This 1974 work by Madeleine Isserkrut Kringayark is one of hundreds that has been recently donated to the Canadian Museum of History by the Hess Collection. Photo: Copyright Canadian Museum of History.
It has been a week full of art news in Canada: The National Gallery of Canada named its new director. This year’s Governor General’s Award winners were announced. A strike ended at the Vancouver Art Gallery—but not before artists, arts workers and even art collectors spoke out on behalf of striking workers there. The failure of a National Artist Laureate bill came to light. Art critics tried to revive a national professional association in trouble. Several Canadian art galleries and museums were closed by extreme winter weather. And that’s not all—read on for more of the latest information in the sector.
Hundreds of works of Inuit art have been donated to National Museum of History. The donation is from the late Margaret Hess, and it consists of nearly 1,000 Inuit sculptures, prints, drawings and other works. Hess, who once owned a gallery in Calgary, was especially interested in works by women artists. The donation spans the 1950s to the 1980s. (CBC News)
A notorious Nova Scotia art thief has died. “John Mark Tillmann made headlines around the world when a routine traffic stop in July 2012 led police to a treasure trove of stolen artifacts tucked away in his Fall River, N.S., home,” CTV News reports. “It turned out Tillmann had made a career of stealing, wheeling, and dealing thousands of items lifted from museums, galleries, universities and private homes. Nothing was off limits. He took paintings, pictures, and even letters written by George Washington and Gen. James Wolfe. In 2013, Tillmann pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property, along with numerous other charges, and was sentenced to nine years in prison.” He was granted parole in 2016. Cause of death has been kept private. (CTV News)
The Art Basel 2019 list is out, and some Canadians are on it. Catriona Jeffries of Vancouver and Landau Fine Art of Montreal are listed in the Galleries section of the fair. Artist Chrysanne Stathacos will be in the Feature section, at the Breeder’s booth. Artist Melanie Gilligan will be featured in the Statements section at the booth of Galerie Max Mayer. The fair runs June 13 to 16 in Basel. (Art Basel)
NADA New York’s new lineup has been released. Among the galleries participating is Montreal’s L’INCONNUE, which is bringing works by Thea Yabut, Alex Morrison, Kent Merriman, Jr. and Melanie Ebenhoch. The event will run March 4 to 10 at various New York locations. (Artnews)
The Vancouver Art Gallery’s “French Moderns: Monet to Matisse” show has been pushed back two weeks due to strike delays. The show, touring from the Brooklyn Museum, was originally due to open February 16. Workers at the VAG were on strike February 5 to 12. In recent days, the gallery announced the show would instead open on March 1. (press release)
The Festival International du Film sur l’Art in Montreal is presenting a new program this year of free, interactive work. Experientia will take place at Place des Arts from March 20 to 24, including works by artists from France, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, the United States and Italy. (press release)
Montreal’s Art Souterrain festival of art installed throughout underground passageways has announced its new theme. “For 3 weeks between March 2 and 24, 2019, contemporary works by 60 well-known local and international artists evoking aspects of the “True or False” theme will enliven over 6 km of Montréal’s underground pedestrian network and 8 satellite locations,” says a release. “Works of art chosen by curators Maude Arsenault, Martin Le Chevallier and Joyce Yahouda will be accessible at all times, free of charge.” (press release)
Inuit Art Quarterly has two new contributing editors. “The Inuit Art Foundation is pleased to announce two new additions to the Inuit Art Quarterly team. Vancouver-based Contributing Editors Napatsi Folger and Emily Henderson will contribute to both the print and online publications, covering the art and artists from Inuit Nunangat and beyond,” says an email from the quarterly. (press release)
The Aboriginal Curatorial Collective and Centre CLARK in Montreal are hosting an artist residency. The residency, from January 4 to March 30, has been awarded to artist Meky Ottawa, who works with video, illustration and installation. She has also contributed to productions by Rezolution Pictures, namely the film Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (2017). Her work has been shown at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts as part of the group exhibition “Elles Autochtones” (2017), as well as exhibited internationally. (press release)
The recipient of the 2019 Hnatyshyn Foundation-Fogo Island Arts Young Curator Residency has been announced. Eli Kerr of Montreal has been selected. He will spend a six-week residency at Fogo Island in fall 2019. The residency is valued at $15,000 and intended for Canadian curators aged 25 to 30. In 2016, Kerr co-founded the Montreal space VIE D’ANGE. (press release)
