My experience with Thomas Hirschorn’s work is that it’s often about overkill. And It calls attention to the fake-ness of things, as if to suggest that what we assume is solid isn’t in fact all that stable. It’s just held together with tape, or made from cardboard. Thomas Hirschorn, Das Auge, at the Vienna Secession, 2008. Images: artnews.org Thomas Hirschorn,
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The McMichael Canadian Art Collection – famous for its works by members of the Group of Seven – has hired Dr. Victoria Dickenson as it’s new Executive Director and CEO as well as President of the McMichael Canadian Art Foundation. Lawren Harris, Afternoon sun, Lake Superior. Image: blindflaneur.com Ms. Dickenson comes fresh from 18 months at the Canadian Museum of
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Last night in Toronto’s Kensington Market, a group of about 60 or so gathered to hear two panel discussions – one on the city’s annual “All Night Contemporary Art Thing”, Nuit Blanche, and the other to discuss the idea of a Toronto Biennale. The TAAC panel last night. Image: P Elaine Sharpe. The event was organized by the Toronto Alliance
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So, Vancouver artist Steven Shearer will represent Canada at this year’s Venice Biennale, which opens June 4 and continues until November 27, 2011. Steven Shearer, Nash, 2005. Image: museomadre.it Torontonians might recall an exhibition of Shearer’s work at the Power Plant in 2007, which I believe was curated by former Power Plant curator Helena Reckitt (now critic/curator in residence at
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I’m happy to report that VoCA is featured in this month’s issue of ELLE Canada. The article on art collecting, subtitled ‘How to turn your living room into un petit Louvre’, is by Katie Addleman. The March issue of ELLE Canada. Image: hotmags.net In the article, she says: “A better bet is to spend on the established by still young:
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VoCA contributor Bill Clarke, a collector of art and artist books (see previous VoCA posts HERE and HERE) has come back once again with a wonderful post in honour of International Women’s Day. Here is his blog post on a number of artist books by women artists that he has in his increasingly envy-inducing collection: Dorothy Iannone: The Story of
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From Winnipeg, VoCA contributor Whitney Light sat down with painter Krisjanis Kaktins-Gorsline to discuss the development of his painting practice, the importance of variation, biological systems and how he keeps it all interesting. Krisjanis Kaktins-Gorsline, Rot Samba, 2009, oil on canvas. All images courtesy the artist. VoCA: What is keeping you busy now? KK: I’m at the start of something
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Andrea Carson writes on contemporary art, architecture and design...