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The Male Body
IN CONTENTION
» Thursday 29 July 2010 | 5 pm
» Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna
An informal afternoon hour showcasing ideas
and people in the Okanagan creative economy. Join us as artists Cory Dixon, Shauna Oddleifson and Wanda Lock examine the evolution of the Okanagan's reaction to controversial art.
» $2 at the door. Refreshments are available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
Artists Examine the Okanagan's Reaction to Controversial Visual Art
For over 500 years in Florence Italy, Michelangelo's David has triumphantly asserted the divinity of the human body and its masculinity - but would David be allowed to deliver his message in the Okanagan? Michelangelo began this sculpture in 1501 when he was 26 years old confident that his talent was a divine gift that obligated him to explore humanism. Much has been written about David's pose at once calm and tense coupled with the intense facial expression of one who knows his cause is just. David focuses on the enemy Goliath. Standing over 14 feet tall, his maleness openly displayed, this figure has become a symbol of a powerful unprotected humanity facing challenge with self confidence. It is a respected cultural icon.
In 2004 the nude figure titled The Baggage Handler (nicknamed Frank) by sculptor Michael Hermesh was installed in Penticton 's new traffic circle. The mayor tried to have the sculpture covered up and then removed. Town council said no on both counts. Local vandals then prevailed and smashed Frank's genitals. The incident, and the Okanagan, received national attention in Mary Lou Findlay's interviews on CBC's As It Happens. Last spring at the Kelowna Art Gallery curtains were installed so that paintings of nude male figures among the retrospective exhibition of works of by Joice M. Hall could be covered from view when deemed appropriate.
In reaction to these incidents, 2010 graduating UBCO Critical and Creative Studies student Cory Dixon decided to examine the Okanagan's relationship to the male nude. His artistic practice considers the body and the significance of it's representation in painting and performance.
On Thursday, July 29th at 5 pm the ongoing weekly Okanagan Institute Express series at the Bohemian Café, Kelowna presents The Male Body in Contention. Join us as artists Cory Dixon, Shauna Oddleifson and Wanda Lock examine the evolution of the Okanagan's reaction to controversial art.
 Cory Dixon's work has been exhibited in Alberta and BC in group and solo exhibitions. In addition to other academic awards he was a nominee for this year's national BMO 1st Art competition. Cory is a strong voice advocating for the arts. Working for the Vernon Public Art Gallery he was responsible for creating and organizing Riot on the Roof, an alternative art event held on the rooftop of the Vernon Public Art Gallery. He has been a studio artist and executive board member at Gallery Vertigo, an artist run centre in Vernon, where he worked with the gallery's executive director, Judith Jurica, to create and launch the Smarties drop in classes for children. He has been involved with implementing the Grass Roots Initiative, a strategy for young and emerging artists to secure alternative venues for engaging the community and showcasing their artistic practices. Cory will soon test the Okanagan's tolerance for the naked male body when he exhibits his studio work which depicts young men in various states of undress.
 Kelowna Art Gallery publicist and 1998 UBCO fine arts graduate Shauna Oddleifson and Lake Country artist Wanda Lock will join the discussion to examine the evolution of the Okanagan's engagement with, and reaction to, controversial art.
The event elicited this response from Joice Hall: "I welcome any dialogue regarding censorship in art and regret that I won't be able to attend this discussion ... I have read the article about Cory and his attempts to create a dialogue about the male nude ... I subsequently saw his paintings at the graduating student exhibition at UBCO and was very impressed with his paintings; both the skill and confidence he displays is refreshing. I hope that he will be able to create a more relaxed attitude in the community and restore the once illustrious position of the male nude in art history."
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
The Male Body in Contention takes place at the Bohemian Café, Kelowna. This marks the 148th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007.
Express is directed, convened and hosted by Doug Hodgkinson, Karen Close, Edward McLean, Neil McKay and Jan Kennett. It has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, distinguished editor and author Jim Taylor, poet laureate and professor John Lent, creative entrepreneur Nikos Theodosakis, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, community activist Don Elzer, dancer David LaHay, architect Jim Meiklejohn, culinary artist and writer Heidi Noble, broadcaster Marion Barschel and many others from a wide range of creative fields.
The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that has gathered around the goal of providing events, publications and services of interest to enquiring minds in the Okanagan. We partner with individuals, organizations, institutions and businesses to achieve optimal creative and social impact.
Our mission is to ignite cultural transformation, catalyze collaborative action, build networks and foster sustainable creative enterprises. We invite the participation by all members of the creative community.
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