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
Read more…
If You’re in the Hood…. Scott Massey, Two Yellow Lines, 2006. Image: Helenpittgallery.org In Vancouver, I just got word of a video projection exhibition that will happen on March 18 at W2 Storyeum, 151 W. Cordova. The show is the work of a new not-for-profit called Drop Out Video Arts that has brought together artists, artsworkers and musicians to create
Read more…
Big congratulations to the 2011 Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts! Robert Fones, Can-D-Man, 1971. Image: ccca.ca They are: Photographer Geneviève Cadieux, visual artist Robert Fones, performance and visual artist Michael Morris, filmmakers David Rimmer and Barbara Sternberg and painter Shirley Wiitasalo, each for distinguished artistic achievement. Metalsmith Kye-Yeon Son won the Saidye Bronfman Award for excellence in
Read more…
As some of you probably know, I do the publicity for the Reel Artists Film Festival, which is put on each year in Toronto by the Canadian Art Foundation. Shooting the film Picture Start, showing artist Rodney Graham. Image: courtesy Helen Yagi. This year, four days of films on art and artists take place at Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox, and
Read more…
Art makes a great gift. People don’t always realize how inexpensive some books and multiples are, and isn’t it better to support local art scenes than buy from major corporations? I think so. Here are my top picks for Canada’s best art shopping: 1. ART METROPOLE. Started by General Idea in 1974, Art Met continues to specialize in the sale
Read more…
I was impressed by the Vancouver architect Bing Thom, who I heard speak last week at the Sustainable Suburbs conference in Toronto. Vancouver architect Bing Thom. Image: vancouverism.ca Thom’s Arena Stage at the Mead Centre for American Theatre. Image: archdaily.com Not only has Thom just designed an improbably well-received Arena Stage at the Mead Centre for American Theatre in Washington
Read more…
Douglas Coupland’s Digital Orca in Vancouver. Image: jaunted.com This Thursday, I’ll be at the Sustainable Suburbs conference in Toronto. While it’s not about art, it will feature many architects and urban planners discussing the future of our communities, which has an impact on art.
There’s a lot of movement in the Canadian art scene, with galleries opening (and closing) regularly in Toronto alone, so here are three from across Canada that I think are worth a visit. One of Nicholas Galanin’s book sculptures. Image: nippertown.com 1. In Vancouver, Trench Gallery has recently opened – in the former Helen Pitt Gallery space – with a
Read more…
I just got a press release from theartmarket.ca, a newly launched website that bills itself as “a game changer”. Image: VoCA The idea, conceived by two friends, Merete Kristiansen and Kate Barron of Vancouver, is to provide “an innovative and comprehensive guide to the Canadian art world”, by hosting free profiles of artists, galleries and related events.I hope that they
Read more…
By now it’s all over the web. The story began when Anishnaabe artist Rebecca Belmore yelled “I quit!” after a performance outside the VAG in Vancouver last Saturday titled WORTH (–statement of Defence), leading many in the art world to think that she may well do just that, frustrated as she is by an ongoing legal battle with her Toronto
Read more…
Andrea Carson writes on contemporary art, architecture and design...