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Parallax View showcases optical art

The Fernie Arts Station is hosting a new exhibit this month, featuring the optical art of local Ulbe Hoekstra.
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Local artist Ulbe Hoekstra's latest exhibit

By Adam MacDonald

Contributor

The Fernie Arts Station is hosting a new exhibit this month, featuring the optical art of local Ulbe Hoekstra. The exhibition, titled Parallax View, showcases six completed pieces, which Hoekstra sees as both designs and functional art that can be incorporated into people’s homes with ease. “I’m just playing around right now, seeing what I get for feedback,” said Hoekstra, “I’ll see where it goes from here.”

The pieces use an infinity mirror box and LEDs to create the various effects. “It’s really cool to have such a diverse medium,” said Arts Station Administrative Assistant Jennifer Woods. “I think this is the first time we’ve had optic art. The math behind it blows my mind.” she said.

Optical art and double imagery have been of interest to Hoekstra for a long time, and he played with the idea of a light box for about 20 years in his head before deciding to do something with the concept. “It was all a happy accident. It first started with The Coffee Table, then I moved to The Wizard, and then I went to The Tunnel ones,” said Hoekstra.

I used to do ornamental art back home in Windsor, Ontario and I worked with iron and stained glass,” said Hoekstra. “I’ve always liked the effect of glass light in the right medium — the colour and intensity, especially of sunlight. This [exhibition] is a different effect. The darker it becomes the more brilliant it becomes.”

Still to come to the exhibition is a full-sized door that includes wood carving and a large infinity mirror with 96 LED lights. Parallax View will be on display at The Arts Station gallery until May 26.