Artwork by two sisters is on display at the Plaskett Gallery in January.
Circle of Two Sisters, featuring the work of Alison Kirkley and Lorraine Thomson, is on at the gallery from Jan. 2 to 31.
Kirkley has been involved in photography for 35 years, starting in the pre-digital era and moving on to digital. The photographs in this show are from the analog era – the subjects being dance students at Simon Fraser University in a newly founded modern dance program, circa 1981.
The images document the early history of Vancouver dancers and independent troupes, such as Gyrus Dance.
“Taken during dress rehearsals and performances, these photographs are all about energy and light and the intensity of that perfect stop motion movement in dance,” a press release says. “Black and white photography loves the available light on stage like no other format.”
Among the dancers is Alison’s sister, Lorraine Thomson.
Thomson, who completed her bachelor’s degree in dance at SFU in 1982, spent the next 10 years as a Vancouver-based dancer and choreographer. She returned to SFU to complete a master’s degree in fine arts in 1992, including a year in Indonesia studying dance, art practices and culture.
She took up painting after the birth of her son and, for the past 20 years, has been exploring how to make paint and paintings move – experimenting with layering and colour, using acrylics, inks, gesso and foil on canvas.
Plaskett Gallery is at Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., and during performances at the theatre. See www.masseytheatre.com or call 604-517-5900.
(Note that none of the photographs on display are for sale. The intent is to donate them to SFU for historical and archival purposes.)
