In the hall, or perhaps land, of wonders…
Kim Kielhofner, an American-landed-Canadian-potential-Brit has been working and living in Montreal for years and years now, or at least a good chunk of time. I have had the pleasure of working with her on several projects, and of watching her practice become more intensely refined and focused as the days have worn by.
She is soon to be elsewhere for awhile as she heads to Central St. Martins for a Masters this fall, but there are plenty of opportunities to see her work in the city as she departs.
The first one is coming up for the month of September at the Centre Communautaire Elgar on Nun’s Island. While a bit of a drive/walk/bike, her drawings held therein are absolutely worth the visit. Entitled, In the Hall of Wonders, the show is a look at some of her most recent illustrative work created in the last few months.
Then, for Art Pop 2009, Kim is showing her latest video installation piece, A Dragnet for Lost Feelings, about train robbing ancestors, the mythology of the wild west, and the reality of violence and memory within families. Kielhofner has a poignancy, humour and ability to transform intense subject matters into an aesthetic and visceral language all her own. I do believe she is very much an emerging artist to keep an eye on.
If you heed my advice, and want to keep your eyeballs on her developing practice, the vernissage for In the Hall of Wonders is happening tomorrow night starting at 7 pm, and if you miss it, you can always go to see her work until October 16th at the Centre Communautaire Elgar. Again, google map, kids, google map.
Filed under art shows, artists, illustration, local, vernissage | Tags: Central St Martins, Centre Communautaire Elgar, Kim Kielhofner | Comment (0)Seripop in the UK and Gordon Ball this Thursday
Remember Seripop’s No Henge installation at the Emporium Gallery?
The creative duo exhibited it again last month, at the Baltic Center for Contemporary Arts (UK), to show it off with The Trail, from 2008. They’re sharing pics of the installation process on their blog, you have to click here and see them.
-
Speaking of the Emporium Gallery, Gordon Ball’s I am sorry. Sincerely, Frankenstein exhibition opens this Thursday, August 27th from 7pm-11pm (3035 St. Antoine Ouest, #74). It’s Ball’s first solo exhibition in Montreal in over 2 years so come out and support this local photographer.
I’m told this show is full of nudity.
Dusty Peas, blowing your mind from deep in Ontario
The drawing-printmaking-rabble-rousing duo Jamie Q and James Kirkpatrick have been jammin’ on collaborative works together for some time now, but not forever. From the bowels of London, Ontario, their minds seem to mesh in the most cohesive ways, explaining how they are able to present such a playful and consistent body of work as a duo so early on in their practice together.
They recently completed an artist residency and will be unfurling and folding the fruits of their labour at the Drawn & Quarterly Bookstore tonight at 7 p.m., right here in Montreal, 211 Rue Bernard…
It looks like pretty mind-blowing work. They’ve even silkscreened a spaceship folks can assemble themselves. I am a little too excited to get down to the Bookstore tonight and see their finished product in all its glory…
I sat down with them over space, time & the internet recently to ask some questions about their artistic process and to find out, for once and for all, what is the what. The answers are pretty friggin’ illuminating, so I hope you enjoy their notions and all as much as I have.
1. could you describe for all the folks out there who’s in your collective and what your deal is? ie if you have a mandate, if you even consider yourselves a collective…just some basics.
Dusty Peas is James Kirkpatrick and Jamie Q.. we think of ourselves as a collaborative art team more than a collective. But we also feel like we are part of a larger community of people doing creative stuff, one without a name or mandate. We don’t have a mandate as Dusty Peas either… we’d rather not be tied down to a formal set of rules. Maybe that is a sort of mandate… that whatever we make will be pretty unconstrained and open to possibility.
2. does “dusty peas” come from a specific idea or theme? where did you come up with it?
When we make stuff it always ends up being something that neither one of us would have made individually, so in a way we see Dusty as a third person who is creating this work. But also it is a nonsensical name that doesn’t mean anything.. words we would always say to each other as a silly thing that was totally removed from any original meaning.
3. when did the collaborative thing start and how?
We met through Peter Thompson last summer and started doing collab drawings in November to make zines for Expozine. We felt that it worked well and was fun so we kept doing it.
4. is this something you’re both familiar with, drawing ensemble, or is it a totally new way of doing illustrative work?
JK – Being involved in graffiti at an early stage of making art I got used to the idea of having things I created being painted over and marked on by others. Also seeing the work of Marc Bell and Peter Thompson at a younger age sort of showed me how two people could really melt their minds together to create one final piece of art. When I look back on it I realize I have been making collaborative art for years without even thinking of it as that.
JQ – I come from more of a sculpture background, so doing collaborative drawings is a pretty new thing for me. I did that guest artist project with you, Kit, at silence is not (always) a good medicine, and I’ve done drawings with other people where it’s more like a game in which everyone passes drawings around. But this is the first time I’ve been making drawings collaboratively as a regular part of what I do.
5. what are some of the main differences for you between drawing with someone and drawing alone?
When working with someone you have to be ok with letting things happen that you have no control over. You have to be able to work without having a preconceived idea of what the art is going to look like in the end because of that. In that sense it has more freedom to develop spontaneously, but on the other hand it also gives you the structure of the other person’s marks to work from, rather than facing a blank page with total individual freedom.
6. how has this pushed or challenged your individual practices, if it has at all?
We’ve been really focused on the Journey Through Time & Shapes project for quite awhile now, so seeing this new book and sculpture finally finished we’re really excited about how it turned out, and we’re both feeling like this collaborative work is better than our individual work at this point. But also our solo work is really important to us, so the collab stuff just motivates us to push our own work further.
7. do you think this could expand to go beyond drawing? if so, how?
Actually, we started doing sculpture together back in February, and have since also started doing stop-motion animation and all kinds of other stuff. The silkscreened prints in the Journey Through Time & Shapes book are all based on paper collages and paintings, and the project also includes a print that can be cut out and assembled into a sculpture.
8. is this very similar or very different than the stuff you do as solo-flyers?
The way of working is similar since both of us make stuff in all sorts of media. We’ve both done work with installation, found objects, sculpture, graffiti, painting, drawing, self-published zines, sound, film, animation… But the art itself looks pretty distinct from our solo work. People often can’t tell what we added to the work as individuals. That’s a good combination.. to have a similarly versatile way of working while doing something different than we would by ourselves.
Now go check it out for yourself. It’s going to be a very special show made by two very special people.
A show I don’t want to avoid concerning a topic I would…
This Thursday the 30th at the always-to-keep-on-your-arts-radar Emporium Gallery in Montreal, Patrick Tsai of My Little Dead Dick fame and compadre Coley Brown will be showing their latest photographic collaborative efforts, entitled Growing Up.
From the mouths of those proponing to be in the process of growing up themselves:
“Growing Up was spurred by a spontaneous scene we witnessed together at Shibuya station in Tokyo, Japan- where two high school girls were leaning against a wall, one was crying while the other was trying to comfort her. Even though they were surrounded by a city of millions, they were the only ones that existed for that brief moment. The photograph we took of them that day eventually became the genesis of our project, a project whose intention was to document and explore the inevitable process of growing up.”
Sigh. Although part of me still refuses to deal with the whole concept of growing up, I still think it should be interesting to see what two photographers, almost a decade apart in age (ok, 6 years…but a big 6, as Tsai is in his late 20s and Brown, his early) have to say as a collective mass together on the whole topic. A show that will likely leave a bit of an impact, sentimental or otherwise, and an opening that I suspect you won’t want to miss…
All the practical details can be found here.
Filed under artists, photography, vernissage | Tags: Coley Brown, Emporium Gallery, Patrick Tsai, photography, vernissage | Comment (0)June 18th: Thoday is Thrazy Thursday
Brace yourselves, there are (at least) three art openings to go to today (Thursday the 18th). They all start at 7pm, and I hope you can find a way to see everything without missing Corpusse’s performance at Zoobizarre later tonight. Details below:
_
1. Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo at Galerie Push (7-9pm)
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of his intense and riveting creatures (see Kit’s post below). His Bestiairies show is staying at PUSH (5264 St. Laurent) until the 26th of July.
_
2. The Emporium State of Mind (7-11pm)
The product of a collaboration between The Emporium Gallery (3035 St. Antoine Ouest #74) and Montreal State of Mind: a “media spanning group exhibition that will exemplify Montreal State of Mind’s mission- to promote the inherent creativity of those who live in Montreal done through the Emporium Gallery’s curation”. The exhibition features the work of Fangs, Amber Albrecht, Sean Orena, Alexi Hobbs, 123Klan, RAGE5, Robb Jamieson, Kit Malo (!), Julien de Repentigny, Astro, Dave Arnold, Ben Pobjoy and Danielle Levy. They are 13 Montreal-based visual artists, who will each be exhibiting one artwork priced at a maximum of $200CAD
_
3. A Red Bird Studios Group Show at General 54, 7pm
General 54 (54 St-Viateur O) is hosting a group show put up by the artist-run arts space Red Bird. The exhibition showcases the work of its diverse group of painters, sculptors, graphic designers and silk screeners, each one exploring their individual practice and methodology within the material constraints of a 10″x10″ canvas board. There will also be cake supplied by Cocoa Locale (best cupcakes in town, and I know what I’m talking about) and 10% off everything in the store!
Artists include: Sarah Courtemanche, Dan Buller, Kit Malo (!), Oksana, Rebecca Rosen, Jayce Yam, Mark Dixon, Julien Ceccaldi (!), Katie Earle, John Player, Andrea Kastner, Colin Lyons, Corrie Peterson, Kim Kielhofner, Naomi Cook, Lisa Wilson, Daniel Nessler, Rachel Berger, Becky Emlaw, Shannon Kelly, Konan Cook, and others…
_
4. Where you must be after all the art and cake (Zoobizarre, 9pm)
Starting at 9pm, Suoni per il popolo presents Corpusse (TO), The Unireverse (Mtl) and Knurl (TO). There will be everything you could need by then (besides art and cake), i.e. synth action, confrontational performance and raw noise.
I’m especially looking forward to seeing Corpusse do his thing: it will be primitive hardcore punk with a synthesizer, and it will involve glitter and nice make-up. Here’s a video of his last performance at Zoobizarre (6388 St-Hubert) in October 2006.
_
Filed under artists, events, gallery, illustration, local, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, vernissage, websites | Tags: 123Klan, Alexi Hobbs, Amber Albrecht, Andrea Kastner, Astro, Becky Emlaw, Ben Pobjoy, Colin Lyons, Corpusse, Corrie Peterson, Dan Buller, Daniel Nessler, Danielle Levy, Dave Arnold, Emporium Gallery, Fangs, Galerie Push, General 54, Jayce Yam, John Player, Julien Ceccaldi, Julien de Repentigny, Katie Earle, Kim Kielhofner, Kit Malo, Knurl, Konan Cook, Lisa Wilson, Mark Dixon, Naomi Cook, Oksana, Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo, Rachel Berger, RAGE5, Rebecca Rosen, Red Bird, Robb Jamieson, Sarah Courtemanche, Sean Orena, Shannon Kelly, Suoni per il popolo, The Unireverse, Zoobizarre | Comment (0)PUSHing out Osvaldo’s Beasts
It is safe to say that Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo, who is younger than you would think and very much brimming over with equal parts creative enthusiasm and dedicated focus, is one of THE contemporary artists working in Canada (or wherever he goes, stays, sleeps and tumbles) to pay attention to now and forever more.
I have been a huge fan of his for several years since I first saw his large illustrations gracing the halls in the new, oddly sterile (or just odd & sterile) EV building at Concordia University. His use of intense mythologies and an unbelievable technique made me stop in my tracks, rabbit-caught-in-field-in-the-middle-of-the-hunt, and compelled me to make immediate contact. Since then, we’ve had the honour of working with him for Art Pop 2008, and have seen more and more folks take the appropriate measures they should in regards to aiding and abetting his skills.
Which is why I am SO excited to go to his latest show at Megan Bradley’s awesome PUSH gallery, which opens in only a few days, on the 18th of June. Penned Bestiaries, it is a series of new works that are smaller in format than some of his larger-scale works, but prove only how versatile an artist he is, as they translate the finesse of line and impact of symbolic gesture equally powerfully. There will be big stuff there too, for those who have…size issues. As well, he’ll be showing some of the lithographs he did recently at the St.Michael’s Printshop residency in Newfoundland, which is a medium he hasn’t explored in some time, so it’s a special treat to be able to look at these astounding prints.
Honestly, this little write-up hardly does his complex and compelling work any justice at all, but one day I will put up a full-fledged interview with the guy and get it over with. Until then, mark off your calendars for this Thursday starting at 7pm, and get your butts over to PUSH and see for yourselves.
Filed under art shows, artists, illustration, local, printmaking, vernissage | Tags: Galerie Push, Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo, St.Michael's Printshop | Comment (0)Of those about to flit off into the *real* world to taste the delights it has to offer.
Yes, the title says it all. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Just like Nathan here (right above you, with the polka-dot socks) shot by JJ Levine, does. We all know what’s going on. Next Tuesday is the opening for the 7th annual Concordia Graduating Students Art Exhibition, (What’s Up With All The Capitals I Wonder?).
Detailed Info about the show can be found here. It’s featuring work by Kakim Goh, Erik Osberg, Katie Jung, JJ Levine, Megan Cameron, Ali El-Darsa and others.
At Concordia, in 2 places, both apparently of which will have wine (most important thing about vernissages, after all) - the VA Building (where the vernissage bits and pieces are primarily happening, which is on the corner of Rene-Levesque and Bishop) and in the EV building, 1515 de Maisonneuve Ouest, in room 1-715.
Filed under art shows, artists, local, vernissage | Tags: Concordia, graduating, vernissage | Comment (0)The Mirror’s Hot Summer Guide - Visual Arts
Stacey Dewolfe over at the Montreal Mirror just wrote an excellent guide to art-related things happening in Montreal this summer (from June 18th to September 7th). Check it out, she even mentions Mammoth-favorites Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo (Gallery Push, June 18th), articule and the Emporium Gallery. Speaking of the Emporium Gallery, pictured above is Okay Archie, Now We Get It by Dave Arnorld, from his Teenage Nudes show to open there on August 13.
And, speaking of the Montreal Mirror, I encourage you to follow the Arts section’s twitter account, it’s updated frequently enough, and its background image features a sea of beautiful celosias.
Filed under events, illustration, local, vernissage | Tags: articule, celosias, Dave Arnorld, Emporium Gallery, Gallery Push, Montreal Mirror, Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo, Stacey Dewolfe, Twitter | Comment (0)Speed Limits @ the CCA
Speed Limits is the next CCA exhibition. Co-organised with the Wolfsonian-Florida International University, it “addresses the pivotal role played by speed in modern life: from art to architecture and urbanism to graphics and design to economics to the material culture of the eras of industry and information. It marks the centenary of the foundation of the Italian Futurist movement and is curated by Jeffrey T. Schnapp, Stanford Humanities Lab.”
No details have been given regarding the actual content of the exhibition, but that small paragraph I found on the CCA website (the one i just quoted) got me hooked - unlike the image they’re using for promotion, hence that lovely picture i google-imaged for y’alls.
The Vernissage for Speed Limits is happening on Tuesday, 19 May, 6 - 8 pm. The CCA is having a Post-vernissage that same day, 8 - 11 pm.
There will also be a Gallery Talk on Thursday, 21 May, at 7 pm where Curator Jeffrey T. Schnapp and exhibition designer Michael Maltzan will discuss the exhibition.
The Canadian Centre for Architecture is located at 1920, rue Baile.
Filed under art shows, events, places, vernissage | Tags: cca, Speed | Comment (0)Vernissage Tonight at Galerie Push
I waked by Galerie Push (5264 St Laurent) yesterday as they were setting up for their new show, and what I saw of it was very pleasing. The paintings of Suzanne Déry & Justin Stephens caught my eyes and got me real excited with their nonchalant and humorous edge.
The couple will be sharing the space with Pierre-luc Brouillette and, momentarily tonight, with Dominique Sirois, a personal fave of mine who will be performing in the gallery at 6pm. The vernissage starts then, and it ends at 9pm. The show itself is up until the end of the month.
Filed under events, local, painting, performance, vernissage | Tags: Dominique Sirois, Galerie Push, Justin Stephens, Pierre-luc Brouillette, Suzanne Déry | Comment (0)
