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| Newsletter - November/December 2003
Everett Baker October 16 - November 29, 2003
Brandon, Manitoba: This exhibition features the work of amateur historian and photographer Everett Baker (1893-1981). Backer was dedicated to supporting prairie farmers, and spent much of his life promoting the value of working together and assisting people to set-up community co-operatives. Purchasing a camera in early 1940s, Baker began to document his travels and involvement with Saskatchewan Grain Growers Association, the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and the Aneroid Co-op Association. By the end of his life, Baker had taken over 11,000 photographs that documented his involvement in small Prairie communities. The 60 photographs included in the exhibition exposes how the work of Everett parallels and references the development of co-operative organizations, while documenting the social, natural and historical development of the Prairies in the mid 1900s. Its presence at the AGSM is fitting, due to Brandon's historic and contemporary role in the agriculture development of Manitoba. Circulated by the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery.
Sean Whalley - Second Story In Second Story Reyina-based artist Sean Whalley transforms the Art Gallery of Southwestern MB. into an Eco-tourist destination by creating a recycled lum-ber "forest" to raise consciousness about human interaction with trees, and existing market mentali-ties towards the environment. Using discarded lumber from bins, back-yards, garbage piles, etc. to con-struct large sculp-tures, Whalley's installation allows viewers to become immersed in an atmosphere that evokes the sense of intimacy that is experienced in a forest. In acknowl-edgement of the organic relationship between trees, humans, and the environment, the silhouette of the human form is visible in the shadows cast by the work. In a world where grants are given to clear-cut forests to create roads that help turn "nature reserves" into tourist destinations, Second Story is both a welcome social commentary and a tranquil sanctuary. Sean Whalley not only prolifically addresses issues of excess and the human relationship with trees. He reminds us that just like the circular growth rings found at the core of a tree, the relations between humans and the ecosystem should be harmonious, long, and cyclical in nature. Sean Whalley is a practicing artist working and living in Regina, Saskatchewan, who teaches fine arts at the University of Regina.
Notes for a Speech on (Canadian) Flagmaking October 23-November 29, 2003 Opening reception: October 23 at 7:30 PM Evening events: Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27 at 7:00 PM This inter-disciplinary work is the initiative of the Brandon Arts Collective, which includes sound artists David Kattenburg and Derek Gunnlaugson, installation artist Shandra MacNeill, actor Steven Ratzlaff, and writer Dale Lakevold. Notes for a on (Canadian) Flagmaking examines the construction of national identity and the practice of making art. The work consists of a comical hybrid text translated from stage to audio. The audio component is supple-mented by the installation that, while being an artwork in itself, also serves as a the-atre set for the audio performance. The script component is about a middle-aged Canadian artist who makes versions of the Canadian flag. He wakes up in the middle of the night to the sound of CBC Radio, and what he believes is a report about the death of Pierre Trudeau. To stay awake until the next hourly news to verify, he composes a speech about flagmaking, and how he per-ceives himself as a person who artistically contributes to his country by making flags. His speech, which is highly fragmented and eccentric, is perhaps a metaphor for the position that Canadian artists hold, and Canadian identity itself. The visual installation reflects the artists' studio, and contains a plethora of items that reflect his concern with Canadian identity and artistic practice. Notes for a Speech on (Canadian) Flagmaking effectively situates the audience in a space that alternates between the internal space of the flagmaker's mind and the external studio/theatre set. It is as much about Canada as it is about the solitary figure of the flagmaker, and facilitates self-reflection upon identity, history, and the role of image-makers in Canada. Evening events will take place on November 6, 13, 20, and 11 at 7:00 PM in which the audience will be able to experience the full 45 minute audio component in the installation space, followed by a discussion with the Brandon Arts Collective. Please contact the AGSM at 727-1036 to reserve a spot.
Saturday, November 8, 2003, 2:00 PM at the AGSM Bonnie Marin is a Winnipeg-based artist who works in a variety of mediums. Over the past few years she has been concentrating on various types of collage and artist books. In her work she tries to maintain a sense of humour using pop culture images mainly from the 1930's, 40's and 50's. She explores the everyday occurrences of human life through such serious themes as death to ordinary things like meat. She is cur-rently working on a project titled Gross Anatomy which includes over 300 photo-collage images of the human anatomy along with a companion book.
School News: upcoming WORKSHOP The Basics: Digital Photo with Rob Lovatt Saturday, October 18 or November 15 Members: $65, Non-members: $80
Creating Simple Plaster Molds for Clay with Kevin Conlin Saturday, October 18 Members: $35, Non-members: $45
Hardanger Embroidery/ Love Brandon with Carolyn Mitchell Saturday, November 1 Members: $85, Non-Members: $95
Watercolour with Len Sandeman Saturday, November 8 Members: $45, Non-members: $55
Halloween Extravaganza Oct 29 to Nov 6
STUDIO PROGRAMS, ART GALLERY OF SOUTHWESTERN MANITOBA
Up Coming Classes Wood Block Printing For Beginners with Richard Yates HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Paper Making, Print Making for Handmade Book
Upcoming activities Winnipeg artist Erika Lincoln will be showing at the Portage Arts Centre on 11-2nd St. NE in Portage La Prairie, from October 2-31, 2003. Upcoming in November will be an exhibition by Brandon artist KathyHehn.
The Viscount Cultural Council offers the following: - The Manawaka Gallery at 388 Mountain Ave. in Neepawa is Open Tues. - Fri. from 10 AM - 5 PM.
For more information about these and other events sponsored by the Viscount Cultural Centre call Lane at (204) 476-3232.
The Virden Community Arts Council sponsors a number of different arts events including these current and upcoming exhibitions at the CP Station Galleries in Virden Monday - Friday, 10:00 -11:30 AM and 12:30-4:30 PM: Watercolours by Clara Hornibrook & Oil Paintings by Olive Elliot, October 1-31, 2003 Woolgathers Exhibition, November & December, 2003 and Arts West Travelling Gallery, November 17-29, 2003 For more info contact Linda at (204) 748-3014.
The Manitoba Arts Hetwork-istioldingthetr "Ails die Growing in Manitoba" weekend in Dauphin on October 17-19. In addition to their workshops for community presenters, they offer a preview of their next touring visual arts exhibition - art quilts by the Fibre Arts Network. Bookings for this exhibition are available from September 2004 to August 2005. For information on this weekend, go to www.communityarts.mb.ca or call 943-0036.
Carberry Arts Council is hosting the Courtney Milne exhibition Visions of the Goddess II in the town library for the month of October. This exhibition then moves to the library in McCreary, hosted by the Burrows Trail Arts Council.
At Plug In ICA, 286 McDermot Ave. Paul Butler: my mad skillz September 6 to October 25 2003. "Who Means What" November 7, to December 20, 2003, Opening reception November 7, 8 pm, Brent Roe (Toronto), paintings 1992- 2001; curated by John Armstrong (Toronto); circulated by Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen's University (Kingston). Workshops and Panel Discussions - 10-11:30am "Digital Copyright Clearance Workshop: Issues and Processes";
At Ace Art Inc nd Floor, 290 McDermot Avenue Cowboys and Indians (and Metis?) Twitch including the works of David Rokeby, Garnet Hertz, Nicholas Stedman and Kevin Yates Artist Lectures and Panel Discussion also including Steve Deitz, Jennifer Woodbury and Erika Lincoln: Friday October 17th, noon Opening Reception: Friday October 17th, 8pm November 12 - 30th X3 Annual Art Draw and Fundraiser and December 6th, 7pm X3 Annual Art Draw and Fundraiser - THE BIG DRAW!
The Brandon Palette Club and friends will be holding their 17th Annual Art Exhibition "Brush- Strokes 2003" from Oct. 14th-Dec.29th at the Centennial Auditorium foyer, 250 - 20th St. Brandon, MB Opening reception will be held on Wednesday Oct.15th at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Refreshments served.
The AGSM is looking for volunteer tour guides for school and adult tours. Giving gallery tours is a great opportunity to connect with the public, learn more about art, and enhance your public speaking skills. Hours required are dependent upon number of tours booked. If you are interested in being a tour guide, please contact Cathy Mattes at 727-1036.
After weeks of sitting in my office answering phone calls, talking with visitors, and writing reports, for a bit of fun Allison let me sit at the Front Desk to answer the phone, take membership/donation pledges, register students, help folks with gift shop purchases and generally be a happy face for the visitors. What a learning experience and a timely one at that! It provided just the answers I need for a presentation I will be doing this October on "The Role of the Public Gallery" for the Manitoba Artist Society. I am astonished at the number of people who walk through the door and the tremendous variety of things that draw them to the Art Gallery. Some come to visit the main gallery from where I heard squeals of delight as children and some adults played with Alberta artist Joanne Bristoll's model of the Universe. Equally, local artisan Lina Nikolova's stained glass work was a very popular draw for the local community who might not normally come to the gallery. The Community Gallery and the gift shop are also important stops for visi-tors who want to see and buy work (through the gallery or the artist) by local craftspersons and artists. But, I was most fascinated by the quantity of children and adults who come to the gallery to learn how to paint, draw, photograph or make pots. There seems to be an enormous interest in the City and surrounding area in being creative and learning a visual language.
Yet, not everyone who takes an art course becomes an artist or even wants to be one. Visual expression is older than the written word, as old even as humanity itself. Over 15 "years ago I first visited a pre-contact; aboriginal site in Wtitteshell"Provincial Park. It is a sacred place where ten thousand years ago the peoples of North America felt the need to express their essential beliefs about themselves and the world in stone mosaic sculptures. Today, this meeting place some 350 Kilometers from Brandon still bears the traces of their visual culture. As I walked among the stones deliberately set down long before the Egyptians built their pyramids, I wondered what of my age would survive 200 years hence let alone ten times a thousand. Culture is our legacy to the future. The art gallery's job is to help people learn the tools and language to understand the past, reflect the present and speak to the future. Sitting out at the Front Desk, talking with the people who visit and use the AGSM's facilities is truly revitalizing. It serves to remind me that, while it is important to manage the gallery in a manner that is businesslike and, above all, fiscally responsible, the real reason these facilities exist is to provide art education, exhibitions and outreach to enrich the lives of the people in this region. That's my bottom line and standard for success!
ART GALLERY GIFTS NOW LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE ART GALLERY IN THE TOWN CENTRE
One stop shopping for unique Christmas gift solutions Gallery members come in December and receive 10% off
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