Thursday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m. Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall (3rd floor of Centennial Hall), University of Winnipeg
ADMISSION IS FREE
To accompany the Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta Craft Councils’ presentation of the group exhibition Prairie Excellence at Gallery 1C03, the Manitoba Craft Council, in partnership with Gallery 1C03, has organized a panel discussion with Prairie Excellence Selection Committee Member Helen Delacretaz and Prairie Excellence artists Tibor Bodi, Grace Nickel and Sue Sutherland.
Prairie Excellence is a juried exhibition representing the very best of contemporary fine craft from the Prairies. Featuring pieces in various media by 35 artists, the show is a unique and balanced blend of work from each of the Prairie Provinces. While some of the featured artists, like Winnipeg’s Grace Nickel, Kathryne Koop and Keith Oliver, are well established, the exhibit also showcases craft artists who are relatively new to the scene. This is a unique opportunity to view the work of emerging, mid-career and established artists in one place.
The panel discussion will focus on the state of contemporary craft practice on the prairies and how the work in Prairie Excellence contributes to this dialogue. The three artist panelists will explore how their work reflects a prairie aesthetic, how it pushes the boundaries of their chosen medium and how they balance questions of form/function with the conceptual aspect of their work. Selection Committee Member Helen Delacretaz will consider trends and shifts in the contemporary craft scene more generally and how these developments might apply to works in Prairie Excellence in particular.
Prairie Excellence has made Winnipeg its third stop in a tour of Western Canada after presentations in both Edmonton and Saskatoon, showing at Gallery 1C03 (1st floor of Centennial Hall at The University of Winnipeg) from April 28 - May 28, 2011.
Admission to gallery and panel discussion is free and open to everyone.
Regular Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday from noon until 5:00 p.m.
Image: Tibor Bodi, Voice of America 1956, 2009, cast glass, forged steel and metal (tin smith), 24" x 11" x 9". Courtesy of the artist.
