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Newsletter - January 2003
You Gotta Move How do human beings fit within today's increasingly electronically and technology layered culture? How are the boundaries between nature and technology defined? Is innovation equivalent to advancement? The artists included in "You Gotta Move" tinker with technology creating peculiar machines and perception altering installations to examine these questions. Motors, gears, batteries, video projections and sounds become aggregates of low-tech and high-tech, the humorous and the sinister, the real and the unreal. These works invite viewers to interact, to be enveloped and to respond - to allow the imagination to play. To simulate the evolution of functional cyborgs, KC Adams (Winnipeg) combines ceramics, motion detectors, and video connected to computers with beeswax and moss. Since receiving her BFA from Concordia University, Adams has had two solo exhibitions and has received several Manitoba Arts Council Grants. As well as developing her artistic practice, Adams works at Plug-In Institute of Contemporary Art, and is Chair on the Board of Ace Art. She is also a founding member of Wired Women of Winnipeg, an organization that promotes women's involvement in the IT sector. Roland Brener's (Victoria) work is characterized by his irreverent use of technology for purposes other than that for which it was originally intended. Earlier work activated everyday objects to perform simple tasks or mimic human behavior. Over the years he has increasingly used computer technology and digital imaging to explore notions such as randomness and space. Originally from South Africa, Brener has lived in England, Israel, and the USA. He began teaching at the University of Victoria in 1974 and he has exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions internationally. Brener represented Canada in the Sao Paolo Bienal in 1987 and the Venice Biennale in 1988. Presently, he lives in Victoria and travels extensively on his sailboat. Because his current work is developed on the computer and then produced by other under supervision, Brener can continue working on his art while he travels. Michael Campbell (Lethbridge) focuses on the symbiotic relationship of nature and humankind found in suburbanized wilderness. He often combines videos and motion detectors with miniature reconstructions of rooms and buildings to illustrate the paradox. Since receiving his MFA from Concordia University Campbell has developed a career as an artist, educator and curator. His work has been exhibited in the United States, Europe and Canada and he has received numerous grants. Campbell has curated projects for the Southern Alberta Art Gallery and has taught at Concordia University, Arctic College (Cape Dorset), Aurora College (Inuvik), Dickinson State University (North Dakota) and the University of Lethbridge. He is a member of the board of directors of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery. After receiving her MFA from Concordia University, Pamela Landry's (Montreal) interest in how mechanical things work, how people learn to use them and how people relate to technology led her to take several electronics courses. By reconstructing common household objects with motors, sensors and timers Landry creates oddly humorous slightly disturbing automatons that question and examine the relationships of humans to machines. Her work has been featured in group and solo shows in galleries across Canada and she has received numerous grants. An active member of La Centrale, an artist-run centre, Landry has been on several juries and curated Machines festives at La Centrale in 1999. Currently she teaches at Cegep du Vieux-Montreal. Lynn Richardson (Winnipeg) creates Prairie themed dioramas operated with simple gears, wires and switches to draw attention to the effects of technology on the environment. Since completing her BFA, Richardson has exhibited regularly and has worked with the art departments on several films. She is one of ten artists featured in "Biennial SCAM", a touring exhibition organized by the Small City Art Museums (SCAM) in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Until moving to Texas in September to begin her MFA, Richardson was the sculpture technician at the University of Manitoba School of Art. The AGSM and the artists thank the following funders
Education & Outreach Kinetic Art is art that moves. The simplest form of kinetic art is moved by the forces of nature. One artist that was at the forefront of kinetic art was Alexander Calder. As a child Calder was fortunate enough to have his own workshop in which he created toys for himself and his sister. He originally received his degree in mechanical engineering in 1919, however pursued a career as a professional artist. Calder was first recognized in Paris when he created a piece titled Cirque Calder a performance piece utilizing pieces sculpted from wire, wood and cloth. He moved into creating pieces made entirely by wire; critics described his works as drawings in space. Calder's work transformed into gestural, abstract sculptures of movement. "Calder envisioned putting paintings into motion. He developed constructions of abstract shapes that can shift and change the composition as the elements respond to air currents." (www.calder.org/). These pieces have been referred to as mobiles. IDEAS FOR THE CLASSROOM Educators can refer to the following WebPages to view Calder's work, or have students research the artist:
The following lesson idea comes directly from the Alexander Calder Foundation website and is meant to be used in conjunction with their permanent exhibition, however as long as an educator can access images of the artist this can be done anywhere, it is meant to be an experiment in trial and error for students to problem solve and create a mobile that includes movement and balance. Class can discuss balance and movement. "What happens if you are on one side of a seesaw and a bigger kid gets on the other side? Why? What happens if two kids get on one side? What happens if you are on one side and a kid who weighs the same as you gets on the other side? Show an image of a hanging scale (pan balance). What happens if you put coins in the pan on one side? Discuss fulcrums. Practice balancing a pencil across the tip of your finger to find the center of balance." "Students can use any combination of elements cut in any shape they want from paperboard, and/or found objects, wood, etc. Elements can be attached directly to wire, or can be hung from wire by string, or any combination of techniques. When completed the work is painted. A trial and error approach is used to attempt to make a mobile that balances. What is required to take a work that is not balancing properly, and make it balance?" Melissa Hart
$100,000 New Equipment Our fundraising project for $100,000 in new equipment is just $8,500 short of this total goal! While the final amount is being raised, we have placed orders for most of the equipment proposed. Participants in studio art programs will note a new print studio, an expansion of photography to include 10 digital photo stations, new tables and easels for drawing and painting, and more kilns and wheels for ceramics. The exhibition area will have significant technical equipment to enhance our environmental controls. New audio visual equipment will complement all our event activity. We are deeply appreciative of several lead donors and recognize their generosity.
For those who would like to support this major initiative, please feel welcome to make a generous contribution. It is with significant pride that the AGSM will have the most advanced studio art program of all public galleries on the Prairies. Thank you again to our early donors. You have made our facility absolutely the best!
Huge Visitation Increase The results are in. Our first year in the new location has set a new base line in visitation and new opportunities for growth in the years to come.
Leech Printing 75th Anniversary The Art Gallery is honored to have been the venue for the Leech family's celebration of 75 years in business. As a part of their cocktail reception, a major commemorative contribution to the new Print Studio and an added endowment contribution was provided to the AGSM. The Leech family and the AGSM have a long history together arising from their family's personal interest in art catalogs, in the annual art auction, and in their taking art courses through the studio art programs. Catering by the new Remingtons restaurant turned the reception into quite the gourmet event. With the public recognition both of Don Leech and the extended family's business contributions over the last 75 years, it will be hard for this company to fly below the radar as a very important Brandon organization.
Did You Know? "To become truly immortal, a work of art must escape all human limits: logic and common sense will only interfere. But once these barriers are broken, it will enter the realms of childhood visions and dreams."
"When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college-that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared back at me, incredulous, and said, 'You mean they forget?'"
"The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery."
Volunteer Opportunities We are seeking volunteers in the Gallery at the Main Desk to assist with reception involving:
As little as two hours a day commitment. We already have volunteers manning the Art Gallery Gift Shop and always have room for more. For more information please call Allison at 727-1036.
Kris Kringle Raffle Results Congratulations to this year's winners of the Kris Kringle Raffle:
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