New art exhibit at Betamax Gallery, opening April 12

New art exhibit at Betamax Gallery, opening April 12
Amanda Smart: Recollect

In their ongoing mandate to support women in the arts, Betamax Gallery in East Vancouver is welcoming local artist Amanda Smart for a new exhibit, titled Recollect, April 12 – May 12.

The public is invited to attend the opening reception, to check out the new exhibit, on Friday, April 12 from 7-11pm.

Smart, a graduate of Emily Carr University of Art + Design, specializes in oil painting on canvas. The primary interest of her work is a love of reflection and transparency — the way that light reveals forms underneath water, the enigmatic glow of light on skin, and crystalline patterns on rocks are the sources of exploration in her work. The exhibit at Betamax will mark her inaugural solo show.

Rachel Zottenberg, Director / Curator of Betamax, is a long-time supporter of Vancouver’s creative community. In addition to Betamax and This Monkey’s Gone to Heaven (the curio shop which shares the gallery’s space), Zottenberg owns many left-of-centre restaurants and lounges in Vancouver and has always gone above and beyond to use her spaces to encourage and produce events that enhance the cultural landscape of Vancouver.

“Vancouver is home to a number of talented artists,” says Zottenberg. “However, many young artists living in the city find themselves without enough avenues to show and sell their work and so we lose them to bigger cities that have the type of supportive communities that foster artists. As an art gallery owner, supporting an incredibly talented woman who’s from this city is something I feel is very important. I want Vancouver to have a scene that supports and cultivates talent and provides artists with places and space to grow and be supported right here.”

In keeping with the female-focused vibe, the opening reception of Recollect (April 12) will feature two performances from dancers Francesca Frewer and Emmalena Fredriksson. The fluidity of dance is the perfect complement to Smart’s work: In her pieces, Smart draws inspiration from the human body in motion to create her somewhat abstract images.

“We regard art, including paintings, to be still objects depicting one stagnant image curated for the viewer,” says Smart. “I would instead like to make my paintings transcripts or placeholders for time and a reminder of the constant flow. They are an imaginary snapshot of what memories may look like if captured, rather than a photograph that may describe the imagery, but not the embodied feeling that goes with it.”