For the past four years, the Faculty of Creative and Critical studies has supported two students each year to pursue an independent research project.

Asia Li was one of last year’s recipients, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Art History and Visual Culture. With this support, Asia worked on a project to research and write an advisory report for the Armstrong Heritage Advisory Committee and the City of Armstrong on the topic of the city’s proposed Chinese memorial to the Chinese market gardeners of Armstrong and their legacy.

Asia Li

“Ms. Li has done an admirable job of researching the memorializing process in relation to Chinese cultural heritage in the region and making that research accessible and relevant to the Armstrong community,” says faculty supervisor, Hussein Keshani.

The final report includes research on successful interpretation, criteria for successful memorials, case studies on memorials and plaques, as well as recommendations.

“I feel very honoured to have received this prestigious award and it pleases me knowing that it has gone towards recognizing a significant part of our cultural history,” notes Asia.

The other recipient from last year was Ashton Kinley, a major in Creative Writing. For Ashton’s project, he worked on a short film entitled ‘The Vermillion Hitchhiker’. Set as a road-film with a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age narrative, the film is centred around the fraught relationships between place, identity and sexual politics.

Ashton Kinley

“When I was awarded the research grant, I knew that it would be no small task to undertake the rewriting, filming, and editing processes over the summer, but I also understood that there was no better opportunity to do so,” notes Ashton.

Ashton took the time over the summer months working with supervisor Michael V. Smith to write, shoot, and edit his first dramatic film.

“I’m elated. Ashton did all the steps as he predicted, learned a huge pile of super practical tips, including some key components of project management, and was a steady, reasonable, patient, quick-witted joy to work with,” says Michael V. Smith.

The Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies is now accepting applications from undergraduate students to pursue innovative and original research as part of their learning experience. There are 2 awards available for domestic students for $2500 each, and one award available for international students for $6,000. These awards provide undergraduate students support to engage in research and creation activities over the summer months.

Find out more about previous award recipients in FCCS. 

The awards are meant to encourage undergraduate students who are enrolled in a major in FCCS B.A. or B.F.A. programs (English, Cultural Studies, Art History and Visual Culture, French, Spanish, Creative Writing, Visual Arts and Interdisciplinary Performance, or Combined Majors) to pursue innovative and original research under the supervision of one or more FCCS faculty members. The international undergraduate research award (IURA) is being offered for the first year and is in partnership with the International Student Initiative.

The deadline for both awards is January 30th at 4pm. For more information on these awards and the application process, visit fccs.ok.ubc.ca/students.html (under the Funding and Awards heading).

The Paper Shell student anthology of creative writing is accepting submissions until January 31st 2017. We welcome every struggle and yearning that has led to a piece of rough-and-tumble writing, such as poetry, fiction, non-fiction, drama, screenplay, etc. All students are welcome to submit.

Contributors will receive a free copy in the spring at our launch party.

The following creative works will be accepted:
– up to 3 pages of poetry
– up to 1000 words of prose
– up to 6 pages of a screenplay or stage play;

Please include your name and contact information (email) in the top right hand corner of each page. You can submit multiple genres, but all length restrictions apply. Also, include the genre in the subject line of your email.

Submissions can be emialed to ubcopapershell@gmail.com

The University of British Columbia Okanagan’s Department of Creative and Critical Studies and the Visual Arts Course Union is excited to present its 15th Annual Art on the Line Fundraiser and Gala on Saturday, February 25, 2017.  This popular event brings together the local arts community to celebrate the work of our students, faculty, alumni, as well as artists practicing in the community.

The committee is currently accepting donations in the form of two and three dimensional artworks. Each submission is auctioned off at the event through a randomly drawn raffle process whereby auction ticket holders have purchased full price tickets at $190.00. As the goal is to offer the best selection of artwork, the request is that donations be of suitable quality and equivalent to the auction ticket price.

Submission Guidelines:

• Donations must be received before Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 at 4:00 pm.
• All donations must be individually identified with a submission form attached to each work.
  • Submission forms can be found HERE
• All works must be ready to hang or display

Drop-off location:

• Creative and Critical Studies Building, UBCO campus 1148 Research Road in CCS 161 or CCS 167.

Drop-off times:

• Weekdays between 9am-4pm, unless otherwise arranged with Art on the Line Coordinator Pamela Turner: aotl2017@gmail.com (please note campus is closed from December 24-Jan 2)

Proceeds from the event support visual arts student exhibitions and activities, and will make charitable donations to Bumbershoot Children’s Theater and the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art.

Opening reception, Young 2016 on Nov. 4 at the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art

What: Young 2016, exhibition featuring students from UBCO
Where: Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art, 421 Cawston Ave
When: November 4 to 12, 2016

Victoria Moore, Addison Oberg & Shayla Ritchie

Exploring themes of memory, nostalgia, and adolescence, visitors can expect to see painting, sculpture and photography in this exhibition curated by fellow UBCO students Shayla Ritchie, Victoria Moore and Addison Oberg.

Three years ago, in a Salmon Arm coffee shop, Young was born as idea between two UBCO freshman. Their goal was to merge UBCO’s visual arts program with the growing Kelowna arts community. In 2015, Young was held at the French Cultural Centre where artwork covered the building floor to ceiling. It was astounding to see so many youthful emerging artists take part in such a hugely successful event. The show was well received and gave a taste of the talent that UBCO had to offer.

Young 2016 follows the success of the original event, curated by one of its original instigators along with her peers. This exhibit has evolved past its predecessor into a professional gallery setting with juried submissions. The students of UBCO brought forth a fantastic roster of artwork exploring themes of youth, nostalgia, and innocence.

Young 2016 focuses on youth as concept, free from the constraints of time and age. In the future, the concept of youth presented in this show can only expand and grow, as the artists understand new perceptions of nostalgia and adolescence as they themselves age. Viewers can expect to see new perspectives and valuable expressions of what youth means in the next generation of Young exhibitions.

Images of the artwork and the opening reception can be viewed on the FCCS Art Blog.

BIMPE IX in the FINA Gallery, Nov. 6 to 18, 2016

The Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition (BIMPE) is back at the FINA Gallery on the University of British Colubmia’s Okanaga campus.

Peter Braune of New Leaf Editions and Debra Yelva from Dundatave Print Workshop in Vancouver conceived the idea of an international printmaking exhibition for miniature work in the year 2000.

BIMPE catalogue cover

Since 2006, BIMPE has been organized by The Society for Contemporary Works on Paper (SCWOP) a not-for-profit Society dedicated to advancing the appreciation and awareness of various forms of art on paper and to fostering the exchange of ideas and techniques among artists working on paper. BIMPE, held every two years in Vancouver, is a showcase for small scale works measuring no more than 15cm × 10cm, and is open to images made using all printmaking techniques from traditional line etching to contemporary digital processes. From the hundreds of entries submitted by printmakers from across the world, the show is selected by a jury panel of three accomplished printmakers or print professionals who view each submission in the original.

BIMPE IX jurors were Ryan O’Malley, Tom Wood, and Davis Thauberger. They reviewed worked submitted by 296 artists from 47 countries and pared the exhibition down to approximately 350 miniature works.

This is the third time the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies has hosted BIMPE in the FINA Gallery. The gallery is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 until 4:00 and the exhibition runs from November 6th to November 18, 2016.

Virtually all of the works are for sale – if you are interested in purchasing any work please consult with Briar Craig (Briar.Craig@ubc.ca or 250 807-9765).

Come and see for yourself!

BFA student, Dylan Raney in his studio

What: Portfolio Day at UBC Okanagan
When: Saturday, November 26th, 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Creative and Critical Studies building, 1148 Research Road, UBC’s Okanagan Campus

Portfolio Day is an opportunity for prospective applicants to the Visual Arts BFA program at UBC Okanagan to receive advice on assembling their entrance portfolio and (or) obtain pre-approval for the portfolio requirement as part of their application to Visual Arts BFA program at UBC Okanagan.

UBC Okanagan’s Portfolio day is also a chance to talk to faculty and staff, meet and talk with current students and faculty about program choices, explore our campus and facilities, learn more about the application process and have all of your questions answered.

Prospective applicants are asked to bring 15 – 20 artworks or images, and (or) up to 3 short videos which illustrate your best work while showing the range of media you have explored. Please bring your original artwork whenever possible, including finished pieces, work in progress, and sketchbooks. You may also present your portfolio digitally on your laptop.

Starting in January, Visual Arts will also host a series of free workshops for prospective applicants of any age. Creative Day workshops are a chance to find out more about our BFA program and facilities through fun, hands on projects:

Screen printing with Briar Craig
Sat. January 21st, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Digital Animation with Myron Campbell
Sat. Feb 25th, 12:00 – 3:00 pm

Frame Animation and Green Screen with Joanne Gervais
Sat. March 25th , 12:00 – 3:00 pm

How to Talk About Art – An Exhibition Tour of 4th Year Show with Andreas Rutkauskas
Sat. April 22nd, 4:00-6:00 pm

Interactive Digital Media (Art Bots) with Miles Thorogood
Sat. May 20th, 12:00 – 3:00 pm

Life Drawing (Draped Model) with Katherine Pickering
Sat. June 24th, 12:00 – 3:00 pm

Sculpture Workshop with Philip Wyness
Sat. July 22nd , 12:00 – 3:00 pm