Samuel is the recipient of the 2024 Audain Foundation travel award.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Kelowna Art Gallery is located at 1315 Water Street in the heart of Kelowna’s Culture District. For more information visit kelownaartgallery.com or call 250-762-2226.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">- 30 –<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Image Credits</span></u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Installation progress photographs of Roland Samuel working on
<i>The Marginalized</i> at the Kelowna Art Gallery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Resources</span></u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Exhibition Webpage:
<span style="color:#666666"><a href="https://kelownaartgallery.com/the-marginalized/">https://kelownaartgallery.com/the-marginalized/</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Instagram:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kelownaartgallery">https://www.instagram.com/kelownaartgallery</a><span style="color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Roland Samuel’s IG:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/rolandsamuelstudio/">https://www.instagram.com/rolandsamuelstudio/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Interviews with artist Roland Samuel can be arranged. Contact: Josh Desnoyers, Marketing Coordinator.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">About the Kelowna Art Gallery <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Kelowna Art Gallery engages, inspires, and enriches the community it serves through the exhibition, collection, and interpretation of visual art. Work by Canadian
artists, both historical and contemporary, are presented in five distinct exhibition spaces. The Kelowna Art Gallery is invested in the idea that art helps to bring people together; and that life is simply better with art in it. Programs for people of all
ages and backgrounds help to instill confidence in ones’ creativity and to foster meaningful dialogue on matters important to Canadians.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For additional high-res images, or to arrange an interview with Roland Samuel, please contact:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Joshua Desnoyers (he/him)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Marketing and Events Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Kelowna Art Gallery<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">1315 Water Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9R3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">250-762-2226 ext. 305<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:josh@kelownaartgallery.com">josh@kelownaartgallery.com</a>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.kelownaartgallery.com">www.kelownaartgallery.com</a>
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