Exhibitions 2013

January 12 to March 10, 2013

Ladylike by Vicki Easton McClung
Opening Reception with artist: Sunday, January 27, 2013 from 2:00 to 4:00pm

Vicki Easton McClung creates striking collages that starkly expose antiquated gender identifications to contemporary discourse and theory. Her approach is both humourous and harsh as she photographs old advertisements aimed towards the female consumer and transforms them into artworks that question the very word, ladylike.

Her work evolves in groups or series of works that target an area of popular culture or the vague memories that linger from childhood training. One series with a black background conjures up memories of the old black paper photo album of the mid-twentieth century, while another group of works can spark connections to fashion magazines and the covers of Simplicity clothing patterns.

These images which are cut out from photographs and then distorted or juxtaposed with other images, underline the strange postures and stances that were defined as 'ladylike' in the 1950s and yet seem unnatural and contrived from the perspective of the 21st century.

Community Gallery

Brantford Visual Artists Guild will be displaying works by their members.

In My Own Backyard
March 16 - May 12, 2013 an exhibition of artwork by Mary Abma

Opening Reception with artist: Sunday March 24 from 7:00 to 9:00pm

Artist Talk with Mary Abma and Phil Jenkins, Author of An Acre of Time, Sunday April 21, 2:00pm

Discussing the ever‐evolving relationship between humankind and nature would be like tackling the history of the entire species. When considered in depth and locally, the concepts become conceivable and this is the strategic approach that Mary Abma has taken with her artwork.

For March and April of 2013, the exhibition, In My Own Backyard, is on display at the Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. It seems only natural to specify the exact location, because for the past year Abma has been preparing an installation piece that is composed of the very earth and water from the land that surrounds the gallery on the Grand River in Southern Ontario. The piece is a complex installation work entitled, Terra Dulcis: Triptych Altarpiece of Glenhyrst. Herbarium of Lot 161 Plan 150, is composed of 82 plants that Abma discovered growing in her own suburban backyard.

The series of Lumen Photographs and Cultivation and Colonization, deal with the history of colonization and indigenous plants. All four of these bodies of work delve into the nature of the interactions that humans have taken with the landscape around them. These interactions are determined by the cultural attitudes that have been constructed by each individual society. The artworks in this exhibition bring these attitudes to the foreground for discussion with a strong awareness of temporality, leaving a viewer to consider a vastness of natural history, far beyond the passage of time in one lifetime.

Related Activities and Events:

Community Youth Project:

As part of a grant from the Ontario Arts Council, Mary has been giving workshops for several youth in the community.  These young people are working as collaborators with Abma to construct her large installation piece, Terra Dulcis: Triptych Altarpiece of Glenhryst, in the ground floor gallery, which is being used as the community gallery for this exhibition.

Earth Day Celebrations:

As part of a Cultural Innovation Grant from the City of Brantford, Glenhyrst will be having a four-day celebration of Earth Day in April.  These celebrations will include many of the sister arts, including music, literature, artist talks, author talks and school workshops.

Thursday, April 18, 7 pm:

7x7@7, seven artists will each have seven images to talk about their art process over 7 minutes.  This is a very exciting event!

Saturday, April 20, 7 pm: Phil Jenkins, musician and author, will perform music that sings of reverence for nature.

Sunday, April 21, 2 pm:  Artist Mary Abma will give an artists talk about her solo exhibition, followed by author Phil Jenkins discussing his book, An Acre in Time.

Monday, April 22, 9 am: Artist Mary Abma and Author Phil Jenkins will be conducting workshops for school groups.

This exhibition is made possible through the support of the City of Brantford, the Ontario Arts Council and the members of Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant.

 
EXPRESSIONS: School Art Exhibit 2013
May 18 to June 9, 2013

Opening Reception/ Family Arts Day: Sunday May 26, 2013 from 11:00 to 4:00pm

We invite the public to view artwork entries from Brantford and Brant County elementary and secondary schools in the student exhibition, “Expressions 2013.”

An exhibition catalogue, featuring every artwork in the exhibit, is available for purchase at the Gallery for $10.00.

Participating schools include:

Agnes Hodge Elementary
Arts After School Kid’s, Youth for Youth Mentoring Initiative
Assumption College
Braemar House School
Brantford Christian School
Brantford Collegiate Institute
Cedarland Public School
Cobblestone Elementary
Ecole Dufferin
Ecole Fairview
Elgin St. Elementary School
Lansdowne-Costain Public School
North Ward School
Russell Reid Elementary
St. John’s College
St. Leo’s School
St. Peter School

Thank you to the Royal Bank of Canada for sponsoring the Expressions School Art Exhibit and Catalogue.

Thank you to the City of Brantford for supporting the School Art Catalogue. 

Second Annual Arts Country Juried Arts Exhibition
June 15 to July 7, 2013

Opening Reception: Saturday June 22, 2013 from 7:00 to 9:00pm

The Arts Country Juried Arts Exhibition features 108 works from artists residing in Brant County, Norfolk County, Oxford County, Elgin County, Middlesex County, St. Thomas, London and Brantford.