Hildur Jónasson sailed on the tall ship Antigua in the international territory of Svalbard, near Norway, in 2017 on an artist residency. Jónasson carefully observed this environment to create a body of art titled Fata Morgana currently on show at the Kootenay Gallery of Art in Castlegar.
A Fata Morgana, which the exhibition title refers to, is an illusionary phenomenon similar to a mirage but it is more complex and it changes more rapidly than common mirages. They are found more commonly in the Arctic than in other environments.
On Saturday at 3 p.m., Jónasson will give a talk at the gallery about her arctic voyage. She will also speak about the art she created following the experience and the processes she used to make it. As Jonasson explains about the fabric glacier she installed, “In the piece Fata Morgana, I researched dyes and studied the Japanese Bokashi brush dyeing technique. I investigated silk textiles before settling on silk organza — this silk seems to float in the air, emanating the essence of the Fata Morgana I witnessed.”
Everyone is welcome to attend both the exhibition and the artist talk. The talk is free and as a bonus, those in attendance will have their names put in a draw to win a pair of tickets to see Glory, a play about women’s hockey, taking place in 1933. The tickets are courtesy of the Capitol Theatre in Nelson and will show there on April 16 at 7:30 p.m.
The exhibition is on until April 13 from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.