opening for Artefact/ Artefiction

Here are a few photos from the opening of Artefact/ Artefiction last Thursday evening at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre. 

There are missing titles and details, with some shots taken by peeking between the people who started to fill up the gallery space. These photos are just to give you a general feel for the show and hopefully a desire to visit and see the show in person. There really is much to see and I will be going back soon to leisurely enjoy the wonderful work.

Thank you to my wonderful son, Odin, who took many photos for me while I was busy trying to catch up with everyone.

detail of 'Sometimes it Seems Like Too Much' by me

work by Jay Kronenwald

cake sculptures by Fiona Kinsella

work by Fiona Kinsella

'Blanket (for dreams of hanging gardens)' by Tammy Ratcliff

work by Susan Detwiler

'Homme Fatale' by WhiteFeather

work by WhiteFeather

works by Dana Holst

work by Dana Holst

All photos by Odin Ahlers

Exciting new show at Macdonald Stewart Art Centre

I am excited about this upcoming group show for a number of reasons. The first because I will be showing a new piece that I have been working on for some time, second because of all the wonderful artists who are showing their work as well, third the curator Dawn Owen has been stewing this idea around for some time and it will be so nice to see it in fruition and finally because it will take place in Guelph at our local public gallery.
If you are in town, please join us for the opening September 26th at 7pm.

Here is Dawn's brief introduction to the show:

artefact/artefiction: material culture as medium examines the trend in contemporary practice of using objects of material culture (socially-imbued artefacts, both contemporary and historical) as, or in combination with, traditional artist’s media. Through the work of sculptor/performance artist Susan Detwiler (Vancouver), painter Dana Holst (Winnipeg), sculptor Fiona Kinsella (Hamilton), painter Jay Kronenwald (Toronto), printmaker Tammy Ratcliff (Guelph), and mixed media artist WhiteFeather Hunter (Montreal), among others, the exhibition seeks to explore and identify the significance of the contemporary artist’s tools and media as they relate to social and societal norms. Detwiler uses human hair, secondhand wedding gowns, and prom dresses; Holst uses vintage buttons, costume jewelry, fabric, and antique picture frames; Kinsella uses human and animal bone, teeth, skin, hair, and fur, as well as antique cutlery and other curiosities; Kronenwald builds celebrity portraits from wads of chewing gum; Ratcliff mines her own art in the creation of new work; and WhiteFeather Hunter uses found organic materials, like the bones and detritus of animals. MSAC will produce a fully illustrated catalogue, including an essay by curator Dawn Owen.