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State of the Art

Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival's artistic event to showcase 40 artists

Art and sport are inextricably linked. The clothing, the equipment, the accessories - everything about winter sport has been esthetically charged since fluorescent ski jackets infiltrated lift lines thirty years back.

Since then the crossover between the two disciplines has increased with sub cultures and anti-movements standing strong as the preferred visuals of choice for those tied to the slidin' and ridin' lifestyle.

A decent cross section of the art and styles that best represent mountain culture will be on display from Friday, April 15 to Friday, April 22 during the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival's State of the Art exhibit. The showcase promotes 40 artists chosen from the Sea to Sky corridor, with a smattering of genius from Ontario, Vancouver and Victoria included to round things out.

"I think it's really important, I feel that more and more art is becoming integrated into that kind of industry," said SOTA curator Kassia O'Connor. "They are incorporating art into the lifestyle and the clothing. It really is, especially in Whistler, a hub of art enthusiasts and artists. We have a lot of talented people who live here and it has become really important to the people who live here that art is celebrated at the festival."

Among the 40 presenting their works, Vancouver's Ben Tour will create a live, on-site mural during the exhibit's opening reception party, accompanied by beats from Whistler's DJ Canosis. Victoria's Woodpile Collective, Whistler's Taka Sudo and the graffiti of DEDOs will also be on display.

"Every year it is such a great space for people to come and to enjoy the art as well as going to the gala events," continued O'Connor. "It's nice to see all the talent that we have that I feel we really bring to life in the gallery."

For a full list of artists go to www.wssf.com/event/state-art .

A free opening reception will be held this Friday, April 15 at 8 p.m. at the Whistler Conference Centre's grand foyer.