CUAG Connects

Collection Friday! Norval Morrisseau, Untitled, 1979. Silkscreen...

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:01:04 -0400

Collection Friday!

Norval Morrisseau, Untitled, 1979. Silkscreen print.

Ottawa Art Scene: April 16 - 22

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:55 -0400

There’s a few big art events kicking off in Ottawa this weekend with their own constellation of mini-events to choose from!

This week at the National Gallery, is the opening of the much-anticipated exhibition of international indigenous art, Sakahàn, at the National Gallery of Canada. Check out the opening on Thursday evening to see the show for free and hobnob with the artists. The National Gallery has also organized a symposium on Friday afternoon in conjunction with the exhibition. They have invited several speakers to reflect on indigenous contemporary art and the timeliness of the show, and the afternoon will conclude with a public conversation between the curators and artists.

On the other side of the river, Daïmôn has organized a three-day symposium on video art and experimental cinema called CHEMINS DE TRAVERSE. This looks super-interesting, with the three days divided into the themes of creation (Thursday), history (Friday), and dissemination (Saturday). There will also be performances and experimental projections in the evenings! Check out the full line-up here.

Also this weekend, Chinatown Remixed launches on Somerset! Local artists like Melody McKiver and Marc Adornato descend on Ottawa’s Chinatown to animate the neighbourhood with music, visual arts, and more! The official vernissage is on Friday afternoon, so go wander around in search of local art!

On Wednesday, the new show at Patrick Mikhail opens. Check out photographs and videos in View: Jessica Auer, Thomas Neuhbühler, and Andrew Wright. Not much information yet, but keep an eye out.

This will be the last Ottawa Art Scene for a couple weeks, since I’m away on summer vacation (eager, I know) but I’ll be back in June!

#ThrowbackThursday Frank Shebageget: Light Industry, which was...

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:43 -0400

#ThrowbackThursday

Frank Shebageget: Light Industry, which was on view at the Carleton University Art Gallery in 2010, demonstrated the continuing development of Ottawa-based Ojibway artist Frank Shebageget’s personal iconography.

His Flight Patterns drawings pay homage to the Beaver, the quintessential Canadian-made bush plane whose design is touted as a perfect marriage of form and function. Lodge, a jumbled pile of planes, flouts this idealised image while hinting at the power – constructive and destructive – of all dams and by extension, at attempts (human and non-human) to harness unruly nature. One of his newest pieces, the ambitious installation Cell, is comprised of nylon fishing nets hung systematically from a square aluminum framework, which metaphorically contains the mess and stink of fishing within the pristine “white cube” gallery space. The grid reigns supreme here, but it also governs such traditional First Nations practices as beadwork, basketry, and quillwork design.

Frank Shebegaget’s work ultimately speaks to his deep attachment to a place, a home, a landscape. As Hugh Raffles observed in In Amazonia (2002), “Nature is indissoluble from place. It resides in people as fully as people reside in it.”

Check out more information and images from the exhibition here.

Did you see Frank Shebageget: Light Industries when it was at the gallery? What did you think?

New videos on the CUAG Youtube channel! We asked Sandra Dyck,...

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:00:53 -0400

New videos on the CUAG Youtube channel!

We asked Sandra Dyck, co-curator of Dorset Seen, to talk about Tim Pitsiulak’s large scale drawing, “Launching Canoe at Floe Edge” (2012). Here’s what she had to say!

Happy Mother’s Day! Robert Sargent Austin, The Italian...

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:00:56 -0400

Happy Mother’s Day!

Robert Sargent Austin, The Italian Mother, 1923. Etching on paper.

Collection Friday! Mosesee Qiyuakyuk, Mother and Child, 1977....

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:39:40 -0400

Collection Friday!

Mosesee Qiyuakyuk, Mother and Child, 1977. Whalesbone.

Ottawa Art Scene: May 9 - 15

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:32:56 -0400

It’s going to be a chilly weekend, apparently, so why not spend some time indoors with art??

If you can’t wait until tomorrow’s premiere of The Great Gatsby, get your Roaring Twenties fix (and support an excellent cause) at the annual Ottawa School of Art fundraiser, J’Adart 2013. Drop by the Karsh Masson Gallery for live music, art activities silent and live auctions, and more!

On Saturday, Ottawa Art Gallery has invited a couple professional art appraisers to the gallery for Spring Cleaning: An Art Appraisal event. Bring those paintings and sculptures that have been kicking around your house (or your grandparent’s house) and see if you can fund that trip to Europe you’ve been dreaming about. Check with your grandparents first.

If that painting you found on the road during move-out weekend isn’t worth as much as you thought, drown your sorrows that night at Partyy, which has moved to Mugshots to take advantage of their rad courtyard. The art activity this month is tie-dye, so bring an old tshirt as well as your dancing shoes!

On Sunday afternoon, the curators of Charles Stankievech / The Soniferous Æther of The Land Beyond the Land Beyond will be giving a tour of the film installation. If you haven’t seen this work yet, seriously go. Seriously.

On Wednesday night, Carleton U. Art History prof. Ming Tiampo will be giving a lecture Library and Archives Canada on Ai Weiwei and the relationship between art and politics in China. Check out the lecture and then go to Toronto in August for the AGO exhibition, Ai Weiwei: According to What?.

Have a fun weekend everyone!

#ThowbackThursday ImagiNation: New Cultural Topographies (2008),...

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:37:00 -0400

#ThowbackThursday

ImagiNation: New Cultural Topographies (2008), curated by Carleton U. Art History prof. Ming Tiampo, featured contemporary artists from across the country whose works express some of the complexities of contemporary Canadian identity. Twenty years after the Multiculturalism Act proposed a vision of Canada as a landscape peopled by cultural communities linked by race and faith, these artists move beyond the constraints of cultural identity as defined by ethnicity.

Through their works, the artists (Lucie Chan / Jamelie Hassan / Frank Shebageget / Henry Tsang / Jin-me Yoon) critically and creatively re-imagine the cultural intersections that affect the everyday lives of all Canadians. Their varied perspectives on such themes as memory, collectivity and mobility address the consequences of our shrinking world, creating new cultural topographies that chart the ever-changing face of Canada’s cultural landscape. With works that reveal new meanings for familiar objects, complicate our relationships with the idea of home, and personalize colonial experiences, they also offer counter-narratives that encourage us to rethink how history has been told.

Did you see ImagiNation: New Cultural Topographies? What did you think?

Welcome to all the high school and middle school students from...

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:28:34 -0400

Welcome to all the high school and middle school students from Ottawa who have descended upon Carleton University for Enrichment Mini-Courses! And thank you to all the instructors who have brought their students in to the gallery for tours!

Have a fun week, everyone!

p.s. Check out their course choices…I’d go back to middle school if I could take ““Guerilla in the Midst”: Considering Graffiti Art” or “The Future is Now: Design your own Superhero!” (or, who are we kidding, “Life in Front of a Camera: Image, Identity and Celebrity Culture”).

Image: Alison Hrabluik, The Pit Bar, Dawson City (still), 2004. Video, 3:50 minutes.

Collection Friday! Gunter Nolte, Untitled (Study for Fiberglass...

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:04:00 -0400

Collection Friday!

Gunter Nolte, Untitled (Study for Fiberglass Sculpture Series), 1966. Silkscreen on paper.

Ottawa Art Scene: May 2 - 8

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:55:00 -0400

Happy May! Along with celebrating this swift transition into summer, there’s plenty to do this week in the art scene!

Northern Scene is still going strong, and you can check out a free screening of short films at SAW Video tonight about the vital role that blood plays in the lives of northern communities. Films by Zacharias Kunuk and Marie-Hélène Cousineau (who will both be there!) are featured among many others.

On Saturday, head over to the Ottawa Art Gallery for a panel discussion on Inuit Fantastic Art (fantastic as in fantastical, rather than amazing, which I’m sure the works are anyway…). OAG has invited specialists to discuss the history of Nunavik (Northern Quebec) sculpture from the 1960s to the present day.

Forget hockey playoffs, Art Battle has finally come to Ottawa! You can catch the event on Sunday afternoon, when 12 painters will compete for the cash prize and a spot in the National Championships in Toronto. You can enjoy the excitement of the event and even bring one of the paintings home afterwards if you bid during silent auction.

On Tuesday afternoon, the National Gallery of Canada is hosting “The Walrus Debate: Does Canadian Culture Need Protecting?” with panelists Sara Angel, Randy Boyagada, Laurie Brown and Charles Foran. This will definitely be interesting.

And don’t forget, the deadline for Nuit Blanche Ottawa + Gatineau is fast approaching! Artists, curators, hype people - get your application in by May 27th!

Image: Aisa Qumaaluk Sivuaraapik, Ijitualik (One-Eyed Figure), 1969. Stone. Firestone Collection of Canadian Art, Ottawa Art Gallery.

Dorset Seen co-curators featured on Active History podcast

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:34:00 -0400

Dorset Seen co-curators Leslie Boyd and Sandra Dyck chat with the Active History podcast about art as a lens on history: “We wanted to choose works that would surprise people and try to stir up or change their ideas of what Cape Dorset looks like.”

Host Sean Graham asks, “what is it about this community that leads to such an artistic output?” Have a listen to find out!

Image: Annie Pootoogook (b. 1969), Pitseolak Drawing with Two Girls on the Bed 2006. Coloured pencil on paper. Private collection, Toronto.

Dawson Gold’s Valerie Salez will be in the gallery tonight...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:57:47 -0400

Dawson Gold’s Valerie Salez will be in the gallery tonight to talk about her work with curator Heather Anderson. Join us for this free event!

These images are from Valerie’s participatory art workshop at the NAC last Friday night for SWARM’s After-Party. Check out more of the beautiful images (made with overhead projectors, found images, and small objects) here.

Collection Friday! Marc Chagall, Moses, from the Bible series,...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:01:00 -0400

Collection Friday!

Marc Chagall, Moses, from the Bible series, 1956.

Photolithograph on paper.

Ottawa Art Scene: April 25 - May 1

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:45:00 -0400

There is SO much going on this week in Ottawa, it’s hard to know where to begin!

Northern Scene kicks off tonight at the NAC and continues until the end of next weekend. I’ve written up what I’m looking forward to in theatre, music, visual arts, and film but I limited myself to two picks for each category and there is SO much more to do. Be sure to check out the full list and see what appeals to you! Definitely participate in SWARM to get the best bang for your buck (especially since it’s free!): many of Ottawa’s art galleries will be open late and offer tours, creative workshops, music, and performances. Bike, walk, or take the free shuttle buses!

Tonight, Charles Stankievech will be giving an artist talk, which will combinine archival material, scientific theories, geopolitical maps and the artist’s own fieldworks, and reflect on ideas of military colonialism and communication technology embedded in the sublime landscape. There will also be a sneak peek of his newest installation, The Soniferous Æther of The Land Beyond The Land Beyond, which will be on view at the City Hall Art Gallery.

On Friday night, be sure to drop by La Petite Mort to check out new works by up-and-coming Ottawa photographer Olivia Johnston. In FALLEN, Johnston’s considerable skill in portraiture is focused on female figures from the Bible - think Eve, Jael, and all those other names from Sunday School. Their stories are often those of rape, sacrifice, and silence, and Johnston’s powerful photographs call upon the viewer to reflect on how the Bible has influenced perceptions of womanhood, even until today. More from Peter Simpson here.

Besides SWARM, CUAG has three (!) events coming up this week, so take your pick! For Dorset Seen, we are screening a film, Kinngait: Riding Light into the World, and Q&A with the director Annette Mangaard on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday, artist Tim Pitsiulak will be joined by NGC curator Christine Lalonde for a conversation about his large-scale drawings. On Tuesday, the curator of Dawson Gold, Heather Anderson, will be joined in a conversation with installation and performance artist Valerie Salez. Salez will also be at the NAC on Friday night for the SWARM after party to lead a fun workshop, inspired by life in the Yukon.

That’s it for now! Have a good week eveyone, and hope to see you tomorrow night at CUAG! Did I mention we’re giving out swag bags? CUAGSWAGBAGS?

Image: Olivia Johnston, Susanna (Katelin), 2013. Photograph.

#ThrowbackThursday - Sanattiaqsimajut: Inuit Art from the...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:44:00 -0400

#ThrowbackThursday -
Sanattiaqsimajut: Inuit Art from the Carleton University Art Gallery Collection

In 2009, CUAG invited renowned Inuit art scholar Ingo Hessel to curate a group exhibition of Inuit art from the gallery’s collection. Sanattiaqsimajut: Inuit Art from the Carleton University Art Gallery Collection was an ambitious project, and was the first to provide a comprehensive overview of the collection’s breadth and depth.

The exhibition surveyed the full range of production by Inuit artists – from prints and drawings to sculptures and early ivories. It showcased the work of celebrated artists including Parr, Luke Anguhadluq, Davidialuk, John Pangnark, Tivi Etook, Pudlo Pudlat, Kenojuak, and Jessie Oonark.

For more on the history of the CUAG Inuit art collection and the exhibition itself, click here.

Did you visit Sanattiaqsimajut: Inuit Art from the Carleton University Art Gallery Collection when it was up in the gallery? What was your favourite work in the exhibition? Let us know over on Twitter (@CUArtGallery)!

Doug Aitken, More (shattered pour) (2013), high density foam,...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:30:00 -0400

Doug Aitken, More (shattered pour) (2013), high density foam, wood, and mirror, 65 x 49 x 6 inches, courtesy of 303 Gallery.

Diane Pellicone, our intrepid CUAG Art Critic, went to New York City and spent some time touring around the Chelsea gallery scene. Here are her highlights from the trip!

Today is Earth Day 2013

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:02:03 -0400

How about celebrating with a walk in Gatineau Park or visiting the Canadian Museum of Nature (free today!)? And this weekend, check out the Living Green Expo!

Shuvinai Ashoona, Wold View, 2011. Lithograph. Now on view at the National Arts Centre, as part of Inuit Ullumi: Inuit Today: Contemporary Art from TD Bank’s Inuit Collection.

Carleton University students: Scholars Portal has put together a guide with resources on climate change, environmentalism, agro-farming, and more!

How will you be spending Earth Day?

CUAG Picks: #NorthernScene - Music

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:00:00 -0400

CUAG has two exhibitions for Northern Scene - Dorset Seen and Dawson Gold - but there are a TON of other events happening in Ottawa for the cross-disciplinary arts festival. In case you need it, here are our picks for Northern Scene’s Music offerings! I had a great time Youtubing everyone, and here’s who I’m looking forward to the most.

SWARM Party at the NAC: There will be some pretty awesome acts performing during the SWARM party at the NAC (after the gallery crawl). I saw Nelson Tagoona perform at a conference last year, and his throat singing/beat boxing (plus an electric guitar thrown in) is an awesome experience. Hip-hop artist Godson and DJ Madeskimo will also be keeping the party going.

Northern Scene Fiddle Showcase: Ranging from “Métis cultural icon” Richard Lafferty to accomplished teen Wesley Hardisty, this concert showcases the best of fiddle music from the North.

A Circumpolar Soundscape: Another fabulous four! Singer-songwriter Leela Gilday, throat singer and drum dancer Sylvia Cloutier, classical singer Diyet, and ukulele-playing Nive Nielsen come together for a very special concert of women musicians celebrating the North.

Which ones are you planning to see during Northern Scene? Let us know over Twitter! @CUArtGallery

CUAG Picks: #NorthernScene - Visual Arts

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:00:00 -0400

CUAG has two exhibitions for Northern Scene - Dorset Seen and Dawson Gold - but there are a TON of other events happening in Ottawa for the cross-disciplinary arts festival. In case you need it, here are our picks for Northern Scene’s Visual Arts offerings! (Obviously this was a super-difficult one for us!)

Earth and Sky: Shuvinai Ashoona is one of our favourite artists around here, and in 2008, she collaborated with Dutch artist John Noestheden to create a large-scale banner, Earth and Sky, which will be hung in the collonade of the National Gallery of Canada. The work integrates Ashoona’s familiar stones from the Arctic landscape with visions from the cosmos. More info:

The Soniferous Æther of the Land Beyond: The City of Ottawa collaborated with SAW Video and the Ottawa Art Gallery to present Yukon artist Charles Stankievech’s newest film and sound installation, the mysterious-sounding Soniferous Æther of the Land Beyond. The video documents the artist’s residency at the Canadian Forces Station Alert, but uses time-lapse technology to create an eerie landscape that could be in outerspace.

We had a hard time choosing for this one! There are so many great exhibitions and installations all over the city. Check them all out here.

Which ones are you planning to see during Northern Scene? Let us know over Twitter! @CUArtGallery