On Sept. 11, the Carleton Univesity Art Gallery (CUAG) unveiled its four new exhibitions at its 25th anniversary celebration: Always Vessels, Animate, La chambre des cultures foraging in time and space and HERbarium.
The opening remarks were delivered by Alastair Summerlee, Carleton’s interim president, who expressed his excitement and how all four exhibits, although different, blend nicely together. The turnout was great and many guests were able to interact with the artists and curators.
Alexandra Kahsenni:io Nahwegahbow is the curator for the Indigenous art exhibit, Always Vessels. This collection features the works of Barry Ace, Vanessa Dion Fletcher, Carrie Hill, Nadya Kwandibens, Jean Marshall, Pinnock Smith, Natasha Smoke Santiago, Samuel Thomas and Olivia Whetung, who are nine Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee artists.
The concept of this exhibit is the idea of holding. As Native people, traditionally and historically, we are often surrounded by containers used for various things. But whether that container is made by hand, mind or voice—it is all trying to carry or hold something. The works of these artists are a reflection of the skills and techniques unique to the Anishinaabek and the Haudenosaunee people. Their art embodies traditional knowledge and materials. Always Vessels will be on display until Nov. 12.
Work by Alisi Telengut and Diyan Achjadi are displayed in the exhibit called Animate, which is curated by Alice Ming Wai Jim. Telengut has two hand-painted films on display, “Nutag (Homeland)” and “Tears of Inge.” “Nutag (Homeland)” is about the Kalmyk people, a Mongolian nomadic tribe that was deported to Siberia during World War II, and what they think of national identity.
Achjadi’s work represent what Indonesia was impacted through trade, colonization, and migration. Achjadi’s drawings incorporated imagery from European hunting manuals, Chinese clouds and environmental issues. Both Telengut and Achjadi’s pieces are personal to themselves and carry a deep, profound presence. Animate will be on display until Nov. 12.
Heather Anderson is the curator for the exhibit, La chambre des cultures foraging in time and space, which features the work of Annie Thibault. Thibault is an artist-in-residence in a pilot project hosted by CUAG and the Carleton department of Biology.
In this exhibit, Thibault blends both the scientific lab and the art studio by having an epic mashup of fungi represented through drawing and photography. Her exhibit opens up new ways on viewing mushroom and fungi species through artistic displays. La chambre des cultures will run until Dec. 3.
HERbarium, curated by Josie Arruejo, Chelsea Black, James Botte, Brigid Christison, Michelle Jackson, Sharon Odell, and Cindy Stelmackowich. The name refers to a collection of dried and preserved pressed plants or fungi – typically for the use of study. Not only does it looks at botany, but the women who contributed to science here in Canada. This brilliant idea, not only illuminates the forgotten or unknown female botanists but the message that women should and need to be encouraged to enter the sciences as a career. HERbarium will be on display until Dec. 3.
