During the month of February, local artist and photographer Rochelle Nehring will provide a glimpse of her impression of Communist Cuba in a solo show she calls “Regarding Red.”
Her art will be on display at the Malaspina Exibition Centre in the foyer of Vancouver Island University, Powell River campus.
Nehring said she has been “on fire” for this subject since first going to Cuba in 2004. Every step of the journey is a photographic jewel, she said. With each visit since, she notices many changes. The initial culture shock that took place after her first visit to Cuba has grown into a fascination for the cultural differences, in comparison to life in Canada. Her paintings and photos show the poverty, music, colour and humour that struck a chord with her.
“With the exception of one painting of Che, I work from photos that I take right on the street,” she said. “I feel very fortunate that my husband works for Che Guevara’s son, Ernesto. They offer Harley Davidson tours there. It puts me right where I want to be with a camera. I am on constant watch when I am there because it is a country that is right on the brink of massive change and what it is right now is going to be very different. Some changes will be welcomed and others won’t. I feel compelled to record it as it is right now by storytelling on canvas.”
After studying in Alberta and then living in Northern BC, Nehring moved to Powell River with her husband two years ago and is here to stay. Her work has been shown in galleries in Yukon, throughout BC, and Alberta, and most recently at the Doris Crowston gallery in Sechelt. Her photographs have been chosen by BC Magazine and for the past four years she has been the official photographer for the International Buskers, Chalk Art, and Kite festivals in Victoria. Originally, she was trained as a graphic artist, and now paints mainly human form. Currently she is using acrylic because it works well with her chosen subject, but she has worked with oil and watercolours.
An opening reception will take place from 7 to 9 pm on Thursday, February 12, and her art will be on display from Wednesday, February 11 until March 3. Nehring invites everyone to come and enjoy an artist’s view of Vida Cubana.
