The Vernon Public Art Gallery hosts an international printmaking exhibition along with live virtual artist talks with artists across the globe. For the 5th time the OPT will bring to the Okanagan the best in printmaking worldwide. This award-winning project was launched in 2009 as a national open juried print exhibition and this year represents 28 selected artists from 15 countries. The exhibit will be on display from March 18th through May 19th, 2021.

This collaborative project of the Vernon Public Art Gallery, Kelowna Art Gallery, and the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus celebrates the vitality and variety of approaches and techniques in contemporary printmaking. With 680 works from 101 artists submitted this year, the jurors carefully selected 28 artists from 15 different countries to exhibit their work in the OPT 2021. The results are a strong, curated collection of work that highlights the best in contemporary printmaking. The varieties of printmaking range from traditional to experimental, and include methods such as screen printing, intaglio, relief printing, lithography, and more.

New to this year’s OPT will be free, live, virtual artist talks featuring a select number of participating artists. Every week, on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays starting on March 18th through May 18th a new artist will be speaking live from their home country via Zoom. Due to language barriers and time differences, some of the artist talks will be pre-recorded presentations. The complete schedule for the upcoming artist talk series, including Zoom links, can be accessed on the VPAG website here.

“The VPAG is excited to be able to offer this series for viewers everywhere to be able to connect with the artists and the exhibit in a unique way. Many people may not be able to attend in person due to health restrictions. It is our goal that the live artist talks, as well as the virtual aspects of the exhibit, will give viewers a chance to connect with not only the artist but the arts community. The OPT project enables the VPAG to contribute in a significant way to the discourse regarding contemporary art practices while making it accessible and relevant to the residents and visitors of the North Okanagan.” – said Executive Director, Dauna Kennedy.

This project would not have been possible without a project grant from the Regional District of the North Okanagan and UBCO’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, as well as the continued support from the Province of British Columbia, and the BC Arts Council.