Legacies Revisited is an exhibit created by Canadian artist Betty Kovacic.
It showcases poignant tributes to inspiring people from across the province who overcame hardship and discrimination during their lives.
“This show was created as my millennium project and most of the pieces were completed around 2000-2001,” Kovacic said, who is a Canadian artist working in Prince George. “The exhibit traveled around BC and then it came home and I’ve hung some pieces on the wall and I donated three pieces to the College of New Caledonia.”
And the rest of the pieces have been in storage.
Kovacic said it’s time for these pieces to be put on display and then will soon find their forever home and that’s how Legacies Revisited came to be.
To create the pieces Kovacic toured the province and visited with each person who became the subject of a piece of art.
“It was an adventure and a spiritual journey,” she said.
She found 10 women and 10 men from different walks of life, different cultures and captured their stories visually.
“The reason I wanted to do that as my millennium project I wanted it to reflect the past as well as the future,” Kovacic explained.
Most of her subjects were between the ages of 84 and 94 because in their lifetime they had seen so much change in the world.
“The people in that age group had undergone experiences that no one else will ever experience again in one life time,” Kovacic said. “They went from horse-drawn covered wagons to computers, people walking on the moon and everything in between and it seemed to me that people were already forgetting, especially our youth and I felt it was important to capture those stories while I still could.”
Kovacic and her late husband toured BC for two summers to visit with each person to hear their story.
She approached museums and historical societies to find the people in their community who would be interested in being the subject of a painting.
“Sometimes it would take quite a while,” Kovacic said.
Once she met with the person it became a magical experience, she added.
“Pretty soon we were talking and laughing – it was so beautiful,” Kovacic said. “Every single person that I met was an astounding and wonderful person.”
Kovacic promised all her subjects the artwork would never be sold, assuring people this was a not-for-profit project.
Kovacic included her family's story as part of the Legacies exhibit and holds dear a special blouse that was handmade and gifted to her mother. Kovacic still treasures the beautifully embroidered work and will showcase it during her Artist's Talk.
Kovacic is inviting non-profits organizations and public institutions to claim a piece to be put on display and on permanent loan. If for any reason the artwork would no longer be put on public display the caveat is that it is be returned to her or her estate so that it could be placed elsewhere for public viewing.
Legacies Revisited is at the Community Arts Council of Prince George & District until April 30. The artist's talk is March 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Studio 2880’s Feature Gallery.
To register for the event that follows all provincial guidelines for public events visit Betty Kovacic Feature Gallery artist's talk.
To get more information about getting a piece of the Legacies exhibit contact Natalie Brekkaas, Feature Gallery & Gift Shop coordinator arts@studio2880.com.
