Art has a way of sparking curiosity, and curiosity doesn’t end when you leave the gallery.
This summer, the Vernon Public Art Gallery (VPAG) and the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) are bringing gallery walls and library shelves together. To complement their current exhibitions, VPAG has created a special reading list featuring books from the ORL collection, giving you another way to explore the ideas, materials, and themes behind the work.
Visit VPAG to experience Opera Obscura by Mary Kavanagh and Your Absence Is Mineral by Sarah Steeves, on display August 7 to October 7, 2026. Then browse VPAG’s reading list in the ORL catalogue and place a hold on a title that catches your interest.
Continue the experience at your local ORL branch, where you’ll find books on contemporary art, sculpture, photography, architecture, and design. Whether you’re interested in learning more about artistic techniques or exploring the ideas behind today’s exhibitions, your library is a great place to continue the conversation.
Two artists. Two exhibitions. A whole library of ways to dig deeper.
Opera Obscura
Mary Kavanagh’s Opera Obscura is a large-scale installation built from approximately 2,000 deaccessioned books from the University of Lethbridge Library. Through sculpture, photography, and transformed library materials, the exhibition examines themes of preservation, memory, and the histories contained within books and public collections.
Your Absence Is Mineral
In Your Absence Is Mineral, Vancouver artist Sarah Steeves presents her first institutional solo exhibition. Combining sculpture, video, and an evolving installation, the exhibition explores the connections between people and the natural world through materials that transform over time.
Continue Exploring with VPAG’s Reading List
Browse VPAG’s reading list in the ORL catalogue, place a hold on a title that catches your interest, and keep exploring long after your gallery visit.
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