Orange.
A reddish-yellow colour. A citrus fruit.
The word has literal meanings, but it can also evoke feelings or abstract concepts.
The latest exhibit at The View Gallery, at Vancouver Island University, explores what orange means to different student artists.
Chantelle Delage, curatorial assistant for the gallery, created the theme. She said she made it as open as possible so submissions weren’t limited.
“I asked them what it meant to them. If it was a feeling. I got a lot of interesting submissions,” said Delage. “It’s interesting to see people’s concept about the colour.”
Orange features 20 art pieces by VIU students in the art and design departments. It runs at The View Gallery until March 24.
Delage said a student show curated by students has never happened at the gallery before.
“We have the freedom to plan and curate ourselves,” said Delage, adding that as a student artist, she doesn’t have a lot of opportunities to show her work.
In May, when the Nanaimo Art Gallery closed its campus location and consolidated its space downtown, the university took over the space and created The View Gallery. The campus gallery has become a space where VIU students can get hands-on training.
Justin McGrail, curator of The View Gallery, said Delage has been the curatorial assistant for a year.
It has allowed her to learn all of the stages of creating an exhibit from putting out a call, communicating with artists, preparing the gallery walls, hanging the exhibit and more. He said it allows students not only to make art at the university, but explore the other aspects connected to an artist’s world, such as curating. Delage was assisted by Maggie Hinbest and Eddy Graham, who are student workers at the gallery.
McGrail said there is “a sense of excitement” about the show among students at the university.
Delage said it is an interesting experience, as an artist, to learn the curatorial aspects of creating an exhibit from beginning to end. She’s a fourth-year visual arts student who graduates in four weeks.
She focuses on print making and painting. Delage said print making appeals to her because it is about the process required to create art.
“It’s not always about the end result,” she said.
The gallery is open Monday to Friday from 1-4 p.m. Admission is free; donations are accepted.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com