Latitude 53 Contemporary Visual Culture

WIRdy

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:31:25 -0600

Art writing should be art or shut the fuck up you’re bringing me down.
—Glen O’Brien

“Why does Latitude 53 need a writer in residence?” It was a question posed to previous Writer in Residence (WIR) Megan Bertagnolli. Megan did not go into too much detail when she told me but I will pretend that the question did not descend into the usual waste-of-tax-payers-money diatribe. Let’s believe that the question is really about the connection between words and visual art.

Language and visual art are about thinking and communicating. This is not as simple a concept as it seems because there are many who believe that art is about looking more than thinking. Edmonton’s past is filled with artists and a few ignominious writers of that sort so this is important to note. Writing and art are, however, parallel discourses that overlap when we talk or write about art or when art includes language.

As a reader of much varied critical assessment of art and more than the daily required intake of artist statements (dangerously high levels sometimes). I have some concerns about art writing. All writing is part of a community’s historical record. I’m indebted to Regina-based artist and writer, David Garneau, for making this apparent to me along with his general encouragement for my own writing. At their best, both critical writing and artist statements are valuable tools for contextualizing an essentially visual experience. At its worst, art writing (by reviewers, critics, art historians and artists) is used to prop up weak ideas and otherwise unsuccessful art work. There is no other discipline where it is as easy to “baffle with bullshit” than art writing.

To counter this problem I attempt to practice Glen O’Brien’s advice:

Let’s get busy. Let’s clean house and embarrass the shit out of the poseurs. Let’s knock em out. Let’s act as nasty as Jesus on a bad-hair day. Let’s write like a drive by shooting. Let’s talk up a war of words that makes the world funnier and more beautiful.

Here I should also comment on the artist-critic. While O’Brien pleads for more artist writers, art critic Peter Plagens decries “Mommas, don’t let your artists grow up to be critics”. The elephant in the room, or “800-pound Janus” as Plagens puts it, is conflict of interest.

Plagens mentions the harshness that some artist-critics reserve for art that is similar to their own (i.e. “the competition”) and the possibility that artist writers will not be written about (especially by other artist–critics) for fear of retribution. He states that artist–critics may have difficulty getting represented by commercial galleries, being purchased by collectors and may not be included in group exhibitions for which their work would otherwise be suitable. Plagens is thorough. He makes a good case against the artist writer but I would rather read what an artist has to say about art galleries, granting institutions, public art commissions, etc. After all, you don’t ask the rich if the food bank is working.

Here endeth the lesson but I’ll go to tell you what you’ll find on Latitude’s WIR for the next six months or so:

Information on current shows (primarily in the capital region), specific concerns of mine regarding visual arts and art writing in Edmonton along with other info on projects that I’m engaged in. Some recycling, things I’ve written in the past (some previously published some unpublished but all of it re-contextualized for the WIR project) and experimental writing projects – art writing that is art and all of it, I hope, “as nasty as Jesus on a bad hair day.”

Hello! My name is Joanne Madeley and I am excited to be joining...

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:02:43 -0600

Hello! My name is Joanne Madeley and I am excited to be joining the team at Latitude 53 as the new Administrative Coordinator! I will be replacing Kimi Ahluwalia as the Volunteer Coordinator and look forward to meeting all of you at the gallery. Originally from Vancouver, I moved to Montreal to study printmaking and to learn French. I have been an active participant in both the visual and performing arts communities in both cities and I look forward to becoming a part of the vibrant arts community in Edmonton. Come and say hi at the Rooftop Patio Parties this Summer!

Fish Griwkowsky snapped this picture of artist Lindsey Bond at...

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:23:26 -0600

Fish Griwkowsky snapped this picture of artist Lindsey Bond at work in the ProjEx Room for his preview of her show, opening Saturday. He talked with her about the realities of the Remand Centre and the politics of making art about real life:

As much as we might be drawn to the romance of the colourful notes, Bond is also keenly aware of the sharp politics of the situation. People behind bars are often there for a legitimate reason. The 27-year-old, who trained at the Alberta College of Art and Design and Emily Carr University, says: “When I was starting the project and getting more acquainted with the community, there was a point I had to step back and say, ‘Whoa, this is a big can of worms. There’s a lot going on here, and a lot of it’s not good.’ You can’t just sugar-coat and romanticize the situation. There are illegal, really terrible things. But I wanted to keep going with the project to start a dialogue about that community, first and foremost.”

The artist brings up the recently passed Bill C-10, which will result in longer prison sentences, for which the provinces are financially on the hook. “These large prisons are being built, but nothing’s really being done about the core of the problem. Maybe I can’t deal with or address those larger issues — killing and raping and murdering. This was a bit of a challenge.”

At almost 60,000 square metres, the $568.6-million Remand Centre is the largest public building project ever undertaken by the province, and will be the largest correctional institution in the country. Its 1,952 beds are expected to grow to 2,816 with the addition of three more living pods. The massive centre at 18415 127th St. is slated to open early next year.

Read the full article on the Edmonton Journal’s website or in today’s paper—and come to the public forum on Saturday at the Remand Centre courtyard to participate in the discussion.

Emanuel Licha reviewed in Galleries West

Tue, 22 May 2012 17:53:27 -0600

Emanuel Licha reviewed in Galleries West:

Galleries West magazine visited PAVED Arts to review Emanuel Licha’s work there—if you’ve only seen the work we had up here this January, take a look at their take on other half of the show in Saskatoon.

Lindsey Bond was here this weekend covering the floor of our...

Tue, 22 May 2012 15:04:00 -0600

Lindsey Bond was here this weekend covering the floor of our ProjEx Room with chalk drawings, the first step of installing her upcoming show Messages To: The Edmonton Remand Centre Newspaper. We’re looking forward to Saturday—to a public forum at 2:00, at the Remand Centre courtyard, and an opening and book launch at the gallery at 5:00. Join the Facebook event here.

Andrew Forster’s “Mouth” awaits—come hear him...

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:55:57 -0600

Andrew Forster’s “Mouth” awaits—come hear him speak about his work tonight at 7, and join us afterwards for the opening reception!

Survey prize winner

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:31:02 -0600

Thanks to everyone who filled out our recent special events survey—and congratulations to Miriam Cooley who will be enjoying her prize of a 25-drink “super punchcard” on the patio this summer. We hope to see you all every week, starting Thursday the 14th of June!

Who are we writing for?: This Weekend

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:29:01 -0600

Who are we writing for?: This Weekend:

This weekend we’re looking forward to a special project we’ve put together with our recent Writer-in-residence Megan Bertagnolli, and the support of the Edmonton Arts Council. Who are we writing for? is a weekend-long workshop about art writing in this city—we’ve invited a group of local writers as well as BlackFlash magazine editor John Shelling to discuss, write and develop their vision of art writing in Edmonton and beyond. Curious? Meet the participants on Friday night at Andrew Forster’s opening reception, and follow the workshop blog at writers.latitude53.org.

Upcoming artist talks: Andrew Forster & Lindsey Bond

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:51:24 -0600

Upcoming artist talks: Andrew Forster & Lindsey Bond

Andrew Forster has been in our Main Space all week,...

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:01:47 -0600

Andrew Forster has been in our Main Space all week, building…something. Come to his opening on Friday, starting with an artist talk at 7!

Here’s a little more from Jorden and David Doody in...

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:21:44 -0600

Here’s a little more from Jorden and David Doody in advance of their August show here at Latitude 53. You can find more about them at twoartists.net—or stop by the gallery and pick up our new spring and summer programming newsletter.

The summer is so busy that we’ll actually be putting out a second newsletter with all the details of the rooftop patio, incubator, and other special summer projects (including our July Main Space show). It’s going to be a good one!

Behind the Hedge discovers Lindsey Bond's new project

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:01:09 -0600

Behind the Hedge discovers Lindsey Bond's new project:

Artist Lindsey Bond, embracing the public, street-based quality of the chalk drawings that are the source, inspiration, and central images of Messages To: The Edmonton Remand Centre Newspaper, has been taking it to the streets, putting up posters around town. Local blog Behind the Hedge discovered one last week:

The other day after a visit to the Art Gallery of Alberta (Mistresses of the Modern is still on so get down there!) I was walking through Churchill LRT Station and saw this poster in one of the ad spaces on the wall. “Oh,” I thought, “that’s Lindsey’s new thing.” I have a passing acquaintance with Lindsey Bond from her time as Assistant to the Director at Visual Arts Alberta — on her typing skills I inflicted the absurdly long titles of my absurdly small paintings. I noticed the QR code on the display and, of course, got out my phone. How interesting: I was standing in front of a piece of public art which is part of an attenuated show displayed across more than a dozen public transit stations. Aand the entire virtual gallery is now also in my phone. This is good!

Read the full post for a great take on the project—we’re very excited for the launch on May 26th, which will start with a public forum in the Remand Centre courtyard (9660 104 Ave) at 2:00, and continue with an opening and book launch here at the gallery at 5.

On Thursday, our board members invited a big group of their...

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:51:15 -0600

On Thursday, our board members invited a big group of their friends to come talk about Latitude 53 and the Edmonton community at our Spring Salon, here at the gallery. The Edmonton Journal’s Caroline Gault stopped by and took a few snaps (above: Tyler Sherard, volunteers Savannah Schultz and Katie McKinley, and Kimi Ahluwalia) before heading down to the road to the launch party for Startup Edmonton. See her article and gallery here—we’ve also got a photo gallery of our own posted on our Facebook page.

Hidden Truths: held over

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:56:00 -0600

Thanks for all the great feedback on Hidden Truths, in our community gallery this month. We’re keeping the show up for two more weeks, until Saturday the 26th, so if you haven’t gotten the chance to see it, come down and check it out—or come see it again!

In the meantime, Andrew Forster is setting up in the Main Space right now, sewing his new installation project “Mouth”. Come to the opening and artist talk on Friday evening!

ION Magazine on Latitude 53 and The Doodys

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:27:27 -0600

ION Magazine profiled Latitude 53 and artist Jorden and David Doody, showing here in August in their summer issue—read the story on their website.

Harcourt House Artist In Residence

Thu, 10 May 2012 14:56:52 -0600

Harcourt House Artist In Residence:

Harcourt House is taking submissions for their Artist In Residence program until May 31st:

The program’s goals are to provide the selected artist with a stable studio environment to continue developing their practice. This program allows for the Artist in Residence to engage and interact with the local visual arts community, encouraging shared ideas, expression and discourse.

This program provides innovative, interactive opportunities for artists and other members of the vibrant visual arts community in Edmonton. Please contact the gallery with your ideas and interest.

Applicants will be selected by the quality of work submitted, their demonstration of commitment to serious practice and evidence that they are at a crucial juncture in the development of their practice.

This one-year residency includes a studio space, access to our art education courses and facilities, teaching opportunities and a $150 monthly art supply stipend. The AIR will be given a solo exhibition in the centre’s Main Gallery at the end of the one-year term to conclude their residency. The AIR will receive CAR/FAC fees for the presentation of this final exhibition.

Find the full details on their website.

Our current shows come down on the weekend—but we’ve still...

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:08:07 -0600

Our current shows come down on the weekend—but we’ve still got Yusuke Shibata’s workshop on Saturday afternoon, starting at 1:00, to look forward to.

We’ve just updated our website with info on our upcoming...

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:51:00 -0600

We’ve just updated our website with info on our upcoming shows by Andrew Forster and Lindsey Bond (pictured). Latitude 53 members can look forward to getting our spring and summer newsletter in the mail soon, along with invitations—and the rest of you will be able to pick them up from the gallery next week.

Latitude 53 is looking for summer staff

Mon, 07 May 2012 13:51:33 -0600

Latitude 53 is looking for summer staff:

We’ve got another busy summer planned this year and we’re hoping to bring a Development Assistant, Communications Assistant and Program Assistant onboard for a few months. Find the full details on our website.

Dirt City|Dream City website

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:23:18 -0600

Dirt City|Dream City website:

Just to follow up on our last two posts—the site for the Dirt City|Dream City project is up at dirtcity-dreamcity.ca