Ann Richards with some of her work in the print studio at UBC Okanagan
Ann Richards submitted two works to the Lessedra Mini Print Annual Exhibition in Sofia, Bulgaria at the Lessedra Art Gallery. Approximately 241 artists submitted a total of almost 700 miniature prints. Ten other UBCO students submitted and had their works accepted to the exhibition as well. From all of the accepted works, a four-person international Jury selected Ann’s lithographic print, Fractured Sphericity, for Third Prize.
As there were so many works from UBC Okanagan students accepted into the exhibition this year the exhibition organizer, Georgi Kolev, requested that they be mounted in a ’special presentation’ – a mini exhibition within the larger exhibition. This is the second time UBCO students have been honoured in this way. They were also granted a ’special presentation’ back in 2011 and we have been asked to make another next year in 2020.
“Ann took a very experimental and process-oriented approach to making her prints this past year”, noted professor Briar Craig. “She often allowed natural forces and serendipity to come into play with the production of her work to create a dialogue between imagery that is both human and naturally controlled.”
Lithographic print by Ann Richards
Ann is “interested in expressing human and natural interactions to start a discussion about climate change that isn’t overwhelmed by statistics and rhetoric”.
Ann will also be represented in a UBCO Student Printmaking exhibition entitled Early Impressions at the Vernon Public Art Gallery (July 25th to October 23, 2019). Lubos Culen and FCCS prof, Briar Craig, co-curated the work of 13 UBCO printmakers for the exhibition. There will be student talks about their work in the exhibition sometime this fall.
Ann grew up on a farm outside of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan. She started her university journey at the University of Central Florida, where she played volleyball for the University for 3 years. While there the team won conference during her first year and she was team captain during her third year. Ann then transferred to UBCO to play for the Heat for two remaining 2 years of athletic eligibility, while on the road to earning her BFA degree. While playing for the Heat in her first season, the team earned a spot competing in Nationals in Quebec City, and last year she was named captain of the team. Her future plans are to graduate with my BFA, work towards a teaching certificate, and to sign a professional volleyball contract with a European team.
Lithographic prints by Ann Richards