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theONTARION
171.2 • MAY 23, 2013 • The University of Guelph’s Independent Student Newspaper • www.theontarion.com
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Pandas have landed at the zoo
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PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD
Macdonald Stewart Art Centre is celebrating 35 years of art with their exhibition XXXV. This exhibition features artworks from their permanent collections with attention to the modern to contemporary periods.
MSAC celebrates 35 years of art
XXXV exhibit features artwork from permanent collection Stacey Aspinall
Macdonald Stewart Art Centre is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, and the recently launched XXXV exhibit delves into the galleries’ permanent collection, presenting a varied display of artwork that fills all six sections of the gallery. It includes works by artists from across Canada, ranging from newly acquired pieces, photography, painting and sculpture, works by Inuit and Aboriginal artists, contemporary metal-works and textile-based works. The works were selected from the modern through contemporary periods, said Dawn Owen, Curator of Contemporary Art. “But in 35 years, the notion of
contemporary changes. So it was also important for us to focus on contemporary works, but also to look at some of the works that were collected in the early days of the gallery, in order to give the contemporary works the appropriate context.” The current exhibit includes many notable artists, such as Michael Snow, Joyce Wieland, and Jack Bush, who are categorized in the modern period. Many of the contemporary works are from regional artists, whose work is presented alongside accomplished Canadian artists such as Roy Arden, James Lahey, and James Carl. On the second floor, viewers will find a Lauren Harris painting, circa 1927. Harris is widely recognized as a part of the Group of Seven for painting iconic images of the Canadian landscape in a distinctive style; smoothly blended blues and grays, and
softly curving lines, evoke the sparse beauty of the Canadian arctic. It’s a bit of an indulgence, Owen explained, because this work was created earlier than many other works in the show. Since the MSAC was established in 1978, exhibitions have changed over the years, as the notion of “contemporary” art has inevitably shifted over time, Owen said. The collection has grown from 150 works in 1978 to over 8,000 in 2013. “We have a very active mandate and commitment to contemporary artists. Every year we create 12-15 exhibitions, some of which are shown in the gallery and some of which tour nationally and internationally,” said Owen. While the MSAC supports regional art and is a local cultural institution, it also aims to situate works in the wider context of the art world. “We also work with artists who
are not just Guelph artists but nationally based artists, as well as international artists, because it’s very important that the works being made in Canada, and specifically the work being made in Guelph, isn’t seen as being separate from the larger international art world,” said Owen. From contemporary painting and sculpture, to photography, textiles, metal-works and nonrepresentational painting, it’s worth visiting to view a sample of what MSAC has brought to the Guelph arts community for the past 35 years, and to appreciate the high caliber, thoughtfully curated selections it will undoubtedly continue to present in years ahead. There will be a curator’s talk on May 28 with Dawn Owen while Judith Nasby, the founding director, will lead a tour of the exhibition. The XXXV exhibition runs until July 14th.
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