Marijuana exhibit

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Photo: Contributed

Photo: Contributed

Photo: Contributed

Photo: Contributed

Photo: Contributed

Photo: Contributed

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An exhibit dedicated to marijuana generated a lot of buzz at its opening night in Penticton Friday.

Marijuana advocates mingled with artists, community members and at least one local politician at the official opening of Grassland at the Penticton Art Gallery. 

"I'm just really excited to see what the public appetite is for discourse and it seems like a timely subject for our community and the country for that matter," said curator Paul Crawford as he readied for the big night.

The idea for the exhibit was sparked when Crawford was working in a gallery in Grand Forks several years ago.

At the time, he recalls, he was amazed at how ubiquitous the marijuana industry was throughout the community and the whole Kootenays.

"It was how much it made up the economy and how little law enforcement there seemed to be around it," he said.

Fast forward to now and the government of Canada has promised to introduce federal legislation to legalize cannabis. Crawford felt it would be a good time to look at social change as part of what they do at the gallery.

After a soft opening, a Mad Hatter Dance and Costume Party, attended by about 350 last Friday night, everything was on display this Friday.

Included in the exhibit is work from political cartoonists, works featuring Cheech and Chong and Snoop Dogg and the concert posters of Bob Masse.

In one room, people were invited to sit on a couch and watch the black and white film, "Reefer Madness," an anti-marijuana film made in 1936.

There is also a show within a show. Glassland, held in conjunction with Grassland, features the artwork of  Patrick Redbeard Vrolyk.

Vrolyk creates glass pipes, and this is his first solo exhibition dedicated to the art of the bong.

"It's a privilege and an honour a real high light of my career," he said, regarding the exhibit. "It's really great to see bongs and pipes displayed in such a professional setting as this public art gallery."

Bentley Meeker, a New York-based light artist, whose unique light installation is on display, said for him it was just an opportunity to create something beautiful using the theme of the show.

"It's using light as a medium in a hopefully unique and interesting way," he said.

Visitors like Jukka Laurio, owner of Penticton's Rush in and Finish Cafe, described the exhibit as an amazing thing.

"It's the first one so it's interesting to see what people are coming up with combining cannabis with art," he said. "It's a good beginning."

Kona Sankey, whose artwork is on display, said it was nice to see the lens that others see inspiration through.

"There are so many things about marijuana that people pass over," she said. "Such as other than its medicinal properties, it's a beautiful plant."

MP Richard Cannings, who showed up to see the art, agreed the exhibit was timely. 

"Marijuana certainly is an issue on the top of a lot of people's minds these days," he said. "And Paul Crawford is very good at creating exhibits that are really relevant."

The exhibit runs until May 14 at the gallery.

There will be also speakers on a variety of topics every Saturday and films will be shown on Sundays during the duration of the exhibit.

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