We All Fall Down: Last Call

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

The Gallery’s corridor exhibit, We All Fall Down is coming down March 7 (in two weeks). The exhibition consists of a selection of work from KW|AG’s permanent collection and examines how artists portray the universal experience of decline and decay.
Curator Barbara Hobot along with KW|AG graphic designer Matt Dupuis have created a catalogue to complement the show – We All Fall Down – catalogue. Check it out and then come see the exhibition before it’s gone.

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“My essay focuses on one particular theme from the show: prevention,” says Hobot. “The exhibition spurred my interest in the prevalence of preventative measures and how they pertain to contemporary art practice. Prevention is a word that we hear a lot of in reference to health issues, safety, the environment, and even artwork. In the essay I discuss topics of plastic surgery, environmental manipulation, heritage site conservation, and finally what I consider to be the ultimate archival artwork.  I had a lot of fun during the research phase of this publication.  It was a reminder that the permanent collection can be an excellent tool for springboarding into different topics of conversation.  I hope this essay offers Gallery visitors a new way of interpreting We All Fall Down, and further still, a different way of considering the topic of prevention.”

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The Mill and the Cross: Life Imitating Art

Posted on February 15, 2012 by

By Carolyn Ferguson, KW|AG Development & Marketing Assistant.

Princess Cinemas and KW|AG are currently co-sponsoring a special presentation of The Mill and the Cross, directed by Lech Majewski, and based on the book of the same name by Michael Francis Gibson. The inspiration for both the film and book is the painting The Way to Calvary, created in 1564 by Flemish renaissance artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

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Majewski’s film uses characters from Bruegel’s painting to create a version of events leading up to the final scene in The Way to Calvary. Pieter Bruegel the Elder is also included as a character, and sometimes narrator of the story. He serves as an observer of the film’s events, and helps to explain some of the themes in the painting, as well as the artist’s compositional choices.

The film is visually stunning; a mix of breathtaking natural scenery and blue screen technology to capture the atmosphere of the original painting. The costumes and sets are incredibly detailed and authentic, offering a window into rural life in Flanders (modern day Belgium) in the mid 16th century.

Sound is a key component to this film. There is very little dialogue or music, therefore ambient noise becomes the soundtrack. The film is infused with sounds of everyday life, echoing footsteps, crows calling, children laughing; the sound of the mill machinery grinding.

While The Mill and the Cross is a beautiful film, viewers will need to adjust to a slower pace. The audience becomes immersed in the film’s setting, and it takes patience to see how the characters connect with the narrative and ultimately with the painting itself.

The experience will be more meaningful with some brief research before viewing the film, to get a sense the religious climate of Flanders at that time. Religion, and religious persecution are major themes in both the original painting and the film. Some reading about Pieter Bruegel the Elder would also be a good idea (see the links above) before heading to the theatre – but wherter or not you have time to visit them before viewing the film the experience is well worthwhile.

Next show times: February 15 @ 6:45 PM and February 16 @ 6:45 PM

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Art in the Market

Posted on February 13, 2012 by

This Saturday marked the first of KW|AG’s monthly visits to KPL’s Kids’ Club program in Kitchener Market.  Seventy-four kids and parents braved the snow and stopped by for storytime with librarian Cheryl Jankowski, and flag and mask-making using unconventional materials like doilies, party streamers and vintage wallpaper!  Check out some of their creative creations in the photos below.

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Join us next month on Saturday, March 10 from 9-11am when we’ll take inspiration from the illuminated artworks in Another Victory Over the Sun and use “old school” overhead projectors to create our own masterpiece!

Upcoming Kids’ Club dates: Sat | Mar 10 | Apr 14 | May 12 | Jun 9
9 am – 11 am at Kitchener Market (upper level), 300 King Street East.  Map >

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A Little Off Topic

Posted on February 10, 2012 by

By Nicole Neufeld, Director of Public Programs

One thing that makes contemporary art both exciting and challenging is the way artists tackle interesting ideas, influenced by inspiring topics, and connect us to new perspectives and experiences.  This year, the gallery is taking a new approach to exploring some of the many ideas that surface in our exhibitions or from artists’ work.  It’s called Off Topic.

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Wednesday night saw the first incarnation of this new series of Off Topic talks.  Each one consists of a pair of speakers who introduce us to thought provoking and seemingly unconnected topics.  The hope is that we will start to see intriguing connections and start good conversation by exploring ideas with experts and enthusiasts alike.

For the first Off Topic discussion, we invited two self-proclaimed enthusiasts.  Our choices were inspired by the current exhibitions, Another Victory Over the Sun and Let’s Glow, which both explore themes of light and darkness. 

We invited our local owl aficionado to the gallery, Jason Bracey, to talk about the nocturnal life of the regions owls.  Highlights included a video of a “chameleon” owl that can take on the appearance of a tree branch, demonstrations about owl depth perception, and of course, Jason’s great tales of adventures on owl prowls.

Following the trajectory of night life, we thought it would be interesting to bring in an explorer of dreamscapes and human consciousness. Jeff Warren took us on a tour through our mind.  After hearing about the science of falling asleep, we took a walk through everything from lucid dreaming to daydreaming.

Also inspired by themes of light and dark is our first Youth Council event coming up at the end of February.  Local teens (ages 13 – 18) are invited to participate in a free photography workshop, learn about the Youth Council, make new friends and hang out at the Gallery after hours!

The workshop on Tuesday February 21 will teach light graffiti – a photographic technique that uses a camera to capture temporary images created by lights moving through the dark. Teens will learn how to make light paintings, portraits and stencils using their camera, flashlights, glow sticks and other household items.

The light graffiti photography workshop is taking place from 4 – 7 pm. Pizza and refreshments will be served. Space is limited so be sure to book your spot by emailing Emily at egove@kwag.on.ca or call her at 519 579 5860 ext: 227.

Posted in 101, @KW|AG, Artist Talk, colab, Community, Exhibitions, for kids, For teens, Get hands on with art, Out there, Things we like, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

And the winners are…

Posted on February 8, 2012 by

The Gallery held two online contests for tickets to see The Mill & the Cross at Princess Cinemas in Waterloo.

People were asked to submit photos through Facebook or Twitter relating to the theme “let there be light” – the subtitle of our current exhibitions Another Victory Over the Sun and Let’s Glow. We had a bunch of submissions to go through, but finally managed to narrow it down.

Check out the winning images below by Christine Reid and Andrew Palmer.

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The Mill & the Cross is a film inspired by Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s 1564 painting The Way to Calvary, and is based on Michael Francis Gibson’s book The Mill and the Cross. The film was a Polish-Swedish co-production directed by Lech Majewski. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011.

Stay tuned for more on the film later this month.

For more details on the film click here or visit kwag.ca.

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The World According to Marc and Magda

Posted on February 2, 2012 by

By Caroline Oliver, Director of Development and Marketing

Marc Ngui and Magda Wojtyra, creators of the Let’s Glow exhibition currently on view at the Gallery, shared their views on art and life at a recent artist’s talk at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery.  The duo’s ideas are inspired by a blend of Eastern and Western philosophies, science, comics, an interest in unrestricting, non-hierarchical rhizome structures and world-wide travels that were motivated by a desire to eliminate routine.

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As Marc and Magda see it:

No one is in charge. All ant colonies, like people colonies, are 60 percent inefficient.

Drawing became a tool for understanding, a visual language that effectively describes abstract ideas.

We need to understand and accept there can be two opposing positions in your mind, to be able to hold those paradoxes in our heads, and not to be reductive in our thinking.

Art is their way of adjusting the world and cheering people up.

People can make their own stories, which puts them on the side of the maker, not the consumer.

The real power of art is in the making of it.

Just do it – and what you end up with is exactly what you are supposed to have.

Be brave, forthcoming, and cheerful!

Learn more about their work and world views on their website, the Land of Happy Sleepy and come and see their work for yourself, on view @ KW|AG through March 4.

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You Whoooo Jason Bracey…

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

Whooo loves owls more than Jason Bracey?
It would appear no one, the Southwood Secondary teacher has been hooked on owls since attending an owl workshop by Chris Early at the University of Guelph. Jason will share his knowledge of the species of owls found in Ontario during the Gallery’s Off Topic discussion on Wednesday, February 8 at 7 pm.  But first, check out the interview below for more on Jason’s love for these wise birds…

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Q: What sparked your interest in owls?

A: I have always been very interested in birds but got hooked on owls after attending the Chris Early workshop at the University of Guelph. As a long time birder, I took my interest in owls and started going out at night to look for them. Having really good success I started to offer workshops and “owl prowls” at rare Charitable Research Reserve to share my interest and enthusiasm for owls with others. I have been fortunate to extend my interest in owls to my classroom where I have Mountsberg Conservation bring live owls into my Environmental Science class during “Raptor Week” in the course.

Q: Do you have a favourite species of owl?

A: If I had to choose one species I would have to choose the Great Horned Owl as my favourite. The Great Horned Owl is an incredibly powerful and dominant predator that is surprisingly common in many different environments around us. Being able to take prey three times its own mass, the incredible crushing power of its talons and preying on porcupines and skunk make it the apex predator of our forests.

Q: What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about owls?

A: A couple of things really surprised me about owls when I first started getting interested in them. Firstly, the fact they’re all around us in all kinds of habitat. Most people simply don’t see them because we don’t think to look for them or of course are sleeping when they are active. Secondly, the diversity of owl species in Ontario is also quite interesting, I have personally seen 6 different species of owls in the local area. Finally the prevalence of owls in culture is also quite interesting. From the ancient Aztecs, Greeks to Harry Potter, owls appear throughout our history. That interest today is certainly apparent given the media attention to owls such as the Great Grey Owl seen in Kingsville this winter.

Q: Any fun facts about owls you’d like to share or interesting stories?

A: An interesting adaptation that owls have is the ability to swallow prey whole and then regurgitate the indigestible waste as pellets. It is quite incredible watching a tiny Saw Whet Owl swallow a mouse whole. One of my favourite owl encounters happened when I was leading an owl prowl and had a screech owl fly in to check us out. It was at dusk and sat a few feet about us on a branch and called to us for over 10 minutes. While doing so, everyone got a great look at the owl and could observe it at close range. In reality any time you have an opportunity to see such an elusive bird it is a real privilege.

Off Topic is an unconventional talk inspired by the themes of our current exhibitions, Another Victory Over the Sun and Let’s Glow. We hope you’ll join us for what is sure to be a hoot!

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