February 24 to April 15, 2007
…as the swift emergence of digital age recording devices flood the market, our desire to create more and more images seems to increase. Even though issues of veracity surrounding these new digital documents come into question, many of us are eagerly consuming and adding our own pictures, voices and videos to the incredible bombardment of visuals that make up our contemporary Western World
– Fern Helfand
Fern Helfand is a Kelowna based artist and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, University of British Columbia-Okanagan. For nearly twenty years she has exhibited her photo-based work in group and solo exhibitions across Canada and internationally. Piazza San Marco is a new photo-based installation that was inspired by the artist’s recent visit to Venice. In this exhibition, Helfand focuses on the Piazza San Marco’s historic use as a town center, pilgrimage site and tourist destination. In Piazza San Marco, Fern Helfand investigates the complex 21st century intersection of art, architecture, history and the contemporary tourist.