Next week, several skillful art copies will appear in the nooks, corners and open spaces of Leir House Cultural Centre. The Ripoff Artists, a south Okanagan group named for their annual pilfering of a famous dead artist’s masterpiece, are showing a retrospective of their works. For the past four years, these artists have challenged themselves and each other to complete a recreation of an original masterpiece in a week of open studio. The 10 members, headed by ringleader, fibre artist Terry Irvine, each work in their own medium. The other gang members are: quilter and painter Enid Baker, quilter Dianne Birnie, encaustic artist Thea Haubrich, 3-D artist Kurt Hutterli, weaver Barbara Levant, woodworker Leo Pedersen, collage artist Marion Trimble, fine artist JoAnn Turner, and digital photographer Russell Work.
The first year, the talented artists stole a landscape from Van Gogh. The following year, a portrait by Gustav Klimt was pilfered. Next, a tulip by Georgia Okeeffe was deftly plucked. Last year the group hoisted one of Lawren Harris’s mountain vistas. Each year the popularity of this larcenous group has grown. They have been wowing a large following of art lovers with their skill and ingenuity at poaching great works of art.
Gaining insight into the artist and the chosen work is an education for the public as well as the participating artists. “It’s exhilarating, you work so close to the piece….you get to know the artist”, said Haubrich. “We are ripping off a great artist”. She went on to say, “We don’t want to do a bad job of it. We want to honour their work”. The group’s creations make the point that copying an artist’s work is actually the ultimate compliment to the original artist.
The Ripoff Artists Retrospective Show is the first exhibit of the entire body of work produced by the group. Visitors are welcome to cop a peek at the show hosted by Leir House, 220 Manor Park Avenue in Penticton. The works will be on display, May 12 to June 23, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm. An Opening Reception will be held May 12th between 7 to 9 pm. For more information or to view the Ripoff Artists and their annual challenges, visit their website at www.ripoffartists.ca