Many things happened over the past year, and to celebrate we reached out to the community to find out what made an impact here and across the province. The top fives include highlights from the world of art, literature, history and film, and are a way to look forward to 2018 by looking back at what we saw in 2017.
1. Opening of the Remai Modern in Saskatoon
By any measure, this is one of the most significant art events of 2017. The City of Saskatoon was tenacious in its pursuit of a new gallery, and in the end created a breathtaking facility that garnered praise, awards and controversy!
The building is an architectural delight. Designed by KPMB Architects it is dramatic and sparkling with glass from floor to ceiling, but it features a geometry of rectangular shapes and 90 degree angles that is a signature contrast to the flowing lines of a Frank Gehry style of art museum, as in Balboa, Spain, and emulated by the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton.
Lead patron Ellen Remai donated $15 million toward construction, $15 million for international exhibition programs and also donated arguably the world’s most comprehensive collection of Picasso linocut prints, valued at $20 million, to the gallery’s permanent collection. A remarkable resource for the whole province.
2. David Garneau: Tawatina LRT Bridge commission and public art project
Métis artist David Garneau is an associate professor of art at the University of Regina. Godfrey Dean Gallery showed his exhibition Along the Carleton Trail in 2008. A speaker and painter who’s shown widely nationally and internationally, it’s Garneau’s first public art commission.
The $295,000 commission — the vast majority of which will go to production, materials, installation and conservation — is part of the Edmonton Arts Council’s program that assigns one per cent of capital projects to new public art.
A spiral of cranes, schools of fish, ancient pots and a beaver with the familiar Hudson’s Bay Company colours long ago borrowed from the locals — these are just a few of the 400 bold images that will adorn the $65-million Tawatina LRT bridge’s pedestrian path.
3. 50th anniversary of Voice of Fire
The mere mention of Barnett Newman’s modernist painting can still raise an indignant response in Canada! Fifty years ago it was created for the American pavilion at Expo ’67, and exhibited without controversy or concern. Later in 1990 it was purchased by the National Gallery of Canada for $1.76 Million, which at the time seemed like an outrageous price to many people, especially given the simplicity of the work.
Two things make this 50 year anniversary in 2017 notable. First is the fact that the painting was recently valued at $50 Million US, a dramatic increase that few other government investments can match! And testimony to the acuity of the National Gallery selection committee. Second is the connection to Saskatchewan: Barnett Newman was one of the first and most famous American artists who came here to teach at the Emma Lake Artist’s Workshops in 1959. He made an indelible mark on Saskatchewan art history, along with prominent New York art critic Clement Greenberg.
4. John Waters Comes To Regina
Legendary and much-loved American filmmaker and author John Waters (best known for his feature films Hairspray, Pink Flamingos, and many others) came to Regina to give a 90-minute talk on June 24, 2017 at Westminster United Church followed by a VIP reception and book signing.
John Waters’ talk was part of the special project John Waters Visits Regina, which ran from June 14 to 24, 2017 and included all of Mr. Waters’ films. Other screenings, performances and talks with special guests including acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Bruce LaBruce and performance artists Shawna Dempsey, Lori Milan, and Lex Vaughn providing a Canadian and international perspective on the outrageously imaginative themes and characters in Mr. Waters’ films.
With screenings, performances, and talks — and of course John Waters himself — this was Regina’s most talked about event of the year and a rare occasion to see and meet one of film’s most original visionaries.
5. Canada 150 Mural Mosaic – Yorkton!
As one of the dozens of communities across Canada participating in the Canada 150 Mosaic project, the City of Yorkton and Godfrey Dean Art Gallery were proud to host painting sessions in September and inviting everyone to participate.
In just over two days, hundreds of school children and family members came to the Godfrey Dean Cultural Centre for one-hour workshops to create 600 tiles. At the peak time, there were over 70 people in the same session!
Schools including Dr. Brass, Dreambuilders, St. Michael’s, Columbia, Yorkdale and St. Alphonsus plus community groups like Boys and Girls Club, SaskAbilities and the Army Cadets all took part.
This mosaic portrayal of Yorkton consists of individual tiles painted with designs that visually depict what living in Yorkton means to each of us as individuals. The tiles form mural that’s 8 feet tall and 14 feet wide that links us to the rest of Canada.
The mural is located in the Gallagher Centre lobby stairwell.
