The Artist’s Garden Project: "Wanda Lock and Rena Warren: Escape Artists"

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Artists Garden - Kelowna

Has something escaped? This may be a question that comes to mind when visitors first enter the new garden installed at the Kelowna Art Gallery.

Local artists Wanda Lock and Rena Warren are behind the transformation of the Gallery's open-air Rotary Courtyard space as part of the Gallery’s Artist’s Garden Project series. The two artists’ vision includes a wagon that looks old and abandoned, and is now overgrown with plants. It might remind visitors of the kind that once transported exotic animals around as part of a circus caravan – however whatever creature might have been captive has long since escaped.

The installation is fittingly named Escape Artists and the space is filled with all kinds of wonders for visitors to discover – massive chains and shackles, a mysterious door suspended ten feet up a solid stone wall, urns with richly-coloured Japanese Maples, curious old metallic bed frames that border the pentagon-shaped mound where the wagon sits, and sculptural elements, climbing plants, and more.

Wanda Lock and Rena Warren: Escape Artists is now open for visitors to explore. The installation will remain open through Spring 2017.

Wanda Lock grew up in the Okanagan and studied art at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver. Rena Warren has a BFA from the University of Victoria and has been exhibiting her work and teaching art in the Okanagan since 1995.

An opening reception to celebrate this exhibition will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2016, from 2 to 4 pm, at the Kelowna Art Gallery. This will be a free event, open to members and guests, by invitation. Both artists will be in attendance and will offer remarks.

Report courtesy of Kelowna Art Gallery.