"Between 2025-2", mixed media on canvas, 36" x 36". Artwork by Irene YK Cha on display in the Main Gallery at Queen Elizabeth Park Community & Cultural Centre.
Story and photography by Ashleigh Barry
Artists and art lovers came out this Saturday for the opening reception of the 3rd annual Oakville Together show at Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre. Organized by Sungmi Kong, owner of Rainbow Studio Gallery, the show celebrates the continual friendship between Canada and the Republic of Korea.
This year’s theme is Harmony, a celebration of connection, cultural diversity, and creativity. The show has two exhibits; in the gallery - 16 professional artists, eight from Korea and eight from Canada come together to showcase their interpretation of harmony, while in the corridors the youth and amateur artists are shown. Between all three of these levels visitors of the show will experience both traditional and contemporary work that reflects harmony within our lives, both in nature and society, using a variety of mediums.
In the show’s third year they are looking to expand and grow however it is important to them that they are relaxed and organic in the way that they grow. Each year they have new artists but also some returning artists. By combining all three levels of artists, professional, amateur, and youth it allows for strengthened community ties. This is reflected in Rainbow Studio Gallery; by building a supportive community it allows everyone but especially the youth to build their confidence where they can go on to achieve bigger things.
The purpose of this annual show is to empower connection between artists and community. With remarks from both the Consul General of Korea and the office of Anita Anand about how art can bring dialogue and diversity and create something bigger than the whole of our parts, a sense of community was highlighted throughout the event.
“Community is at the core of how [Sungmi Kong] experiences life and she really understands how it's important that we don’t grow on our own. We’re only as strong as all of the people who are around us” says Dominique Prevost, one of the artists featured in the show.
Canada is a mosaic, a sentiment shared by the artists. When asked what it meant to be a part of this show “it's what Canada is all about” said Victoria Pearce and “doing your own thing but doing it together” said Tricia W. Rawlins.
In continuing the community spirit, 20 percent of each sale will be donated to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. The gallery show runs until July 17th while the corridor show runs until September 3rd.
For more information on the show and the Rainbow Studio Gallery visit their website at http://www.rainbowstudio.ca/
