AG's annual report 2009 - Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery

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CURATORIAL REPORT
KW|AG’s curatorial programming always begins as a conversation or exchange of ideas. These conversations begin just about anywhere (the gallery spaces, outside, virtually) and with just about anyone (our colleagues, artists, families, visitors). The most rewarding conversations are the ones that evolve from serendipitous beginnings into projects that inspire engagement from a wider audience. Exchange is a sequence: In May 2009, KW|AG’s Curatorial and Collections Consultant of 7 years, Allan MacKay, left the Gallery to pursue his own artistic processes. I was fortunate to have assisted Allan for four years before assuming the position of Curator of Collections and Exhibitions. As a mentor, Allan taught me to leave room for the unexpected; in essence, to leave room for someone or something else to contribute to our conversations. Under his direction, curatorial activity championed the idea of stories that unfold over time. In 2009, artists Susan Coolen and Andrew Wright contributed the 6th and 7th instalments of our Parochial Views series of commissions. These works join the Gallery’s permanent collection for future generations to contemplate and enjoy. Exchange is a dialogue: 2009 was particularly rich for exhibitions that shone a light on how a shared locale informs our sense of identity, collective memory and sense of agency. New projects under the aegis of our River Grand Chronicles series explored communication within our regional landscape. Whether assuming the role of collector and interpreter of individual narratives (Phil Irish) or crafting a taxonomy equivalent to an alphabet (Susan Coolen), a desire to connect and communicate is always a part of the artist’s role. Part of our role as curatorial staff is to cultivate and highlight the kind of dialogue that can happen between individual artworks. Our 2009 exhibition program included several group exhibitions that addressed site as its curatorial thesis. Some Kind of Wonderful: The 4th KW|AG Biennial, guest curated by Nancy Campbell, assembled work by 11 regional artists transforming our main gallery into a site of wonder. ANTHEM: Perspectives on Home and Native Land, circulated by Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa explored diverse forms of nationhood that make the concept of national accord complex. Exchange is an action: 2009 was an exceptional year for bringing the world to our region. Bringing together 11 Berlin-based artists from around the world, Building Berlin focused on individual artists who have helped cultivate the German capital’s dynamic art scene. Our Art Talks, presented in partnership with the Perimeter Institute, continued to bring international artists to the region, with Janine Antoni and Shirin Neshat presenting their work followed by interviews with Robert Enright in Border Crossings. 2009 also marked a shift in how we involved the community in meaningful conversations via art. KW|AG partnered with Wilfrid Laurier University’s Community Service Learning students for an interactive project engaging the public in conversation about the Gallery’s exhibitions. Look for more information on how this partnership unfolded in next year’s Annual Report. Other conversations with exhibiting artists were captured in interviews posted on our web site and in our exhibition catalogues. Exchange is putting one thing in the place of another: To be a site of exchange is to recognize that partnerships amplify and extend the boundaries of our artistic programming. nowhere if not here, a survey exhibition of work by Guelph-based artist Will Gorlitz, opened in fall 2008 and travelled to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Macdonald Stewart Art Centre (Guelph). The importance of Will’s work resonates in the comprehensive exhibition catalogue, published in partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University Press. KW|AG’s partnerships with arts organizations such as CAFKA and Open Ears were celebrated in exhibitions of work by Janice Kerbel and Janet Cardiff (on loan from the Art Gallery of Ontario), each programmed in conversation with the themes of these biennial events. Crystal Mowry Curator of Exhibitions and Collections Curatorial Report 04
Page 1 and 2: SITE OF EXCHANGE Annual Report 2009
Page 3 and 4: IDEAS THROUGH ART. O ART GALLERY: Y
Page 5: DIRECTOR’S REPORT The Kitchener-W
Page 9 and 10: September 19, 2008 - September 11,
Page 11 and 12: January 15, 2009 - March 22, 2009 A
Page 14 and 15: 11 Clockwise from top left: Janet M
Page 16 and 17: 13 2009 Exhibitions September 18, 2
Page 18 and 19: 15 ARTIST & CURATOR TALKS KW|AG Tal
Page 20 and 21: Permanent Collection Report PERMANE
Page 22 and 23: PUBLIC PROGRAMS & EDUCATION REPORT
Page 24 and 25: DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING REPORT Deve
Page 26 and 27: TREASURER’S REPORT
Page 29: 150 Pinebush Road, P.O. Box 880, Ca
Page 39 and 40: President Judith Stephens-Wells (fr
Page 41 and 42: Director General Alfred M. Bogusky
Page 43 and 44: This list acknowledges contribution
Page 45 and 46: Best Western Orangeville Inn & Suit
Page 47 and 48: “As Director General, it is my pr

AG's annual report 2009 - Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery

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