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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" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Comedy and Satire in Canadian Art explored in Kelowna Exhibition<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Seriously? Comedy and Satire in Canadian Art 1970s–Now<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">September 6, 2025, to January 11, 2026<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 3, 2025 – Kelowna, BC:
</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Fans of visual art and comedy will have a healthy dose of both through a unique exhibition that opens at the Kelowna Art Gallery this weekend.
<i>Seriously? Comedy and Satire in Canadian Art 1970s–Now</i> presents artwork that uses humour—sometimes light, sometimes biting—as a lens to explore Canadian identity, politics, and cultural shifts across time and geographies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“<i>Seriously?</i> brings together two generations of artists—from Anna Banana to Maud Lewis to Sonny Assu—who offer powerful reflections on culture and community,” says
<b>Nataley Nagy</b>, Executive Director at the Gallery. “Visitors will be able to explore and discover a remarkable depth of artwork that has been borrowed from private collections across the country and brought to Kelowna to be seen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Seriously?</span></i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> traces unexpected connections—from the folksy Victoria school, Vancouver’s
edgy Western Front scene, Halifax conceptualism, Regina funk, to Indigenous artists’ embrace of manga and comics. Senior artists such as
<b>Judy Chartrand</b>, <b>Maxwell Bates</b>, and <b>Anna Banana</b> offer sharp cultural critiques, while others including
<b>Shuvinai Ashoona</b>, <b>Victor Cicansky</b>, and <b>Maud Lewis</b> find humour and joy in the everyday. A wide range of media will be on display for audiences—from ceramics and beadwork to cartoons and performances—offering visitors a chance to engage
with works that explore humour and whimsy, qualities rarely highlighted historically in the Canadian contemporary art landscape.
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Seriously? Comedy and Satire in Canadian Art 1970s–Now</span></i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> runs from September 6, 2025, to
January 11, 2026. It is organized by Griffin Art Projects and curated by Melissa E. Feldman. It is presented with support from Acera Insurance, Trove Fine Art, and Kelowna Paint Supply.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">An
<b>Opening Reception</b> will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Kelowna Art Gallery. It is free and open for the public to attend.<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">A
<b>Live Performance of <i>Adrian’s Awetopsy</i></b> with Montreal-based artist Adrian Norvid is scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 10:00 am.
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">JUNO-nominated
<b>Comedian Charlie Demers</b> offers audiences a night of comedy on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 7:30 pm. It is organized by and being held at the Rotary Centre for the Arts.<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">Bob Rennie: Collector’s Talk o</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">ffers attendees an unforgettable morning with Rennie, who
has been recognized as one of the world’s top 200 art collectors. It is planned for Sunday, October 5, 2025, at 10:00 am. Guests interested in attending are asked to kindly R.S.V.P. to the Gallery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<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"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">- 30 –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">MEDIA ACCESS: Curator Melissa E. Feldman and artist Adrian Norvid will be in Kelowna working on the installation and available
for interviews from September 3-6. Media Previews can be arranged by request.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<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>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Artist Adrian Norvid performing
<i>Adrian’s Awetopsy</i>, 2024. Image courtesy of the Artist. Photo by Guy L’Heureux.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Andrea Mortson,
<i>Together-Dream Sampler</i>, 2021, analog collage. Image courtesy of the artist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Judy Chartrand,
<i>Enlightenment Brand</i>, 2001. Slip-cast clay, underglaze, lustre. © Judy Chartrand. Courtesy Rennie Collection, Vancouver. Photo: Kenji Nagai.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Artist Adrian Norvid performing
<i>Adrian’s Awetopsy</i>, 2024. Image courtesy of the Artist. Photo by Guy L’Heureux.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<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>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<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/seriously/">https://kelownaartgallery.com/seriously/</a>
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<p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">KAG IG:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kelownaartgallery/">https://www.instagram.com/kelownaartgallery/</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"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<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>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<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 the artist, please contact:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<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>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<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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