Exhibitions and Events
Religious Figures from China
In 1966, three exquisite China sculptures believed to be from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Ch’ing Dynasty (1644-1911) were added to the Dalhousie Art Gallery’s permanent collection from the bequest of Mr. George T. MacKenzie. These elegant figures in blanc de chine and cream crackle glaze will be displayed in the front alcove gallery, accompanied by an informative brochure written and researched by Krista Bennett (NSCAD student of ceramics and craft history).
Susan McEachern: Questions of Nature
This four part installation explores questions of human nature in relation to the natural world. Using a variety of formal and photographic techniques (from lush gold-framed colour enlargements, through cyanotype and selenium-toned prints, to digitized photographs in light boxes) McEachern combines images and text in a personal narrative that both delights and disturbs. Guest curated by Susan Gibson Garvey and funded, in part, by The Canada Council Exhibition Assistance Program.
Alexandra Pincock: Miners’ Canaries
The seventh in our ongoing series of front alcove exhibitions (designed to respond more immediately to the work of local emerging artists) is an installation titles Miner’s Canaries. Sculptor Alexandra Pincock elaborates on an earlier work, “Cage”, employing clay bird forms in a variety of situations as metaphorical reminders of practical, social and psychological restrictions on individual potential.
Nova Scotian Pictures: Art in Nova Scotia 1940-1966
Guest Curator Sandra Paikowsky took a close look at the period 1940-66 in Nova Scotia, focusing mainly on painting and on the activities of organizations, such as the Nova Scotia Society of Artists and the Nova Scotia Museum of Fine Arts. This exhibition presented works by over 40 artists, including Robert Annand, Marion Bond, Mabel Killam Day, Horst Deppe, Carol Fraser, Siegfried Haase, C. Anthony Law, D.C. Mackay, Aileen Meagher, Alex Tissington, Ruth Wainwright, and LeRoy and Marguerite Zwicker. It was accompanied by an illustrated bilingual catalogue containing Ms.
Celebrating 40 Years: From the Permanent Collection
The Art Gallery’s Permanent Collection contains nearly 600 works which have been acquired by purchase or donation. In-house exhibitions regularly focus on aspects of this rich and varied collection, which is also available to scholars and study purposes. The collection is maintained and organized by the Gallery’s registrar/preparatory, and is held in trust for the enjoyment and education of all members of the community.
(1) 40 Years: 40 Gifts
Corpus Loquendi (Body for Speaking): Video in Halifax 1972-1982
Through a fortuitous combination of people, place and time, Halifax became a prominent centre of experimental video production in the 1970s. Video artist and NSCAD professor Jan Peacock focuses on the early development of video as an art form, on its often transgressive behaviour and obsessive preoccupation with body and language, in a selection of works by Vito Acconci, David Askevold, Dara Birnbaum, Susan Britton, Martha Wilson and many others.
FLUXUS: a Conceptual Country
The visual artists, writers and composers whose activities are known collectively as Fluxus, came together 30 years ago, staging art events, performances and happenings in major cities across Europe and the U.S. Fluxus contributed the term “intermedia” and popularized time-based performance, video, installation and multiple art forms. Marcel Duchamp was an influential precursor of Fluxus, and John Cage and Josef Beuys were closely associated with the group.
Uses of the Vernacular in Contemporary Nova Scotian Art
What are the relationships between folk art and forms of contemporary art which adopt folk idioms? Co-curators Cliff Eyland and Susan Gibson Garvey tackle this question in a vibrant exhibition of paintings, assemblages, prints, sculptures, and fibre works by contemporary Nova Scotian artists Nancy Edell, Gerald Ferguson, Kyle Jackson, Janice Leonard, Charlie Murphy, John Neville, Leslie Sampson and Eric Walker.
The 40th Dalhousie Student, Staff, Faculty and Alumni Exhibition
An unbroken tradition for 40 years! This time, the Gallery’s annual celebration of the artistic talent of the university community will kick off the Gallery’s year-long 40th Anniversary celebrations. The exhibition will include paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture and crafts by Dalhousie students, staff, faculty and alumni. If you are a member of this community take this opportunity to participate!
INDIGENA Contemporary Native Perspective
This major touring exhibition of paintings, sculpture, videos and installations by eighteen contemporary Canadian Native artists presents a challenging, sometimes exquisitely beautiful, sometimes profoundly disturbing experience. Curated by Gerald MacMaster and Lee-Ann Martin to coincide with the 500th Anniversary of Columbus’ arrival in North America, the objective of the project was to “address such issues as discovery, colonization, cultural critique, and tenacity” from the Native perspective.
