Charlottetown – A young PEI photographer has turned her camera towards other young Islanders for the final RBC Emerging Artists Series exhibit of the season at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery. Becka Viau’s photographic exhibition Young Farmers opens April 4.
Originally from Prince Edward Island, Viau is a recent graduate in photography from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. The exhibition of her work presents her empathetic focus on the lives of a small group of fellow Islanders.
The exhibition looks at the different socio-economic environments that influence the younger generation as opposed to the atmosphere in which their parents developed. The industry of agriculture is the most important sector of Prince Edward Islands' economy, although the margin of success for producers has been in decline for more than seven years. Viau aims to explore the difference in farming, as well as the decline, by engaging young farmers and presenting their stories.
By initiating discussion of the economic and environmental challenges that face this community, Viau finds optimism in the future of farming.
“Youth have an amazing energy full of potential, an optimism that should be supported and connected to the communities around them,” says Viau. “I believe in the initiation of these discussions and feel that art provides a vehicle for discourse surrounding issues we can't quite see clearly.”
The Gallery is holding an opening reception for Viau’s exhibition on April 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Following the reception is free performance by experimental music duo Sbot N Wo.
Young Farmers runs at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery from April 4 until May 31, and is curated by Mireille Eagan. The exhibit is part of the RBC Emerging Artists series at the Gallery supported by the RBC Foundation.
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Media contact: Dan Wall, publicist, Confederation Centre of the Arts, phone (902) 628-6135
Email: confederationcentre.com, web www.confederationcentre.com