The Neon Kitten exhibit at the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie features artwork from Northwestern Polytechnic’s Permanent Collection. The exhibit includes printmaking and paintings from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.
The work includes depictions of animals, landscapes, portraits, and abstracts, all of which are in bold and bright colours. The neon colouring of the work was chosen to depict optimism for the future with the kitten said to be a symbol of new beginnings.
The inspiration behind the Neon Kitten exhibit comes from the student experience and perspective. According to the description from the gallery, “being a student in a college or university is a unique and personal experience. It’s often a time of rapid evolution of identity and personal growth.”
The pieces that Curator Melanie Jenner picked are aimed to take those who visit the gallery on a journey from being a new student, apprehensive, nervous, and unsure to graduating, confident, eager, and ready to take on the next adventure.
Jenner also has a personal connection with the project being a Northwestern Polytechnic graduate herself. The permanent collection Jenner pulled from at Northwestern Polytechnic has more than 3,800 pieces.
Some of the pieces picked for the exhibit include works by Canadian artists like Rita Letendre, Rene Marcil, and Brian Marion, plus several others. The exhibit will be up at the art gallery until April 9th.
