qathet Art Centre put out a call for artists in the region to submit their work for the now live exhibit titled, PRESENT.
Artists in the region did not disappoint; submissions came in from a plethora of local painters, sculptors and mixed-media artists, which ended up on display for opening night on Friday, November 17.
“We have had group shows for six years now, and there is usually lots of representation from a diversity of artists,” said qathet Art Council president Karen Kamon in an email to the Peak. “This year, there are over 90 pieces in the exhibition. It’s an inclusive show for all residents in qathet region, so all pieces are on display.”
Luke Ramsey, Theo Angelo, Laura Balducci, Lisa Hua, Joyce Furness, Ivan Rosypskye, Roy Schneider and Susan Canning are among a handful of artist names with work on display at the gallery. Some are familiar around qathet, but for others, it is their first time exhibiting their work.
PRESENT has many meanings including: to be in attendance, to give or bestow, to offer or view, to exist or occur now, and a gift, according to the qathet Art Centre website. The gallery emphasized that seeing this many local artists work on display together in one place is rare, and an opportunity for the local art community to share recent work.
“About 200 people came out for the event,” said Kamon. “Artwork was sold and artwork is still available for sale until January 10.”
A big draw to the gallery on opening night, for some patrons, was to purchase original artwork for themselves or as a gift for the upcoming holiday season. Kamon said artwork purchased for gifting may be leaving the exhibition early.
Artists receive 80 per cent of profits from their art sale, with the remaining 20 per cent going to qathet Art, which runs qathet Art Centre. Many galleries typically take up to 50 per cent or more profit from the sale of an artist’s work.
Kamon mentioned an important tidbit of information many artists and/or businesses may not be aware of: According to the Canada Revenue Agency, the cost of acquiring original artwork for a business can be treated as a deductible expense for income tax purposes, and the purchase price of the artwork can be deducted from the business’s taxable income, reducing overall tax liability. There are a few simple stipulations, she added, one being that the work must be from a Canadian artist.
PRESENT, at qathet Art Centre, located at 215-6975 Alberni Street (above Powell River Public Library), can be viewed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12 to 6 pm until January 10, 2024.
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