January 25 | 2025 Winter Exhibitions Opening Reception
Saturday, January 25, 2025
2 to 4 PM (Smudging ceremony starts at 1:45 PM)
Free | Drop-in
About the Program
Join us to celebrate the launch of our winter exhibitions, Karen Kar Yen Law: Better Bitter, Beneath the Surface: Stories of Kinship and Connection, and The Printmaker’s Matrix: Process, Image, and Innovation.
Engage with talks by exhibiting artists and curator, get creative with family-friendly printmaking activities, and enjoy a festive Chinese lion dance performance. Savour delicious snacks and drinks while connecting with the Varley community!
About “Karen Kar Yen Law: Better Bitter”
Markham-based artist Karen Kar Yen Law 羅加欣 works primarily with monoprints, blending the structured layers of printmaking with the fluid expressiveness of painting. Law’s work is deeply shaped by her Chinese heritage, particularly its cuisine, where balance in flavour—such as the transformation of bitterness—is essential. In her latest work, the bitter melon serves as a symbol for exploring the concept of bitterness, both as a flavour and an emotional experience.
About “Beneath the Surface: Stories of Kinship and Connection”
Beneath the Surface features the evocative works of Emma Nishimura and Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, who use printmaking to explore culture, family, and identity. Nishimura’s practice delves into themes of memory, loss, and resilience, focusing on her family’s experiences during the internment of Japanese Canadians in World War II. Kabloona, inspired by her Inuit heritage and artistic lineage, celebrates her identity while questioning it, blending tradition with contemporary exploration.
About “The Printmaker’s Matrix: Process, Image, and Innovation”
Step into the world of printmaking in The Printmaker’s Matrix, a group exhibition featuring works from the Varley’s permanent collection. Inspired by the shows in the Main Gallery, this installation invites you to explore techniques and behind-the-scenes efforts of printmaking. Uncover hidden gems in our holdings, explore lesser-known pieces, and be among the first to view works on display for the first time.
