News release from the Social Planning Council of the North Okanagan
Residents of Vernon are invited to view the newly installed “I am” Alphabet Boards along 31 Street in downtown Vernon.
The project was funded by the Province of BC and hosted by the Social Planning Council in partnership with the DVA, City of Vernon and Vernon Public Art Gallery.
The “Respect Lives Here” project is a series of poetic boards that answers the simple question, “Who am I”? Several diverse groups worked with community artist Ryan Ryan to find the words that best described themselves and then painted the poetic prose onto large black boards.
“The resulting art pieces are poignant, powerful and absolutely beautiful. They need to be experienced to be appreciated,” said Annette Sharkey with the Social Planning Council.
The groups who participated in the project are The Vernon Women’s Transition House, Vernon District Immigrants Service Society, the Vernon Community School, an LGBQT group from WL Seaton School, artists from Canadian Mental Health Association, youth from NOYFSS and moms from the Pregnancy Outreach Program at the First Nations Friendship Centre.
The boards can be viewed on Nolan’s Pharmasave, It’s Bath Time - Dog Grooming and North Okanagan Youth and Family Services for the summer and fall of 2016.
Photo: Annette Sharkey with Social Planning Council and Lara Konkin with the DVA in front of Vernon and District Immigrant Services “I AM” board on Nolan’s Pharamsave.