Three of Canada's most decorated craft artists—Lou Lynn, Jane Kidd, and Greg Payce—are featured in a new exhibition titled 'Skillful' at the Kelowna Art Gallery, opening June 12 and running through October 25. The show highlights their slow, deliberate craft practices, including Lynn's sculptural tools in glass, bronze, and steel, Kidd's densely layered tapestries, and Payce's ceramic vessels that play with negative space. All three are recipients of the Saidye Bronfman Award, the Governor General's highest distinction for fine craft in Canada.
The exhibition matters because it champions the value of slow, masterful craftsmanship in an era of rapid production, offering visitors a chance to experience the depth of a lifetime of artistic dedication. By bringing together three Governor General Award-winning artists, the Kelowna Art Gallery underscores the importance of fine craft within the broader visual art world and provides a rare opportunity for the public to engage with works that embody accumulated skill and intentionality.