Cochrane first stop on World Photographic Cup tour

Cochrane will be premiering the first-ever World Photographic Cup (WPC) exhibit featuring exceptional images from world-class Canadian photographers, including Cochrane's Jacquie Matechuk and Jo-Anne Oucharek.

The exhibit runs from June 6 to 22 at the Route 22 Artist Collective Gallery and includes a June 8 evening Meet the Artist fundraiser. There you will have the opportunity to meet photographers Matechuck and Oucharek and discuss their works and learn more about WPC.

"It's a fundraiser for the Route 22 Artist Collective and we're just happy to support arts and culture in Cochrane," says Oucharek

The exhibit includes 24 images selected to represent Canada at the 2023 WPC, considered the "Olympics" of photography competition. Over a dozen additional images will be on display that was tops in their categories over the years, earning gold, silver, and bronze world medals.

Each image provides a biography of the photographer and a brief description. The photographs fall into eight categories: commercial, illustration/digital art, nature landscape, nature wildlife, portrait illustrative, portrait natural, reportage/photojournalism, and wedding.

Jacquie Matechuk, 2021 Bronze Medalist, 2023 Team Canada representative in wildlife and reportage, will be on-site to share her experience representing Canada on this world stage.

Jo-Anne Oucharek earned Best of Nation 2023 for Team Canada and will be available to share the story behind the image and her experience being new to Team Canada this year.

In honour of the Best of Nation image "The Catch," the food and beverage selection for the evening will highlight bears.

Those purchasing the $15 ticket for the evening ($17.31 with services charges) will be entered into a draw for a print of "The Catch."

Additional draw tickets will be available for purchase during the function to increase the odds of winning the print.

It's the first time to exhibit has been shown since its debut at the Canadian Imaging Conference this April. Its next stop will be at the Calgary Stampede.

To purchase your ticket, click here. 

The Route 22 Artist Collective Gallery is located at 312 5th St. W. in the strip mall adjacent to Safeway.