The reasons that artists make art differ for each individual, and through this new and ongoing series, we want to explore them all. The Omega is interested in talking to diverse local artists at TRU and across Kamloops to discuss the complexities of art, why people make art and how it affects the artist and the viewer.
The TRU “Lorax” monument placed on one of the stumps outside of Old Main was created by none other than one of TRU’s fine art students. Charlie Napoleon, more commonly known as “Napcolors,” is a painter, illustrator and figure artist frequently featured in art exhibitions around Kamloops. Napcolors has also created their own exhibitions, including one in TRU’s Art Gallery titled “Original Stories,” featuring art inspired by comic illustrations.
Napcolors’ gallery exhibition, “Original Stories,” was proposed to the art gallery organizers as an opportunity for illustrators and comic artists to showcase their work, which they often don’t get the opportunity to do.
“The original idea came to me because… the program is a fine arts program, so it’s more so focused on what is considered ‘fine arts,’ and I find that illustration in comics wasn’t usually included in the descriptions,” Napcolors said. “It kind of made me sad that [artists and teachers] weren’t showing art that [these artists] like to create, so I proposed this exhibition to the gallery organizers. I wanted to showcase the comic artists’ original stories… I wanted to give them the opportunity to showcase [their works]. I wanted to prove a point: that comics and illustrations should also be considered art … I wanted to give it that spotlight as well.”
“Original Stories” was only displayed in the art gallery from Jan. 15 to 24. However, Napcolors’ art will still be displayed at several other exhibitions in the Kamloops area, including W.I.P. at the Kamloops Art Council until Feb. 11 and Celebration at Gallery 635 until March 14.
Napcolors not only creates figure drawings and paintings, but they have also been known to use the 3D printer in the TRU Maker’s Space. After the chopping down of several trees in front of Old Main, Napcolors came up with a harmless joke that turned into a famous altar for the Lorax.
“I was so mad when they cut down the trees, and it was on the first day of [my] classes. It was so loud and caused such a ruckus… People were being startled and disturbed and stuff, so I wanted to do something about it. I went to the Maker’s Space and created a little Lorax,” Napcolors said. “I had it printed the next day and originally put it on a different stump. It was further back where it was a bit more hidden. I think someone eventually grabbed it and moved it to the stump where it is now. My expectations for that were for it to just be a kind of funny thing… [I expected that] someone would just take it to their dorm.”
Over the course of several months, many of TRU’s students and community members have been offering various objects to the Lorax.
As a graduating TRU student, Napcolors is working towards maintaining and growing the art community in Kamloops. Napcolors has worked on the art gallery silent auction in the past and has also taken over hosting live figure drawing events in OM1562 on Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“I [have] always loved life drawing; it was one of the first things I started going to at TRU to become a part of the [artist] community,” Napcolors said. “When I heard that the person who was running it before me was going to graduate… I offered to run it and it’s been fun since then. It gives me something to talk about with other art students. It gives me an opportunity to talk with community members who also do life drawing or [other] art in Kamloops.”
If you are a local artist or would like to nominate an artist who would like to talk about the arts, please contact the Omega’s Arts Editor, Augustus Holman, by email at auggietaylor6284@gmail.com or by phone at 250-351-9676.