Spectrum: NBCC 2016 Biennale and Sharing Stories will open in June 2016.
Deadlines for two exhibitions are quickly approaching. Spectrum, the NBCC 2016 Biennale features work by New Brunswick Crafts Council Market Members and Sharing Stories is an exhibition open to Aboriginal artists and craftspeople from the Atlantic Region.
“This is the first time the New Brunswick Crafts Council has organized a showcase of visual arts and crafts by artists of Aboriginal descent,” said NBCC Project Manager Claire Shiplett. “We were approached by the Moncton Public Library about organizing a show in celebration of Aboriginal Heritage Month in Moncton and we were excited about the initiative, seeing an opportunity for growth and a chance to increase our knowledge and awareness.”
The exhibition is a joint effort of the Aboriginal Crafts & Culture Collective, a group created in 2015 to address the under-representation of work by Aboriginal artists in NB public exhibitions. The Aboriginal Crafts & Culture Collective consists of the New Brunswick Crafts Council, JEDI NB, the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design, Valerie Jean, Katie Augustine and Samaqani Cocahq (Natalie Sappier).
“The call is open to artists and craftspeople of Aboriginal descent from the Atlantic Region over 18 years of age, working in any medium,” said Shiplett.
The show will be curated by Aidan Stanley, with assistance from Katie Augustine.
“We believe this is a step in a positive direction for the Crafts Council,” said Shiplett. “It offers a chance to open dialogues and more inclusively follow our mandate by creating opportunities for audiences and makers to discover and engage with the wealth of creative skill in our province.
“We’re going to be working with the various venues to develop programming and workshops to engage the public of all ages with Sharing Stories. The Fredericton Public Library plans to host at least one program a week in relation to the exhibition, ranging from artist talks to storytelling to craft demos to music, and we are working with them to develop an exciting closing reception. The Mayor of Fredericton will also be declaring June Aboriginal Crafts & Culture Month at the Sharing Stories opening.”
Information on the exhibit can be found at www.nbcraftscouncil.ca/exhibitions.
Sharing Stories opens in tandem with Spectrum, April 1st at the Sunbury Shores Arts & Nature Centre. The two exhibits will come together in August for a public showing at Government House in Fredericton.
“We’re very excited to travel these two shows together to create a dynamic experience for audiences and to create a dialogue between the work in the exhibitions,” said Shiplett. “Spectrum is the NBCC’s 2016 Biennale, a survey of work by New Brunswick Crafts Council Market Members.”
The show will have a focus on work where colour or the absence of colour plays a significant role and will be curated by Bronwyn Gallagher.
“This exhibition aims to challenge the viewer to critically think about the effect colour has on their experience of a piece,” she said. “It will also encourage viewers to consider how one piece affects the other within the broad spectrum of design, technique, aesthetic and tradition.
The call is open to NBCC Market Members and can be found at www.nbcraftscouncil.ca/exhibitions.
Sharing Stories | April 1, 2016 at Sunbury Shore Arts & Nature Centre | June 2016 at Moncton and Fredericton Public Libraries | August 2016 at Government House
Spectrum | April 1, 2016 at Sunbury Shore Arts & Nature Centre | June 2016 in Moncton (location TBA) | August 2016 at Government House
