Barb Hunt Interview

I recently conducted the following interview for Toronto Craft Alert, a contemporary craft blog and excellent local art and craft resource. Barb Hunt is a Newfoundland-based artist and educator, whose work I was lucky enough to be introduced to by a beloved teacher in art school a few years ago. Her political and often poignant work employs craft processes to explore rituals of mourning and address the devastation of war.  

For more on Barb and her work, seek out the excellent book By Hand: The Use of Craft in Contemporary Art edited by Shu Hung and Joseph Magliaro, or check out Barb's website: http://www.barbhunt.com

http://torontocraftalert.ca/2009/05/29/question-for-crafters-barb-hunt/

Pictured:  The Old Lie, seams from used army fatigues, 3.5 X 8 m (2007) Installation at Stride Gallery, Calgary

Photo credit: Hutch Hutchinson

Alice and Dali

A pretty damn great picture of rock god Vincent Furnier a.k.a. Alice Cooper with father of surrealism Salvador Dali during a 1973 performance.  Cooper, quoted in Spin Magazine:

"Dali was our rock star; he was our patron saint.  By 1971 or 1972, Alice Cooper and Bowie were the only artistic things going on (in rock'n'roll), so he looked at what we did as surrealism.  But I was nowhere near his league.  He made me the straight man.  So there's a three-day shoot for the hologram and finally a small press conference where he says, "This is the Alice Cooper brain," and pulls out a ceramic brain with a chocolate eclair stuck to it and covered with ants that spell out ALICE AND DALI.  I asked him if I could have it and he said 'Of course not- it's worth millions.'  And he made it the night before.  Stayed up all night making the Alice Cooper Brain."

"That's definitely in the top five things that ever happened to me.  And by the way, no one knows where the brain is.  It's my holy grail, so if you find it let me know."

Half Cat, Half Raccoon

Here is a illustration I stayed up finishing late last night for a my pal/co-worker Mark's forthcoming children's book of prose...there will be at least a few more where this came from.  I'll be sure to post them as they materialise...

PS:  Marion Street is off of Roncesvalles Avenue.

Lookit, Lookit, Lookit at Harbourfront Centre

It's a little late to be posting about this seeing as the opening happened already, but Lookit, Lookit, Lookit is up and is going on until June 21st in York Quay Centre's South Vitrines.  See the following for more information...

Lookit, Lookit, Lookit

Curated by Melanie Egan

May 9th-June 21st, 2009

York Quay Centre, Harbourfront 

Eight Canadian artists muse on perception in this exhibition that asks what it is that captures our interest long enough to formulate opinion, describe a viewpoint, or gain insight. So many things are not what they seem – a mere glance is just not enough. Curated by Melanie Egan. Exhibition works include:

Chet Domanski - In remote areas of the Alberta wilderness, oil and gas wells keep the province’s economy moving. These wells are given new prominence through the creation of stunning bracelets that are machined from worn production tubing used at the wells. Each bracelet has a tag with a geographic reference point to allow the owner to find the location of the well.

Tara Bursey – Onion and garlic skins are employed to create a series of women’s gloves. Common food waste such as corn silk and garlic stems serve as embellishments while evoking anatomical details, skin conditions and cosmetic flaws. The gloves, while serving as an attractive foil, allude to the fragility and strength of the human body and the temporal nature of all living things.

Candice Ring - Functional porcelain vessels are influenced by nature, figure and history. Voluminous forms, rich surfaces and reference to 18th century English earthenware all play a part in the objects. Ring’s processes are similar to that of a tailor; cutting, darting, altering and mending fine porcelain are techniques used to give character and grace to each piece.

Also featuring works by Nadia Li Chai, Barb Hunt, Sarah Troper, Rachael Wong, and Arounna Khounnoraj.

For more information, and information about other shows happening at York Quay Centre this month, consult the Harbourfront Centre website.