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Kups lands in first place in CBC's Crash Gallery

Arts News: Village 8 has new owners; Audain masterworks book launch
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Whistler graffiti artist Kris Kupskay has put his talent to the test on a new CBC arts face-off program that pits three artists from different genres against each other.Kupskay competed against a nail artist and a body painter in the episode, which ran on Friday, Oct. 23.

The three had to make their own mosaics out of smashed plates and glassware, and followed that by creating a painting in dark.

"I liked the painting challenge the least because I couldn't see. I got excited when they said we'd do a portrait, but then they said we'd be picking someone out of the audience and using chalk in the dark, and I thought 'Oh, crap. That sucks.'"

In the end, Kupskay took first place in the episode.

"I didn't want to lose," he said.

In all, 15 artists from around Canada competed in five episodes.

"There was barely any overlap at all in terms of the art everyone did," Kupskay says.

"I've been working a lot as an artist on my process, where I start and finish a piece. I can take that into any challenge and be somewhat successful."

The show is available online. It can be seen at www.cbc.ca/player/shows/ID/2677574373/.

Meanwhile, Kupskay is also branching out into fashion. His signature symbol, the pineapple, has been printed on men's boxers by North Vancouver underwear company MyPakage.

The new underwear hits the market in January.

For more information visit www.mypakage.com.

Audain Art Museum masterworks book out Nov. 2

The Audain Art Museum's guide to the works that will go on display when it opens in early 2016 will be published on Nov. 2.

Masterworks from the Audain Art Museum is written by Ian M. Thom, the senior curator at the Vancouver Art Gallery. It shows around half of the 200 works that will make up the permanent collection of the gallery.

It provides a tantalizing look at the paintings, indigenous art, conceptual art, sculptures and other objects donated by collector Michael Audain. The works displayed in the book include five paintings by Emily Carr, a sculpture by Haida artist Bill Reid, and works by Jack Shadbolt, Jeff Wall, Toni Onley, as well as Lawren Harris and Fred Varley of the Group of Seven.

The earliest piece is a carved Haida mask of a woman, circa 1800.

The book has historical and artistic details presented by Thom, along with colour photos of the artworks.

The book retails for $45. It can be ordered from Armchair Books in the village or at www.amazon.ca.

Village 8 Cinema under new ownership

Whistler's movie theatre, Village 8, has quietly been purchased by independent theatre chain Imagine Cinema.

"They closed on Thursday, we opened on Friday," said new owner Gina Facca.

Its name will change slightly, to Imagine Cinema's Village 8.

Imagine Cinema owns six movie theatres in Ontario; this is their first foray outside that market.

Facca says renovations and cleaning will be carried out in the coming months — the box office has already been removed.

She added that tickets for Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be on sale shortly, and they intend to bring in a bargain coupon on Facebook and other deals for locals.

Facca added that prices would be streamlined, with Tuesday movie tickets costing $7.