SHAC proposal Alleyway project Figure skating ... - The Ontarion

FEB. 25 - MAR. 3, 2010 THEONTARION.CA6ARTS & CULTUREThe Alleyway ProjectCS Galleries respondsto the lack of artspace downtown bycreating their ownZACK MACRAE“All these works are eventuallygoing to be stolen or destroyed,”said Miles Stemp, co-curator of arather experimental, rather cheekyproject that will display (maybefor a very short time) the works often local artists in the downtownlocale.The Alleyway Project isthe latest CS Galleries efforthappening this Saturday, Feb. 27from 3-6pm. The project will takethe viewer out of the confinesof the white washed walls of atraditional gallery space and leavehim/her standing in an alleyway,map in hand, looking for worksthat may not be immediatelyapparent.With this project, CS Galleriesis extending its practice of mobileart space, promoting a newattitude toward the space that artis presented in.On Saturday, at 115 WoolwichSt, Stemp, along with co-curatorsAnthony Cooper and JamesGardner, will be handing outmaps that will guide viewers likea treasure map to ten uniqueoutdoor sites where work will bepresented.“I’ve always liked these old,forgotten, boarded up spaces …These spaces were not beingused and we thought that theywere beautiful and forgotten,”said Stemp about the locationsof some of the exhibits. In trueD.I.Y. fashion, CS Galleries hasbeen prepping some of thesespaces by white washing the brickwalls of the alleyways to create adeconstructed version of a galleryspace.Sam Silversides, an artistsbeing featured in one of thesetemporary spaces, commented onthe implications of the project:“I see it as bringing updialogue between more formal ortraditional art and graffiti. It’s niceto kind of explode a traditionalreception place by taking formalthings outside on the wall whereyou might just normally see somenoodles’ graffiti tag.”Silversides has installed arather large text piece on the wallof a neglected courtyard nearthe Speed River walkway. Whenasked how he felt about theeventual destruction of his workGet a startearly.due to harsh outdoor elements,Silversides said, “It’s not reallytoo upsetting. I try not to be toosentimental about it. Because ofthe lack of space in the city, asan artist you kind of reach out towhat you can get.”With the outdoor galleryspaces, CS is commenting on theavailability of artist space in thecity. With the majority of studentgallery space in Guelph beingeither torn down or evacuated,CS pushes it one step further withthese guerilla galleries.By presenting work in theseotherwise overlooked areas of thecity, CS is redefining these spacesCourtesyand turning them into temporaryart space.Also, by showing workalongside graffiti, CS blurs thelines between art and vandalism,asking the viewer to define graffitiand to think about what makessomething graffiti and whatmakes another thing art.The maps will be handedout at 3pm in the CS Galleriesheadquarters where participantsare encouraged to mingle with theartists who will all be present totalk about and explore this uniqueshow.At Athabasca University, our transfer credits can help you expand your academic options. Just ask www.athabascau.ca/standout1-800-788-9041