Halifax

ReVISION

The found object sculpture exhibition

Wednesday July 4 2012 (All day) -
Monday July 30 2012 (All day)

 

WHAT              A group exhibition of found object sculpture + assemblage by Nova Scotia artists, curated by Lisa Cochrane

WHO                Lisa Cochrane, Jay Dort, Emma FitzGerald, Noah Logan, Susan Malmstrom, Mike Milligan, Mellisa Schwegmann and Catherine Venart

WHERE           The Chase Gallery at the Nova Scotia Public Archives, 6016 University Avenue (at Robie Street), Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 1W4  tel. 902-424-6075

WHEN            July 4 – 30, 2012, Mon-Fri 8:30 – 4:30, Sat 9:00 – 5:00, Sun closed

OPENING RECEPTION      Wednesday, July 4, 5:00 – 8:00 pm, wheelchair accessible, all are welcome

CONTACT:       Lisa Cochrane (curator/presenter) for more information 902-237-5926

 

 

Celebrating the ‘art of recycling’, the ReVISION exhibition features new hanging and standing 3 dimensional artworks by Lisa Cochrane (Blandford), Jay Dort (Halifax), Emma FitzGerald (Halifax), Noah Logan (Tantallon), Susan Malmstrom (Bear River), Mike Milligan (Boutlier’s Point), Melissa Schwegmann (Halifax) and Catherine Venart (Halifax).

Using the discovery or ‘distress’ of found objects as a departure point, each ReVISION artist attempts to create statements of reassembly and renewal using their unique visual language. Materials ‘found’ by participating artists in the show range from a street lamp to cigarette butts, pant zippers to broom heads, glass shards to animal skulls. The evidence of the previous function of each found object is not necessarily erased in these innovative works, but is nevertheless transformed by a rigorous exploration of concept, material, form and technique.

None of my works are ever finished.

They just stop at interesting places.

 (anonymous)

The ReVISION exhibition attempts to look beyond the questions  – what is art? –  and  - is it good? Whether purely formal, politically motivated, or witty and ironic, the pieces in this show venture into “when is art?” territory, as in when does something cease to be what it was before and by what means or intention does it then become a work of art? Found object sculpture thus becomes an attempt to reach a more interesting exploration of art as a way of looking at the world, an opportunity to imagine, question and reflect on our lives, a chance to see things that are or aren’t there.

After Marcel Duchamp created his revolutionary Readymades nearly a century ago, the constraints of traditional media vanished and art’s possibilities stretched to include absolutely any object, altered or not. In this spirit, ReVISION features the contemporary work of local artists who see ordinary things in new ways that will take the viewer out of the complacent and bring a fresh view to what is often seen as mundane or discarded.

Each person sees life through a personal, subjective point of view. If an artist can show us how to look at something differently, is it possible that this can loosen the grip most of us have on our preconceived notions about the world, what we hold as sacred, the limitations we perceive? Sculpture and assemblage constructions – as in all forms of art – have the power to shape our perception of reality; what better religion to stir the soul, and the senses.

What would happen if the stories we tell ourselves about the way things are shift ever so slightly? Can we not begin to see possibilities in everything where before there may have been obstacles?

That said, this show is going to be smart, cool, provocative and fun. I sought out and found 7 amazing artists in and near to HRM – some established, others emerging – to share the NS Archives gallery space with me. Artists who share my passion for collecting and transforming, making art out of stuff.