Join Fresh!AiR Artist-in-Residence, printmaker Zoe Cilliers, for an exhibit of her work:

A Natural History of Vacant Lots
Found Stories, Plants and Prints

Tuesday, October 29th
7 – 9pm
Caetani Studio Gallery

This show will feature multicolor woodblock prints of plants and landscapes in Vernon, BC.

The work is an investigation of storytelling through found objects – weeds in sidewalk cracks, pressed flowers left in library books and the human altered ecologies we find in alleyways and vacant lots.

There are stories that we tell about places, and then there are the stories that places can tell us about ourselves – if we start looking.

Refreshments will be served.


Zoe is also teaching a printmaking workshop on tetra-pak etchings at the Vernon Community Arts Centre on Saturday October 19th. Find out more and enrol here.


Zoe Cilliers studied printmaking at Emily Carr University and is currently completing a Diploma in Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria.

Her work, which  spans art and science disciplines from letterpress printing to the study of cryptograms (mushrooms and lichen), is driven by a passion for storytelling.

After completing her degree Zoe worked for various letterpress printing shops, including Barbarian Press in Mission, BC.

An interest in museums and curatoral work also led her into a variety of odd jobs, from cemetery archives to train museums.

Most recently, these experiences combined with her passion for ecology at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, where she taught marine science to visiting high school and university groups.

She has been able to join her knowledge and experience in environmental science with her background in the arts in various ways.

In the summer of 2019 she launched the Beach Plastic Art Cart, in connection with a show at the Crescent Beach Pop Up Gallery. Items displayed on the cart – small paintings, prints, books and sculptures were donated by various artists and  available in trade for beach plastic and debris.

Overall, she strives to create artwork that gives occasion to pause and encourages people to examine their everyday surroundings and perceptions.

She believes in the ability of art to invite wonderment and curiosity into our lives, and strives to share this experience with others.


Where: The Caetani Studio Gallery

Located at the end of the driveway to the right of the Caetani House.


The Fresh!AiR Artist-in-Residence Program is a funded program with a juried selection process.

Zoe’s Fresh!AiR Residency is a partnership with the Vernon Community Arts Centre & their printmaking studio.