Lights out - Toronto Pearson International Airport

ART EXHIBITIONS
and
Because there’s plenty to take in before and after your flight.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Passengers and airport staff can take a tour of the
unseen world of ballet by visiting a new exhibition in
Terminal 1. Behind the Scenes brings together items
from The National Ballet of Canada’s current productions as well
as historical items from the Archives of The National Ballet of
Canada.
The exhibition goes beyond the traditional images of
ballerinas in tutus and showcases the athleticism and artistry of
The National Ballet of Canada’s dancers, and how they transform
into dramatic stage characters. It explores how every ballet
production is realized by a cast of artistic individuals working
behind the scenes. Costumes, photographs, lighting plans and
dance notation are included in the show. One of the most eyecatching
features of the exhibition is a display case fi lled with
pointe shoes. The huge pile represents the number of shoes that
a dancer typically wears out in a year.
Behind the Scenes is not only an engaging exhibition, but it
also refl ects the Greater Toronto Airports Authority’s commitment
to community partnerships. All of the items are on loan from The
National Ballet of Canada. This partnership made sense because
the ballet has extensive archives, but exhibiting those materials
is not part of their core mandate. ”The National Ballet of Canada
is so pleased to be able to share its story with the public through
photos and costumes from our magnificent productions as well
as historical items from our Archives,” says Karen Kain, Artistic
Director of The National Ballet of Canada.
The show is curated by students in the graduate program in
Museum Studies at the University of Toronto, and is the students’
final project of their degree. The students were mentored by Lee
Petrie, GTAA Curator (and herself a graduate of the Museum
Studies program). Says Petrie, “My job was to guide them
through the process and provide them with the experience of
creating content, working with a graphic designer, and with
exhibit fabricators and installers. I’m really pleased to have been
able to offer this opportunity to the next generation of museum
professionals. They did an outstanding job and developed a very
polished exhibition.”
Mila Dechef-Tweddle, one of the student curators, noted
that while there were challenges, the process allowed them to
put theory into practice and adds an impressive piece to their
resumes. She says, “This was a great way to wrap up our degree.
We were able to apply the theory we learned in coursework and
produce a really professional exhibition. The best part was being
able to partner with such great organizations as the National
Ballet of Canada and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.
Working alongside professionals on the project proved to be one
of the biggest advantages as we were able to benefit and learn
from their experience and expertise.”
The final product has resulted in a great experience for
graduate students and increased exposure for The National
Ballet of Canada. But most importantly, it provides passengers
with the opportunity to step into the world of ballet without
leaving the airport.
Behind the Scenes is curated by Mila Dechef-Tweddle,
Valerie Gapp, Kathryn McKenzie, and Colleen Quigley. The
show is on display in the Malton Airport Gallery at Terminal 1.
The gallery is above the Canada Arrival Hall in the public area
of the airport. Travel documents are not required to view the
exhibition.
Special thanks to Adrienne Neville and Sharon Vanderlinde
of The National Ballet of Canada Archives for helping to make
this show possible.
MAKING CONTACT
“Opening Night” is part of Pastoral Portraits, currently on exhibit in
the Airspace Gallery.
On May 1, two new photography exhibitions opened
in Terminal 1 as part of Toronto’s annual CONTACT
Photography Festival. This is the third year of the
GTAA-CONTACT partnership, and is a key element in the GTAA’s
ongoing efforts to support major city festivals, and to showcase
local artists.
In the Airspace Gallery (Level 2, above Canada Arrivals)
Pastoral Portraits: Rob MacInnis and Geoff Fitzgerald is
curated by Lee Petrie, GTAA Curator. Fitzgerald’s photographs
provide an intimate view of beekeeping, while MacInnis’ farm
animal portraits capture the sometimes disconcertingly human
individuality of each creature. Pastoral Portraits not only reveals
the narrative that each artist applies to his subject, but also
inspires meditation on our increasingly disconnected and
ambivalent relationship with animals and the natural world.
Michael’s Flomen’s Event in the Landscape is installed
along the moving sidewalk in Pier E (Domestic Departures).
His work reveals a universe of occurrences as he captures
forces of nature such as circling fireflies, flowing water and
falling snow. Working at night, Flomen places photo paper
under water or on land amidst the climatic effects of the
environment. While the resulting imagery is beyond Flomen’s
full control, he has mastered his technique to create astounding
and powerful, camera-less photographs that reflect what we
do not normally see but intuitively recognize as familiar. This
exhibition is organized by CONTACT, an annual, month-long
photography festival, which features over 1000 local, national
and international artists at more than 220 venues across
the Greater Toronto Area in May. For more information, visit
www.contactphoto.com.
Toronto Pearson Today First Quarter 2009 17