Jasmine from Grasse

Jasmine from Grasse in a new form for the Art Gallery of Alberta group show, Scent of Movement Scents of Past, until December 31st, featuring the work of Abbis Akhavan, Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik, Millie Chen & Evelyn von Michalofski, Brian Goeltzenleuchter and Rolande Souliere. Curated by Lindsey Sharman.

Our huge thanks to Lindsey and the AGA team, our thanks and gratitude as ever to Marta, Carlos, Edward, Amber, Lisa and Bruce who generously allow us to share a long ago moment through its particular scent. And to this project’s collaborators, Master Perfumer Irene Schnell and Professor of Psychology Glen Bodner, and the Esker Foundation who first commissioned the work.

Photography Charles Cousins

Sunset / Sunrise in Melbourne

If you're planning a trip to Melbourne this year, Sunset/Sunrise is now showing at the State Library Victoria as part of Handmade Universe: From craft to code and the spaces between until February 2023 curated by Linda Short & Bethan Johnson. Sunset/Sunrise takes us on a 24 hour journey across thousands of cities, oceans and continents via two screens, on one the name of a place where the sun is setting at that exact moment, simultaneously on the other where the sun is rising, each changing every 30 seconds as the live events take place.

"If we pause to encounter Sunset/Sunrise in the exhibition, we can’t help but think about our position on the planet. We become the pivot point between the two places named on the screens, while the shifting atlas they ignite in our mind allows us to sense the distance between them and the speed at which the world turns in real time. Unlike Blaeu’s map or Ptolemy’s thesis, Sunset/ Sunrise is not recording the workings of the universe but creating a moment of personal encounter with them. We can follow the course of time, imagine faraway places with evocative names, or wait for the sun to come up on a distant loved one.” Curator Linda Short.

Fellow artists : Atong Atem, Deanna Hitti, Ben Hutchings, Kate Just, Donna Kendrigan, Mandy Nicholson , Lucy Simpson, Sarah Spencer.

Exhibition Producer Kate McHugh, expert coder Evan Gillespie and producer Candace De Vuyst.

Photo credits: Christian Capurro

New Artwork The Gathering Place Opens In Scotland

We are so pleased to announce the official opening of The Gathering Place, a new major public artwork for Scotland in the heart of the Highland Capital, Inverness.

Found along the banks of the iconic River Ness, the artwork was a collaboration with KHBT and it was an opportunity to revisit the river's social role within the fabric of the city and celebrate its distinct character.

A short walk upstream from the centre of Inverness, 'The Gathering Place' creates a sense of place that draws your attention to the nature and character of the River Ness. Framed on both banks, Clashach stone encircles a portion of the river along the water's edge. The simple contour of stone transitions from bench-like platform to a pier where it reaches out to offer views upstream in the direction of Loch Ness and back towards the Castle and heart of the city.

The project is indebted to the craft and skill of Beauly based Simpsons Builders who undertook construction of the work and the people of Inverness who participated in the design process and stuck with the project throughout the pandemic delays to make this permanent addition to the historic River Ness for all citizens and visitors to enjoy.

Photo courtesy Robert Ormerod

Dale Hodges Park Received the Jury's Award of Excellence

We are delighted to share that Dale Hodges Park is a recipient of the Awards of Excellence for 2021 from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects.

Dale Hodges Park received the National Award for Large-Scale Public Landscapes and was also selected to receive the highest honour, the Jury’s Award of Excellence, which is awarded to one project annually that best demonstrates the CSLA’s vision - that of advancing the art, science, and practice of landscape architecture.

This project was one of the largest undertakings for Watershed+ and is the culmination of many disciplines collaborating together. Led by Watershed+ Lead Artist, Sans façon, this project involved multiple City of Calgary departments, Public Art, Parks, and Water, in collaboration with O2 Planning + Design, Source2Source, AECOM, and Wilco Contractors Southwest.

Dynamic Environment Exhibition

The Watershed+ Dynamic Environment Lab was developed to explore the intricate and delicate relationship we have with our watershed. It's an unconventional initiative that embedded artists into the systems and processes of Calgary's Utility and Environmental Protection Department. The lab facilitated beneficial exchanges of perspectives while fostering a collaborative relationship between artists and city employees throughout the development of new art works.

Dynamic Environment, hosted by Contemporary Calgary, is the culmination of the lab and presents a selection of works from the five DE Lab artists: Becky Shaw, Steve Gurysh, Peter von Tiesenhausen, Tim Knowles, and Stokley Towles. Each artist worked in vastly different mediums to explore various aspects of our watershed and extensive infrastructure.

Opening night of the exhibition featured a panel discussion moderated by amery Calvelli with Watershed+ lead artists Sans façon and the DE Lab artists. This intimate discussion recounted the history and creation of the lab as well as the artists' experiences of operating within a city department. It highlighted the successes and challenges of working in this non-traditional way and how it has affected the perception of what public art can be, in Calgary and abroad.

Dynamic Environment is on view at Contemporary Calgary until January 5, 2020.

Photograph courtesy Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye.