A woman described as a “foundational member” of Nelson’s arts community has been named the city’s 2024 cultural ambassador.
Deb Thompson was honored with the position Tuesday. In revealing her appointment, cultural development officer Joy Barrett cited the “depth and breadth” of Thompson’s work, “honed over decades,” that has received many accolades.
Thompson is a visual artist, whose work includes drawing, painting, sculpture, print-making and most recently stop-motion animation.
She was a founding member of the Oxygen Art Centre, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary and has offered painting and drawing classes there since its inception. She was also the exhibition-in-residency co-ordinator there for many years.
When she moved to Nelson in 1999, she taught at the Kootenay School of the Arts. She was later the second curator at Touchstones Nelson.
Thompson said she was “honoured and humbled” with recognition, especially considering “all the hard-working people who make Nelson such a great place to life.”
She said she feels privileged to be an artist and lucky to spend the second half of her life focused on art.
“That’s the great privilege in my life,” Thompson said. “It gives me great meaning and I love to share that through exhibitions and mentoring and teaching.”
She added the Oxygen Art Centre is dear to her heart, but joked that while she teaches there, “I’m not administrator at all. That’s why it’s still thriving.”
Thompson said she has been touched by many of her students and encouraged others to take a class.
“I’m also very proud to live in a town that elevates the arts with awards like this,” she said. “The arts are so important. It’s about our imagination. We need to dream a new future and the arts will help lead the way.”
Thompson is preparing a solo exhibition at the Grand Forks Art Gallery in May 2024 that will showcase her stop-motion animation plus new drawings and cut-out works. She has also been invited to take part in an artist residency in California next year.
The cultural ambassador position was established by the city’s cultural development commission in 2009 to recognize local artists, groups or collectives who have achieved a high standard in their artistic discipline and are active not only in Nelson. They are expected to represent and promote Nelson on their travels to increase its cultural reputation.
The appointment comes with a $1,000 honorarium. The 2023 cultural ambassador was ceramic artist Robin DuPont.