Exploring cultural importance at the Art Gallery of Guelph

The Quatamaat exhibit focused on identity, home and how daily life shapes both of those. CREDIT: JAIDYN MCCRAE

JAIDYN MCCRAE

Have you ever seen the large bear statue that lives on Gordon street? The Begging Bear, a name coined by its creator Carl Skelton and affectionately used by locals, proudly stands just around the corner of our campus. Often adorned in costumes and decorations, the bear exists as a staple of Guelph’s local art scene.

As such, It makes sense that it resides just outside of the Art Gallery of Guelph, (AGG) a pillar of Guelph’s rich artistic community.

It’s taken various forms through the years, most notably when it was rebranded from the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre to what it’s known as today. The change in name didn’t reroute the gallery’s course though, with it remaining dedicated to exploring culturally-relevant themes using creative means.

Having a central hub for creative exploration is a cornerstone of making exemplary art accessible to a broader audience. Locally run galleries such as the AGG prove that you don’t always need to travel to larger cities to see great art. More importantly, it gives you the opportunity to see firsthand the art that makes up the cultural fabric around you.

I must admit, I’d never actually toured the AGG until recently. During my time at the University, I’d always pass the Begging Bear and muse at its costume that day, or see the unique metal statues that stood in its backyard, but never ventured through its long-established doors. On my first visit a few short weeks ago, I was immediately struck by the grandeur of its art.

Inside its open and lofty interior is a collection of four exhibitions. Homecoming, Qautamaat, For Catherine, and Planting Displacement, had been on display at the AGG since May 5 and ran until Dec. 31, 2022.

On the first floor was Qautamaat. According to the AGG’s website, the exhibition explored the “ideas, images, and objects evoking aspects of daily life and relationships that are distinctly Inuk.” Its vast collection featured mixed media works ranging from graphite, felt, embroidery floss, and coloured pencil with larg-

Art included in the Quatamaat exhibit was created by various artists with a shared vision. CREDIT: JAIDYN MCCRAE

er installations scattered among them.

Each of these exhibitions centered around the idea of home. A flexible concept, it stresses the idea that home can mean a wide variety of things to each person and is defined through the motions of everyday life.

Exploring how things we see, use, and do make-up the important patterns of our everyday life, these exhibits work to emphasize that art is everywhere.

In the new year, the AGG is opening three new exhibitions. Mary Kelly: To Witness the Future, Insoon Ha: Dirge, and Jason Lujan: Under a Star-filled Sky will debut on Jan. 19, in exploration of new concepts and themes.

If you enjoy curated art with real purpose, definitely check out the AGG in 2023. If you spot the Begging Bear, you’ll know you’ve found it.