On the north side of campus, in the basement of St. Patrick’s building there is an ode to Canadian culture, the Carleton University Art Gallery (CUAG).
After a generous donation – both monetary and artistic – from Frances Barwick, CUAG opened in 1992. The donation of 57 pieces of Canadian art in addition to 75 per cent of the Barwick estate encouraged the beginnings of a campus gallery.
Diana Nemiroff, CUAG director, described the gallery as “one of the most beautiful gallery spaces in Ottawa.”
“The three gallery spaces flow into one another and are beautifully detailed. They set off the art on exhibit very well,” said Nemiroff. “I think our visitors would agree with me that it’s an extremely agreeable place in which to discover art.”
Although CUAG is not currently hosting any exhibitions, starting Sept. 14 three new and unique collections will be open and available to view until Nov. 8.
The Collector: Glen Bloom, Sanattiaqsimajut: Inuit Art from the CUAG Collection, and Conflicted Heroes: The Reformation and the Hebrew Bible are the upcoming exhibitions and will emphasize the gallery’s cultural collection.
“Our collection is the largest university art collection in Canada, which is quite a distinction.” (attribution)
The Collector, curated by Nemiroff, will examine the presence of both human beings and their activities in contemporary art. This exhibit is made up primarily of photographs, but does feature a small collection of other media forms.
Conflicted Heroes examines “the proliferation of images of conflicted heroes in the Hebrew bible in light of the relations of Christian and Jew historically, theologically and in relation to the realities of contemporary life.”
The final collection, Sanattiaqsimajut, is the largest of the exhibitions and will display approximately 125 pieces in various forms. It will include prints, drawings and textiles, among other artistic pieces and will be immortalized by a hardcover catalogue version, due for launch in November.
CUAG also offers some more interactive experiences, which may appeal to those with an interest in art and a desire for knowledge. These events include book launches and exhibit tours.
Truda Rosenberg, a psychologist and Holocaust survivor, will launch her book Unmasked at CUAG on Sept. 16 at 4:30 p.m.
On Sept. 20 there will be a tour, led by curator Ingo Hessel, of the large Inuit art exhibition.
In addition to being a free form of cultural education and entertainment, the campus art gallery allows for student submissions, but for those who prefer to be a viewer, admission is free.