Annabel Stanley: The Circle of Life
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Kelowna Art Gallery 1315 Water St, Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y 9R3
Annabel Stanley, "The Circle of Life," 2021
mixed fibre installation
Annabel Stanley: The Circle of Life
There’s a new exhibition to be found at the heart of the Kelowna Art Gallery, It features the work of West Kelowna-based natural fibre artist Annabel Stanley's site-specific installation entitled The Circle of Life explores how the form of the circle shapes our environment and is reflected in the flora and fauna that surround us. Visitors will encounter various sculptures woven from locally sourced natural fibres such as grasses, dogwood, alder, willow, moss, and grape vine canes. At the heart of the installation is an oversized bee skep that sits atop a wine barrel. Viewers are encouraged to peer into the lit interior of the skep through a small opening to discover numerous wire sculptures of bees, a woven honeycomb, and other tributes to the humble bee.
Stanley cites the work and writings of Ukrainian-American artist Alexander Liberman (1912-1999), as well as the ideas of sacred geometry, which explores the intersection of math, nature, and spirituality, as inspiration for her art installation.
The Circle of Life has an interactive component too. Visitors are invited to get hands-on (yes, they can touch the art) and create their own unique installation by rearranging the sphere-shaped sculptures and seating within the courtyard. Afterwards, they’re encouraged to snap a photo of their layout and share it using #movethespheres.
Annabel Stanley sources her materials throughout the Okanagan Valley and from her vineyard in West Kelowna. She trained in Willow Sculpture with artist Julieann Worrall Hood in Wiltshire, England and has exhibited extensively in British Columbia and New Zealand.
A Willow Weaving workshop lead by Stanley has been scheduled for Saturday, September 25, from 10 am to 3 pm. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.