Promising coffee, Dutch licorice, and trees that look like trees 鈥� artist Ray Ophoff presents his Exhibition of New Works, an upcoming showcase at the Fort Gallery.
From Sept. 25 to 29, Ophoff鈥檚 paintings will be on display through an event held in conjunction with the gallery鈥檚 fourth Friday event for the month of September.
鈥淔ort 91原创 is a great little town and the gallery is a great venue,鈥� Ophoff said. 鈥淚 live in Surrey, have a studio in Vancouver, and mostly show through private showings 鈥� but people in 91原创 just seem to have bigger walls. What鈥檚 happening now in Vancouver is tough. The rents are so high and very difficult for anyone to even have a gallery.鈥�
Ophoff鈥檚 large landscapes and botanical oil paintings will cover the gallery鈥檚 walls for one week, featuring snow-covered marshes, flowers, and community gardens from all over the Fraser Valley.
鈥淚 guess the inspiration comes from being raised in Surrey. You鈥檇 all meet down at the ravine at 3:15 鈥� somehow without cell phones,鈥� Ophoff said regarding the natural aspect of his work. 鈥淪ome people tell me they recognize the locations I鈥檝e painted鈥ven if I don鈥檛鈥︹��
Making a point to avoid political statements or social revolutions, Ophoff said the work on display is just up-front painting for the sake of painting.
鈥淭he work I do tends to be something I hope people might enjoy hanging on their wall. Nothing abstract鈥eople should recognize a tree as a tree,鈥� Ophoff laughed. 鈥淚 do landscapes because faces and hands are hard. You draw someone鈥檚 dog incorrectly, and you鈥檙e going to hear about it.鈥�
Friday, Sept. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. will see the official opening reception for Ophoff鈥檚 work; percussionist Daniel Tones will perform.
Ophoff will be on hand most days at the gallery to answer any questions about his techniques or just to have a chat.
The artist said he鈥檒l try to have coffee on and maybe some Dutch licorice 鈥� an occasional offering he noted as his trademark 鈥� while people visit.
鈥淭here are few things more pleasant than Fort 91原创 on a fall day,鈥� Ophoff added. 鈥淎nd the world would be a much better place if art was as proportionate and available as Fort 91原创 has made it.鈥�
Read More: A September filled with 91原创 artists
Ophoff will also be taking part in the Eastside Culture Crawl and First Saturday art events in the Lower Mainland later this fall.
Fort Gallery鈥檚 hours are Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. at 9048 Glover Rd, in Fort 91原创.
For more information on Ophoff and other upcoming exhibitions, people can visit .
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