This past October, as part of U of R's 50th Anniversary celebrations, the Fifth Parallel Gallery presented Rekindled Spaces, an alumni exhibition featuring works by 39 Visual Arts graduates. This reunion spanning decades of alumni and a range of artistic disciplines celebrates not only the talent nurtured in U of R's Visual Arts department but also the unique paths alumni have taken to grow and thrive as artists after graduation.
The beauty of a 50th Anniversary lies in the opportunity it provides to pause and reflect on the journey that brought us here. For the Fifth Parallel Gallery, that story began in 1986, when U of R Visual Arts Professor Leesa Streifler envisioned a dedicated space for her students to share their artwork with the world. By 1997, through the combined efforts of Professor Streifler, U of R Visual Arts Professor Roger Lee, additional Visual Arts faculty members, and funding from the University of Regina Students' Union (URSU), the gallery found its permanent home in the Riddell Centre. Nearly three decades later, this student-run gallery stays true to its mission, offering a platform for emerging artists and now welcomes alumni back to share their work once more during Alumni Week.
