<div dir="ltr"><div><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">
</span></p><p class="gmail-BodyB" style="text-align:right;margin:0in;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><font size="4">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </font></span></b></p><p class="gmail-BodyB" style="text-align:right;margin:0in;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><font size="4">May 19, 2025 Lake Country</font></span></b></p><p class="gmail-BodyB" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><font size="4"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700">Lake Country Art Gallery</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif">10356A Bottom Wood Lake Rd</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://www.lakecountryartgallery.ca/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif">lakecountryartgallery.ca </font></span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="mailto:lakecountryartgallery@gmail.com" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif">lakecountryartgallery@gmail.com</font></span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif">tel: 250-766-1299</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Sunday | 9 AM to 3 PM</font></span></p><p class="gmail-BodyB" style="text-align:right;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><br></p>
<p class="gmail-BodyB" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Be
In My Chador_</span></b><b style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Tara Yadollahi</span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-BodyB" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-BodyB" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Half Life_</span></b></span><b style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Robin Hodgson</span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-BodyB" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-BodyB" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">May 24th to July 6th</span></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-BodyB" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Opening Reception: </span></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-BodyB" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Saturday, May 24th from 1 to 3pm</span></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-BodyB" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Two new exhibitions open this weekend at the
Lake Country Art Gallery: </span></span><span class="gmail-None"><i><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Be In My
Chador </span></i></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">by Tara Yadollahi and</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><i><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> Half Life</span></i></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> by Robin
Hodgson. The gallery is divided into two spaces, allowing each artist to
present their work independently: Yadollahi's video installation and Hodgson's
large-scale paintings. These pieces were developed during their two year MFA
program at UBC Okanagan.</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Tara Yadollahi, </span></span><span class="gmail-None"><i><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Be in My Chador</span></i></span><span class="gmail-None"><i><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Self-censorship lives in our body language,
in the clothes we choose, and in the silent decisions we make every day. It
transcends boundaries and physical forms, quietly shaping how we present
ourselves to the world. I began to wonder how much of our expression is truly
our own and how much is subtly influenced by the gaze of others. Clothing
becomes both a shield and a language, a personal dance between form and
freedom, between self and expectation.</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Robin Hodgson, </span></span><span class="gmail-None"><i><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Half Life</span></i></span><span class="gmail-None"><i><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></i></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">The new paintings selected for </span></span><span class="gmail-None"><i><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Half Life</span></i></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">, echoes
the (2023) convergence point where I had lived the same amount of time
able-body as I had disabled. The work confronts physical ability using
technical devices to overcome these challenges. Despite the physical barriers
or mental tolls of navigating a world that wasn’t built for wheelchairs, there
is a beauty in the resilience and a comedy in the struggle. I believe this to
be a universal truth for all life, and aim to emphasize this in my new body of
work.</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14pt">Join us for the opening reception on
Saturday, May 24th, from 1 to 3 PM. Everyone is welcome to explore the artwork
and meet the artists. The exhibition will be on display until July 6th.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p><p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"><br></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">The Lake Country Art Gallery is located at
10356A Bottom Wood Lake Road. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to
3pm.</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">For more information, please contact the Lake
Country Art Gallery at 250 766 1299 or visit the gallery website
<a href="https://www.lakecountryartgallery.ca">https://www.lakecountryartgallery.ca</a>.</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Exhibition Details:</span></b></span><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Exhibition Titles: Be In My Chador: Tara
Yadollahi</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> Half
Life: Robin Hodgson</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Dates: May 24th to July 6th, 2025</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Opening Reception: Saturday, May 24th,
2025, from 1 to 3 pm</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">PHOTO NOTES:</span></b></span><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 12.65pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">1.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Gallery Board Member Vicki Wakefield and volunteer Kathy Hale
admiring Robin Hodgson’s paintings</span></b></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 12.65pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">2.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">Tara Yadollahi installing her video installation at the Lake
Country Art Gallery</span></b></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">About Lake Country Art Gallery:</span></b></span><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">The Lake Country Art Gallery is located on
the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people. We
acknowledge and pay our respects to the Elders, past and present, as well as
the descendants and custodians of this land.</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)">The Lake Country Art Gallery is a vibrant art
space committed to showcasing thought-provoking contemporary art. The gallery
serves as a platform for established and emerging artists, fostering a cultural
exchange within the community.</span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(14,16,26)"> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica,serif;color:black;border:none"><span class="gmail-None"><b><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Media Contact:</span></b></span><span class="gmail-None"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> Wanda Lock - curator </span></span><span class="gmail-None"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">email:
<a href="mailto:wandalock@lakecountryartgallery.ca">wandalock@lakecountryartgallery.ca</a></span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Kind regards</div><div>Petrina</div>250-899-2805<div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><a href="http://www.lakecountryartgallery.ca/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">www.lakecountryartgallery.ca</a></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br></div><div><div><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136)">Petrina McNeill - </span><font color="#741b47"><i>Executive Director</i></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Lake Country Art Gallery</b></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/9ZBXw" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:13px;text-align:justify" target="_blank"><font color="#000000">10356A Bottom Wood Lake Rd, Lake Country</font></a><br></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)">Open 6 days per week Tuesday to Sunday 9am - 3pm</div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><font face="arial, sans-serif" color="#741b47"><b><span style="font-size:13px;text-align:justify">250-766-1299</span></b></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(63,63,63);font-size:13px;text-align:justify"><br></span></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><span style="color:rgb(32,31,30);font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;font-size:13.3333px"><i>We respectfully acknowledge that the Lake Country Art Gallery and Art House are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people</i></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>