Made in Calgary:1990's - Exhibition Review

Made in Calgary:1990's Exhibition Review

Introduction

As most of you know who have read my blog, I am currently completing my final year of a degree in Visual Studies at the University of Calgary. And for a class I am taking about the History of art in Canada, I recently attended an art exhibition called Made In Calgary: 1990‘s. I was born and raised in Calgary. And as an artist myself, I hope to share some of my insight. I generally write about beauty and fashion on this blog, however I feel that those are aspects of art. An example from this exhibition would be Pinned in Place by Laura Vicherson (Shown below).

Laura Vicherson B.1959
Pinned in Place 
1993
Lace, wax, flower petals and dressmaker pins.
Walter Phillips Gallery

Photo credit: Catherine Wilson

About the Exhibition

Made in calgary: the 1990’s is an exhibition at the Glenbow Museum in collaboration with the Art Gallery of Calgary running from February 8-May 4 2014. Nancy Tousley curated the exhibition, that covers the 1990’s to the year 2000. An accomplished curator, Nancy has a strong academic background, and was an Art critic of the Calgary Herald for over 30 years (“Made in Calgary: The 1990s” 2014). With this rich history in the art world she has most likely seen the the best Calgary has to offer. Tousley has incorporated 55 artists with over 100 works in the exhibition (“Made in Calgary: The 1990s” 2014). 

The themes that appear the most prominent in this exhibition, are a sense of identity through family, education and race. As well of these artists strong sense of community. Such as, Video Quilt from the installation My Two Grandmothers(1991)(Shown below). Through the exploration of new media, Leila Sujir weaves together the foreign cultures in her family. (Glenbow 2014) Or Anything and Everything (1991) by John will. A humorous autobiography, that commemorates his friends and family. Many of whom are artist in Calgary (Glenbow 2014).



Leila Sujir (b. 1951)
Video Quilt from the installation My Two Grandmothers 
1991
Fabric Quilt, 4-channel video and 21 video monitors
Collection of the Glenbow
Photo credit: Catherine Wilson






The flow of viewing the exhibition varied for each venue. The Glenbow wove artwork throughout other exhibitions in the museum. This was a unique and effective way to display this exhibition giving the viewer a sort of “treasure hunt”. While the Glenbow featured many sculptural elements, The Art Gallery of Calgary housed predominantly 2-dimensional pieces. Such as M.N. Hutchenson’s The Vesalius Series #1, #5 and #6 (1992) (Shown below).

M.N. Hutchenson
The Vesalius Series #1, #5 and #6
1992
Type C prints
Collection of the artist

Photo credit: Catherine Wilson

Artwork Spotlight: Arcade by Bert Habermiller

After completing an M.F.A. in sculpture from the art institute if Chicago, Bert Habermiller ran Graceland for 11 years (“Bio” 2014). Graceland is an art collective/community in which he founded (“Bio” 2014). Located on the outskirts of Calgary, this 7 acre reclamation yard, organized school field trips, exhibitions and artist residences (“Bio” 2014). Bert Habbermiller’s strong commitment to community is reflected in Arcade (1992)(Shown left). The process by which Habermiller created this work involved installing a vending machine in the gallery, full of artwork by various artists (Glenbow 2014). Anyone can then put a Toonie in the machine and get their vary own piece of artwork. Unfortunately, this process did not work for me, as the artwork I choose got stuck in the machine. However in spite of this set back, I still feel that allowing the viewer to be so actively involved in the artistic process has merit. This work explores the relationship between the consumer and the artist  by recontextualizing the vending machine (Glenbow 2014). For example the “normal” item one buys from a vending machine would be candy or pop. And the artworks contained in this vending machine are almost the same price, yet hold a lasting value. The “art collective” style in Arcade is a tradition in Habermillers career through Graceland. And a growing trend in Calgary’s art culture. Such as Calgary’s Market Collective.

Bert Habermiller 1992
Arcade, 1992
Vending machine and various artworks
Collection of Glenbow; Gift of Roxane and Alan Dunning, in memory of Patty Green (1960-1996), 1997

Photo Credit: Catherine Wilson

Artwork Spotlight: Entomology by Shelly Ouellet

According to www.shelleyoellet.com, Shelley Ouellet was born in Calgary, Alberta. She studied at the University of calgary, became director of the city’s Stride gallery and is an instructor at A.C.A.D.(“Shelly Ouellet” 2014). She has history in web design and was an associate in digital imaging, media and visual arts at the Banff Centre for the Arts. Entomology (1998) (Shown below) is a sculptural installation composed of about 10,000 rubber toy bugs to form a single giant bug (Glenbow, 2014). This piece was originally created for an Artweek exhibition at Truck in 1994. at this point only the front half was created, to appear as if to be bursting from the wall. Then, In 1998, the entire form was created. (Glenbow, 2014). Ouellet created this work using section drawings, and an enlarged image from a 3-D computer drawing. Then using a rubber toy of a bug as a prototype, each bug was placed on a strand of nylon filament, then placed on a grid. (Glenbow, 2014) this process emulates the content of her work that deals with pop culture and digital imaging (Glenbow, 2014). The rich colour and kitsch style displayed in Ouellet work is a reflection of 90’s pop culture. This piece is similar to Bert Habbermillers Arcade, in that it recontextualizes everyday objects. Shelley Ouellet formally thanks many people for helping her complete Entomology. Like Habbermiller, and so many artists in Calgary, her focus appears to be projects that involve community. In this exhibition, Entomology was my personal favorite artwork. Playful and Original, I feel this piece reflected the ingenuity of the artists in this time period.


Shelly Ouellet 1964
Entomology (version Three) 1998
Toy rubber Bugs, filament and Beads
Collection the the Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Photo credit: Catherine Wilson

Works Cited

“Shelly Ouellet”, February 19 2014,<http://www.shelleyouellet.com>

“Bio”, Bart Habermiller, February 19 2014, <http://barthabermiller.com/bio/>

“Made in Calgary: The 1990s”, Glenbow, February 19 2014, <https://www.glenbow.org/exhibitions/mic1990/>

The Glenbow Museum, Gallery Label,  Feburay 15 2014, Pinned in Place by Laura Vicherson

The Glenbow Museum, Gallery Label,  Feburay 15 2014, Video quilt from the installation My Two Grandmothers by Leila Sujir

The Glenbow Museum, Gallery Label,  Feburay 15 2014, Anything and Everything by John Will

The Glenbow Museum, Gallery Label,  Feburay 15 2014, Arcade by Bert Habermiller

The Glenbow Museum, Gallery Label,  Feburay 15 2014, Entomology  by Shelly Ouellet

The Art Gallery of Calgary, Gallery Label,  Feburay 15 2014, The Vesalius Series #1, #5 and #6 by M.N. Hutchenson.

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