Deja Vu by Karina Kraenzle; on display at Blink Gallery this fall

Karina Kraenzle, a photo-based artist and member of the Blink collective, is quick to embrace the unusual nature of the gallery. "We see the space as a kind of laboratory for artists to experiment in," she says. "It's a great place to try things out and push the envelope, and even if something isn't completely successful, it's more important that an artist has tried something new and exciting."

In addition to showcasing the works of artists from the collective itself, Blink also remains dedicated to promoting up-and-coming artists, putting out an annual call for submissions. Recently, for example, the gallery featured a joint exhibition from John Naccarato and Irina Lyubchenko, two artists currently completing their master's in fine arts at the University of Ottawa.

Naccarato, who has been a successful painter in both Montreal and Toronto for the past 20 years and is now enrolled in the U of O's prestigious program, is a perfect fit given the unusual nature of Blink. His latest work, entitled The Vertebra Series, is a unique mixed media installation consisting of disassembled VCRs, old television sets, radios, record players and other pieces of technological detritus which have been carefully stripped, rearranged and rewired into a cohesive work of interactive art. It's a bold and undeniably creative reimagining of how humanity perceives technology, and something you're unlikely to see in most mainstream galleries. "Blink has been great," says Naccarato. "It's amazing what art can do for a community, and having this kind of outlet as an artist is incredibly exciting."

In the meantime, with summer slowly beginning to wind down, Kraenzle says there's still plenty more planned for the coming months, with a range of weekly exhibits touching on all facets of Ottawa's artistic community. "We're all artists from different backgrounds and with different styles of working," says Kraenzle. "What unifies us is an interest in expanding our horizons."

Blink Gallery
@ Major's Hill Park
(1 Rideau St.)
Until Oct. 4
www.blinkgallery.ca
 
 

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