THE NEWS FROM HERE: 2013 ALBERTA BIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Curated by Nancy Tousley, this year's Alberta Biennial promises to be a good one. It will explore the trend of "post-regionalism" in contemporary Albertan art -- that is, the move away from discussions about a single, dominant centre and into ideas of engagement and multiplicity that still reflect an "acceptance and consideration of place". Find a selection of participating artists below, and a complete list on the Biennial website.
Mackenzie Frère's interest in textiles, technology, and art has taken his work to exhibitions around the world. His recent Noise series layers and incorporates computer-generated bitmaps, random sequences, and other "visual noise that interferes with the perceptual process". Most intriguingly, Frère uses an online random number generator that is triggered by the atmospheric noise of lightning strikes to generate these works. In his statement about Noise, Frère notes, "This link
to natural phenomena is compelling for me as it seems to conflate the
digital and the natural. Ultimately the source of the integers I utilize
to compose this work is immaterial to its intention as I am more
interested in drawing one’s attention to the process of perception
itself. In Noise I am intrigued that hints of repetition, or the
occasional alignment of apparently scattered blocks of colour may draw
us to construct pattern and make meaning in that which we perceive."
Kristopher Karklin uses digital photography to re-create remembered situations and events. His process reflects the contrast between physical events and the ephemeral and distorted nature of recollection, beginning with sculpted miniature models which are then lit, photographed, and digitally manipulated before being presented as large-scale photographs. In this way, Karklin investigates the connection between urban living spaces and their occupants, and slyly layers these worlds into the lens of the viewer's own memories.
(Fun fact: Elton John is an avid collector of Karklin's work.)
Faye HeavyShield is a Kanai-blood sculptor who uses minimal and often monochrome installations to address ideas of memory, family, and place. Of her own work, she says, "My art is a reflection of my environment and personal history as lived in the physical geography of southern Alberta with its prairie grass, river coulees, and wind and an upbringing in the Kainai community (with a childhood stint in the Catholic residential school system). The past, present and imagined make up the vocabulary used to realize my thoughts and ideas; responses and references to the body, land, language."1
From Eric Moschopedis' website: "Created in collaboration with visual artist Mia Rushton, Hunter, Gatherer, Purveyor—a
project in art and social engagement—brings together elements of craft,
performance, and civic participation to create edible art objects made
from local vegetation and civic water sources—popcicles! Composed of
three primary public actions, Hunter, Gatherer, Purveyor
includes: a) the finding and collecting of fruits, grasses, flowers,
bark, roots and other edible plant life that grows in specific
neighbourhoods in a city; b) the processing of these ingredients into
community-specific icepops and; c) the distribution of free naturally
flavored popsicles to participants for consumption via a small mobile
popsicle stand. Throughout the highly public and performative process
Moschopedis and Rushton are dressed as hybrid park warden/vendors and act as naturalist and huckster, hunter and gatherer."
The 2013 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art opened last Saturday, January 26th, and will be on at the Art Gallery of Alberta until May 5th, 2013. If you're in Calgary or planning to be, it's an important investigation into the identity of Alberta and contemporary Albertan art that is not to be missed.
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| Mackenzie Frère, Noise Banner, 2012 woven thread |
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| Kristopher Karklin, Ping Pong Room, 2011 digital print, 36 x 54" |
(Fun fact: Elton John is an avid collector of Karklin's work.)
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| Faye HeavyShield, Aapaskaiyaawa (They are Dancing), 2002 acrylic on canvas, plastic filament |
Faye HeavyShield is a Kanai-blood sculptor who uses minimal and often monochrome installations to address ideas of memory, family, and place. Of her own work, she says, "My art is a reflection of my environment and personal history as lived in the physical geography of southern Alberta with its prairie grass, river coulees, and wind and an upbringing in the Kainai community (with a childhood stint in the Catholic residential school system). The past, present and imagined make up the vocabulary used to realize my thoughts and ideas; responses and references to the body, land, language."1
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| Eric Moschopedis & Mia Rushton, Hunter Gatherer Purveyor, 2013 project image |
The 2013 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art opened last Saturday, January 26th, and will be on at the Art Gallery of Alberta until May 5th, 2013. If you're in Calgary or planning to be, it's an important investigation into the identity of Alberta and contemporary Albertan art that is not to be missed.
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