Geoffrey Farmer Studio Visit - Sunday 23 Nov/o8

The CASV had an exceptional turn-out to the Geoffrey Farmer studio visit Sunday, Nov. 23/08. Geoffrey generously opened his home to our 30-odd attendees who were given a tour of the house (a cleverly and minimally renovated 1970's cottage) and the garage studio with sunken concrete floor based on Roman bath-house architecture. Geoffrey spoke of his affinity for the legacy of contemporary art in Vancouver, his experiences mounting installation-based exhibition at institutions such as the Tate in London, England, and about the importance of experience in his work. Geoffrey feels that his installations are moving towards an even more theatrical position than in previous work, and to facilitate this intention, he has recently incorporated 3-d imaging techniques to prepare for exhibitions, and computer programming to invisibly control the "stage performance" of the installation.

Click images to enlarge.

Every think to yourself...gee, I wonder what cool art things are happening today?

TIP: One of the best ways to find out what contemporary art events are happening in town is to subscribe to the Instant Coffee newsletter. Go to www.instantcoffee.org and register for the monthly e-newsletter.

Another way to find out what art-related events are happening in Vancouver is to create a Facebook account and look for art events. Better yet, become friends with someone who seems to always know what's happening and scope out their events in the "friends events" section of FB.

Preview the Gallery Guide is a great overview and a paper-based publication you can pick up at any local gallery. Subscriptions are available to have it delivered directly to your door. The Georgia Straight also does a great job of publishing art events on a weekly basis.

Finally, by joining the Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver for $185/year you are supporting a valuable, longstanding group that since 1971 has provided exclusive access to studio visits with artists, in addition to our lecture series. And don't forget the private receptions for members after our world-class speakers series events at the homes of private collectors and art community members. Plus we sponsor two annual scholarships given to graduating Emily Carr University students.

Join online today www.casv.ca at any time during the year.

Mark Neufeld Studio Visit

 

Photos from the Mark Neufeld Studio Visit, October 19 2008

Althea Thaulberger Studio Visit - Sunday, Oct. 12/08

ALTHEA THAUBERGER - Studio Visit

All current and new members of the CASV are invited to attend a studio visit with artist Althea Thauberger. Sunday, October 12th at 12pm.

Please visit our website events page, or contact the CASV directly for further details.

Photos: BLAINE CAMPBELL studio visit

Photos from the CASV members-only studio visit with artist Blaine Campbell.

Members-only STUDIO VISIT

Join us for a studio visit with artist Blaine Campbell, recipient of the CASV's Emerging Artist Award. 

Blaine Campbell is a Vancouver-based artist working in photography, sculpture, and inter-media. A recent graduate of Emily Carr Institute with a B.F.A. in Photography, he previously completed B.Math. and M.Sc. degrees in mathematics. He recently received the national award in the BMO 1st Art! invitational juried competition and the Emerging Artist Award from the Contemporary Arts Society of Vancouver. 

Blaine is represented by Republic Gallery.

website

Rebecca Belmore Lecture

Rebecca Belmore's talk at the auditorium at the Planetarium was packed and for good reason - her presentation was both delightful and provocative. Ms. Belmore gave a slide show presentation in a theatrical format (with onstage assistant)that reviewed highlights of her past 15 years as an artist. In addition she spoke about her work "Fountain" showing concurrently at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the work that represented Canada at the 2005 Venice Biennale ("the Disneyland of the Art World"). Main themes in her work are the body, feminist issues, cultural disinfranchisment, colonization, and aboriginal issues.

I walked away with some pertinent knowledge about Ms. Belmore's practice as an artist. A key component to her choice and method of performance art is the way it allows her to respond immediately and intuitively to current events and issues. Unlike scripted drama that generally requires significant preparation and rehearsal, Rebecca's theatre is one of improvisation with intention. She often creates a work on the day of the installation or the exhibition. When so many other art mediums are "slow" in production, this approach to art-making is fresh and vital. In fact, she is so responsive to the information around us, she joked that her husband often threatens to ban her from watching the evening news on television at home.

Finally, what was absolutely delightful was to get to know more about Rebecca, the woman. Despite work with typically a heavy-laden and political content, she has a wicked sense of humour that tends towards a light-hearted self-deprecation and a healthy sense of irony.

Rebecca Belmore - LECTURE

Season Opening Lecture with guest artist Rebecca Belmore!

Wednesday September 10th @ 7:00 pm

HR MacMillan Space Centre- Lecture Hall
1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, BC

Members-only reception to follow.

Watch the Shary Boyle Lecture

Shary Boyle Lecture Now Available as Free Online Videocast from Canadian Art on Vimeo.

Shary Boyle in Vancouver

Canadian Art International Lecture Series & the CASv present:

Shary Boyle
Thursday June 5th, 2008, 7pm
HR MacMillan Space Centre- Lecture Hall
1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver

Book signing and members-only reception to follow

CASV Annual Trip!

The Annual CASV trip destination this year is San Francisco! Mark your calendars for Friday May 16th to Monday May 19th. Thanks to Wesley Yuen, we are anticipating an amazing trip. Schedule of events are being finalized, but in the mix are 2 or 3 exclusive private collections, private viewings at 2 of the hottest commercial galleries in the city, CASV tour of 2 public institutions and up to 5 studio visits. There will be a group dinner on Saturday night and 3 nights accommodation at the trendy boutique Hotel Diva www.hoteldiva.com

Package options:

Single occupancy: $1100.00

Double occupancy: $1600.00

*Please note that these prices DO NOT include airfare. Each member is responsible for their own airfare.

*Package includes guided tour to the above destinations, 3 nights hotel accommodation, transportation to venues, one night out to dine with the group.

May 16-19 is an extremely busy weekend in San Fran, so we can only hold our block of CASV group rate hotel rooms for a very short time. To secure your space and avoid disappointment, please RSVP to us immediately with a valid credit card or deposit cheque written out to the Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver.

Last day to confirm your spot with payment is May 1, 2008.

Need more information? Please contact CASV Vice-President Monica Reyes at info@casv.ca

Whitney Biennial 2008

Image: Curators Henriette Huldisch, left, and Shamim Momin amid the installation of Fia Backström's piece at the Whitney. (Photo: Jason Schmidt)

FlashArt's interview with Shamim Momin, co-curator of the Whitney Biennial 2008

SITE Santa Fe's Seventh International Biennial

*click on the fortune cookie for a link to SITE Santa Fe*

Site Santa Fe Biennial

Welcome to New Mexico. Now Create.
article by JORI FINKEL, New York Times, January 28, 2008

bayareaeventphotography.com

Some of the 22 artists who came to Santa Fe, N.M., from different countries to develop site-specific projects for the 2008 Site Santa Fe Biennial.

ERIC METCALFE: Artist Talk

Eric Metcalfe (b. 1940, Vancouver) received a BFA from the University of Victoria in 1970, exhibited at the University of British Columbia with Max Bates in 1967, Victoria Art Gallery with a solo show in 1968 and was included in the Whitney Museum of America Art exhibition of Ray Johnson's New York Correspondence School in 1970.

In 1973 Metcalfe co-founded The Western Front, one of the first pioneering artist run centres in Vancouver, BC. Metcalfe has worked on media based work since the mid 70s including Howard Hughes Inc., Crimetime Video Productions, Stravinsky’s Soldier's Tale in 1987 engaging sets, props and costumes, The Attic Project and, most recently, Laura (2004), a traveling installation/theatre piece, and Curtain Razors (2007).
Metcalfe’s work is in major collections including the National Gallery. He has been awarded the V.I.V.A. award in 1992, The Victor Martin Lynch-Staunton Award in 2000 and The Audain Foundation Award in 2006. He was Visiting Artist to The University of British Columbia’s undergraduate/graduate program in fine arts in 2006-2007.

The evening concluded with a members-only reception.

Pictures from Studio Visit with Susanna Blunt

SUSANNA BLUNT: Studio Visit

Internationally acclaimed as a portrait artist, Susanna Blunt created the new portrait of H.M. Queen Elizabeth ll for the Royal Canadian Mint. The new image was created in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee and has been used on all new Canadian coins.

Her contemporary art is influenced firstly by nature, observed, collected, drawn and photographed, but also by other arts, primitive, ancient and modern, from many cultures including Asia, Africa and Australia.

Susanna was educated in Canada and in Europe. She now lives in West Vancouver B.C., Canada. She produces art in a wide variety of styles, from realistic, to abstract contemporary art.