A view of Ontario Place from the water. Starting this month, a new floating Indigenous art installation and cultural centre will be coming to these waters. Photo: Maksim Sokolov via Wikimedia. Used under a Creative Commons License.
A new Indigenous art installation is coming to the Toronto waterfront. “Wigwam Chi-Chemung, which translates to Big House Canoe, will feature an evolving art installation located in the waters of Lake Ontario, telling the story of the Indigenous presence on the waterfront,” says a release from Myseum. “Starting with a bare 40-foot pontoon houseboat as a canvas, Elder Dr. [Duke] Redbird’s vision of magnificent Indigenous artwork will be painted onto the boat by Indigenous painter and muralist Philip Cote. Once completed, the boat and the surrounding area will act as an Indigenous interpretive learning centre as well as play host to a handful of events throughout the summer.” The project also features an #askanelder dialogue. (press release)
The Winnipeg Art Gallery has received a $2 million toward its new Inuit Art Centre. The donation is from the North West Company. The new 40,000-square-foot, four-storey WAG Inuit Art Centre is a $65 million initiative creating exhibition spaces, a visible, glass-enclosed art vault, a conservation facility, art studios, a two-level interactive theatre, classrooms and more, all due to open in 2020. (press release)
Arts and culture should be at the centre of Canadian diplomacy, says Senate committee. That’s the headline on a recent CBC story. It continues, “The federal government should invest more money and resources in promoting Canadian culture as a tool for diplomacy, says a report released Tuesday by the Senate foreign affairs committee.” Conservative Senator Raynell Andreychuk of Saskatchewan is quoted as saying, “Arts and culture can influence the perceptions, opinions and attitudes of people in other countries about Canada.” (CBC)
New Vancouver Art Gallery still on track, says mayor in wake of staff changes. Following the departure of director Kathleen Bartels and chief curator Rochelle Steiner in recent weeks, some have been wondering if the plan for a new Vancouver Art Gallery designed by Herzog & De Meuron will proceed. Mayor Kennedy Stewart says yes: “There are very intense discussions going on between the VAG board and the federal government in terms of securing that final block of funding we need for the gallery,” Steward tells the Vancouver Sun. (Vancouver Sun)
Mi’kmaw artist says Indigenous Games logo copied her style. “Mi’kmaw artist Melissa Labrador said she was shocked when she saw the North American Indigenous Games 2020 logo, which resembled her original style of art,” CBC reports. “In an emailed statement on Sunday, the host society for the Games said it erred in not recognizing the logo was inspired by Labrador’s work.” But then the apology was “backtracked.” (CBC)
Prince Edward Island may need more fine arts education to retain local artists. “While the Confederation Centre and Holland College offer some art programs, the Island’s young artists could benefit from a four-year degree program, said Pan Wendt, curator for the centre’s art gallery,” CBC reports. Wendt states: “One of the things that’s really striking is that anywhere there’s an arts school there’s a strong arts scene….And P.E.I., while we do have an interesting arts scene, it does suffer from that lack of an arts school.” (CBC)
Penticton Art Gallery in need of community support following break-ins. The gallery needs to recoup $25,000, or exhibition programming will be affected. (Penticton Western News)
Remembering Michael Bidner. Artist Michael Bidner, who was based in London, ON, died in 1989 of AIDS. But his work is now being remembered in a new book by Jason Dickson. “Bidner famously got the first colour Xerox machine in Canada, and hosted an all night printing party in the basement of the McIntosh Gallery at Western University,” CBC reports. “He made contributions to zines…imagery to the gay community and punk scene, and commercial art. (CBC News)
Get ready for Jim Carrey’s first Canadian solo show. “This Light Never Goes Out: Political Cartoons by Jim Carrey” will have its world premiere at the Phi Centre in Montreal on June 20. It features more than 50 artworks by the famous Canadian comedian, and runs until September 1. A press release states that the show fits with Phi Centre’s technology focus, given that Carrey first posted most of his drawings to social media. (press release)
Will Seth Rogen be next in line? Another famous Canadian comedian been posting his ceramics to Instagram recently, sparking think pieces like “Are Seth Rogen’s Ceramics Any Good?” (Garage via ArtnetNews)
