Aerial themed student artwork at Nanaimo Airport highlights Port Theatre's upcoming season

The Port Theatre Society has teamed up once again with Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Visual Art department and the Nanaimo Regional Airport to mount an art exhibition that is open to the public at the Nanaimo Airport terminal.

 First-year VIU art students explored a “history of aviation" theme to suit the space and to allow for the use of "skywriting" style banners that offer highlights to viewers on the upcoming Port Theatre Spotlight Series. The eclectic mix of 17 sculptures represents a range and variety of interests — everything from Da Vinci flying machines to the latest surveillance drone technology.

 “Students had a lot of fun working with the medium and theme, and were extremely excited and satisfied to see their work hanging out in the airport space,” says Visual art professor Jason Gress. “The result is a unique combination of whimsy, information, and suitability to the site of display.”

 The project is a continuation of an exciting partnership between the Port Theatre and the VIU Visual Art department. A similar Nanaimo Airport student display was created in 2014, and student artwork has been displayed in The Port Theatre lobby since 2013.

 “It has been a great opportunity to work in conjunction with the Port Theatre and the airport to get student artwork out into public spaces,” says Gress, particularly as the department has just recently been granted a four-year Major in Visual Art Bachelor of Arts degree. The Port Theatre is proud to be supporting emerging artists in this unique partnership.

 The Port Theatre’s 2015-16 Spotlight Season will be announced this July.

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For more information, please contact:

Samantha Letourneau

Marketing & Community Outreach Coordinator

The Port Theatre

E: sletourneau@porttheatre.com  T: 250-754-4555 Ext. 303