RCA honours Calgary talent; inducts 27 artists

The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) marked its 129th year last month by hosting a four-day festival in Calgary, honouring top local talent, and inducting twenty-seven new members. President Jeffrey Spalding hosted a gala dinner at Hotel Arts where guest Lindsay Blackett, Alberta Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, made an opening address. Supporting arts and culture does not only enhance our quality of life, Blackett said, but acts as an economic driver and the foundation for a richer educational system.

Creative achievements were then recognized by the awarding of twenty-seven memberships to professionals and practitioners in the field of visual arts, and RCA medals to curator Joan Stebbins and writer Nancy Tousley. Each medal recipient delivered warm, humorous remarks which conveyed nicely their contributions to the developing narrative of contemporary Canadian art.

The affair was an intimate one, despite the hundred-or-so guest list. Audience members cheered, catcalled, and clapped as each of the new academicians were introduced and given their certificates. Among the inductees were painter Garry Kennedy, past president of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (from 1967 until 1990), Sara Diamond, president of the Ontario College of Art and Design, Calgary-born Christian Eckart, whose work stands in the collections of New York’s Museum of Modern Art and Guggenheim Museum, photographer Justin Wonnacott of Ottawa, Quebecois painter Marius Dubois, Calgarians Rita McKeough, John Will, and Mary Scott, and sculptor Faye Heavyshield, originally of Alberta’s Blood Reserve.

La crème of Calgary’s cultural community was also proudly present, including artists Chris Cran and Ron Moppett, Yves Trépanier and Kevin Baer, whose gallery currently displays the work of many RCA inductees, and Karen Ball and Holly Simon of Calgary Arts Development.

Far from a society of mutual appreciation - although it is that, too - the Royal Canadian Academy of Art strives to support emerging talent, and facilitate discussion about and around art for the broadest possible audience. The organization also plays a national advocacy role by debating and presenting community-oriented policy, such as developing retirement funds, voicing a cohesive opinion on legislation, and reclaiming economic control over their work.

Over the course of the four day festival, Stride Gallery hosted the Joseph Plaskett Reception, where the work of seven new artists was celebrated. The emerging talent was chosen by seven distinguished members of the RCA. Among these rising stars were sculptor Robin Murphy, director of public art for Torode, Angela Bedard, and Romy Straathof.

Other events included the granting of the RCA Trust Award to Illingworth Kerr Gallery, a gallery hop including Art Gallery of Calgary, Weiss Gallery, Masters Gallery, Loch Gallery, and Triangle Gallery, and the world premier of a classical music piece for strings and voice by Katherine Govier and Allan Gordon Bell at The Grand Theatre.

Published in National Post July 18, 2009

Calgary loves summer sledding

Calgary has learned to love sledding in the summer thanks to a three-year old festival of film, art and music known as Sled Island. Over four days in June the festival attracted hipsters, artists, and cultural giants (such as British rocker Colin Newman, Sled Island’s guest curator) to the city centre.

Two hundred and fifty bands were on the program, playing in venues as varied as the tiny stage in Plaza Cinema, where the red velvet curtains parted to revel a rarely seen documentary on glitter rock post-set, to the alter of Central United Church, to the basement of The Palomino. Noteworthy acts included a soulful, folksy-pop performance by JJ Shiplett, the aggressive rock band Cripple Creek Fairies, and the utterly captivating electro-acoustic sounds of rising stars Axis of Conversation.

The Sled Island Festival was also about visual art, co-hosting several impressive exhibits throughout the week. Three shows with international flavour opened at Illingworth Kerr Gallery (IKG) on Wednesday.

German architect Florian Koehl toured guests through a multimedia exhibit based around his 2007 hyper-designed Berlin condominium building. Winnipeg professor of architecture Neil Minuk acted as curator for the piece, which allowed the viewer to walk through a narrow pedway lined with blueprints and photos of the development. The building itself is home to ten tenants-cum-designers who worked with Koehl and artist Anne von Gwinner on its conception. It is evident that space limitations were both inspiring and restrictive for them. The result is unique, dynamic, and often fluid living quarters, more interesting in some ways than the exhibiting of them. The bathtubs, for instance, are futuristic pods elevated above the kitchen floor, from which the bather can look into the living room. The most endearing characteristic among the apartments are the handkerchief sized pop-out balconies which give tenants a rare and highly coveted view of Berlin’s cityscape.

IKG also showcased a hauntingly beautiful collection of photographs by Berlin-based Spaniard Ricardo Okaranza called Calgary Nocturnes, Lanes, and the detailed, Escher-like paintings of Montreal’s Numa.

The Market Collective, a bi-monthly cooperative of local artisans, celebrated its first anniversary under the banner of Sled Island. Pedestrians in the busy neighbourhood of Kensington were lured into a high ceilinged, sun-filled space, hopping with live music and locally made fashion, books, and baubles.

The festival also coincided with the Calgary launch of artsScene, a non-profit organization made up of young professionals devoted to enhancing the city’s cultural landscape, and the role for emerging talent within it. The group brought together all the local darlings of arts promotion, including Jeffrey Spalding, Dr. Terry Rock of Calgary Arts Development, blogger DJ Kelly, co-chairs of ArtsScene Alex Middleton and Sarah Blue, Karin Poldaas of 1128 Media, and Calgary Film Commissioner Luke Avezedo, for a reception at Rob Mabee’s Axis Gallery in Art Central.

On the lower level of the building, the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) gathered for their third party that night. A musical performance across the street co-hosted by Sled Island, CBC Radio, and artsScene capped off the evening.
Published in National Post, July 4 2009