EXHIBITION
What: heArt space pop-up art show
Where: 821 Fort St.
When: Tuesday to Oct. 31, opening reception 7 p.m.
Information: facebook.com/groups/Heartspacevic/
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A new exhibit in downtown Victoria pays homage to the art and lives of people who have died in the overdose crisis.
鈥淚n talking to people who鈥檝e lost family, friends and to frontline workers, it became clear there is a lack of place to grieve,鈥� said Marion Selfridge, one of the co-ordinators of the heART space pop-up art gallery on Fort Street.
Selfridge, a former youth outreach worker and doctoral student, said the project came together with the help of street-involved youth, frontline workers and others affected by the crisis, which has killed more than 300 people on Vancouver Island this year and last.
鈥淎rt and culture gives us an opportunity to be with our grief,鈥� said Selfridge.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really important to offer space, physical space, for people to let down the work and stigma, to create and observe.鈥�
Selfridge said the curated art show is funded in part through the Centre for Addictions Research sa国际传媒 A call for submissions has yielded an interesting mix of sculpture and two-dimensional artworks, she said.
Victoria muralist Kay Gallivan transformed an awning from the previous tenant, Alpine Market, into an artwork for the temporary gallery.
Selfridge said the graffiti-style mural uses peaceful imagery of camas, lavender and nature, 鈥渢o ground us in the space and land.鈥�
The exhibit opens on Tuesday with an evening reception and will host workshops and events throughout the month, including a spoken word open mic on Oct. 26 as well as an acoustic song circle and overdose-prevention and naloxone training.
