Photography in Canada, 1960-2000,
on view from April 7 to September 17, 2017
PhotoLab 2: Women Speaking Art,
on view from April 7 to September 10, 2017
OTTAWA, April 6, 2017 /CNW/ - A thought-provoking exhibition presenting important trends in photography between 1960 and 2000 is opening at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) tomorrow. Photography in Canada, 1960–2000, provides an overview of the diverse range of photographic practices and production in this country over a forty year period. Edward Burtynsky, Suzy Lake, Jeff Wall and Angela Grauerholz are just some of the influential artists featured in the exhibition, which was organized by the Canadian Photography Institute of the National Gallery of Canada.
"The variety, width and breadth of photographic culture in Canada is extraordinary," said NGC Director and CEO, Marc Mayer. "The four decades covered in this exhibition were particularly fertile for the photographic medium in Canada. It was a thoroughly fascinating time and we are delighted to present this exhibition during the 150th anniversary of Confederation."
"One of the Institute's main missions is to promote and encourage Canadian photography. Photography in Canada, 1960-2000 is an excellent opportunity to share the images and ideas of great photographers from our collection," said Canadian Photography Institute Director, Luce Lebart.
Several important achievements in photography took place between 1960 and 2000. In addition to major documentary projects undertaken at this time, photography became an important contemporary art medium. Artists performed for the camera, mixed text and images, made photographic sculptures, combined photography with printmaking techniques, and used light boxes to display imagery. The medium was employed to question social norms and notions of truth and authority, and explore issues of identity, gender and sexuality. Andrea Kunard, Associate Curator of Photographs with the Canadian Photography Institute, selected more than 100 images taken by 71 photographersto illustrate the tremendous variety in what artists photographed; and how they created and displayed their photos.
"As much as "Photography in Canada, 1960-2000 celebrates a diversity of photographicpractices," said Ms. Kunard, "it also shows the development of photography as a contemporary art form and chronicler of modern life."
Kunard arranged the images thematically, as opposed to chronologically, to better explore how artists handled nature, portraiture, sexuality and city life. All the photographs featured in the exhibition are from the National Gallery of Canada collections which include the former Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography collection and the NFB Still Photography Division collection.
Kunard organized a smaller exhibition, which also opens tomorrow, in the space adjacent to the Photography in Canada, 1960–2000 exhibition. PhotoLab2: Women Speaking Art, invites visitors to explore the power of language through 14 video and photographic works by Lorna Boschman, Susan Britton, Sara Diamond, Guerrilla Girls, Jenny Holzer, Mary Kunuk, Shelley Niro, Lorna Simpson, Lisa Steele and Carrie Mae Weems. For more information, please visit the exhibition page.
Meet the expert
At noon on Sunday, April 30, Andrea Kunard, curator of Photography in Canada, 1960–2000, will guide a tour of the exhibition in person. In English. Included in the cost of admission. In the exhibition space.
Adult group visits
Join a private guided tour of the exhibition from Monday, May 1 to Friday, June 30, 2017. Minimum 10 persons. Length: one hour. Admission: $7, with general admission to the Gallery. Reservations required.
In Conversation with Three Women Artists: Sorel Cohen, Suzy Lake, and Susan McEachern
On Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 1 pm, key figures in Canadian photography Sorel Cohen, Suzy Lake, and Susan McEachern, whose careers have spanned over thirty-five years, will sit down with Andrea Kunard, Associate Curator, Canadian Photography Institute, to discuss their artistic practices, as well as their experiences working as women artists in Canada. In English with simultaneous interpretation. In the auditorium. Free admission.
Catalogue
A richly illustrated catalogue, titled Photography in Canada 1960-2000, accompanies the exhibition.Written by Andrea Kunard and published by the Canadian Photography Institute (CPI), it is the first publication to highlight the diversity of photographic practice in Canada during this period of four decades. On sale for $49.00 at the Gallery Boutique or the Boutique online at ShopNGC.ca.
NGC Magazine
NGCmagazine.ca, the National Gallery of Canada's online magazine, is a frequently updated source of information on the Canadian art world and events at the National Gallery of Canada. Correspondents from across the country provide engaging and exclusive content on historical and contemporary art in Canada. This online magazine also includes interviews with artists. Read the article Photography in Canada: A History of Experimentation and Expression, online now.
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Hours
Until April 30th, the Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Thursdays until 8 pm. As of May 1st, the Gallery will be open Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 6 pm, and Thursdays from 9:30 am to 8 pm. For more information call 613-990-1985 or 1-800-319-ARTS.
Admission
Tickets: $12 (adults); $10 (seniors and full-time students); $6 (youth: 12-19); $24 (families: two adults and three youth). Admission is free for children under the age of 12 and for Members. Includes admission to the NGC Collection. Free admission on Thursdays from 5 pm to 8 pm
About the Canadian Photography Institute of the National Gallery of Canada
The Canadian Photography Institute (CPI) is a national research and exhibition centre of excellence devoted to photography. The Institute was established in 2015 and officially launched in October 2016. Its collections build upon the National Gallery's Photographs Collection, with the unprecedented support of CPI's Founding Partner Scotiabank, the Archive of Modern Conflict and the National Gallery of Canada Foundation. More information about the Canadian Photography Institute can be found on the Gallery's website: gallery.ca/cpi
About the National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada is home to the most important collections of historical and contemporary Canadian art. The Gallery also maintains Canada's premier collection of European Art from the 14th to the 21st centuries, as well as important works of American, Asian and Indigenous Art and renowned international collections of prints, drawings and photographs. In 2015, the National Gallery of Canada established the Canadian Photography Institute, a global multidisciplinary research centre dedicated to the history, evolution and future of photography. Created in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada has played a key role in Canadian culture for well over a century. Among its principal missions is to increase access to excellent works of art for all Canadians. For more information, visit gallery.ca and follow us on Twitter @gallerydotca.
About the National Gallery of Canada Foundation
The National Gallery of Canada Foundation is dedicated to supporting the National Gallery of Canada in fulfilling its mandate. By fostering strong philanthropic partnerships, the Foundation provides the Gallery with the additional financial support required to lead Canada's visual arts community locally, nationally and internationally. The blend of public support and private philanthropy empowers the Gallery to preserve and interpret Canada's visual arts heritage. The Foundation welcomes present and deferred gifts for special projects and endowments. To learn more about the National Gallery of Canada Foundation, visit ngcfoundation.ca
SOURCE National Gallery of Canada
For media only: Josée-Britanie Mallet, Senior Media and Public Relations Officer, National Gallery of Canada, 613-990-6835, [email protected]
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