2013 – 2014 Yukon Arts Centre Gallery

Exhibition Guide & School Tours

Jennifer Walden Caribou Trail Acrylic on Canvas

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The Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery brings learning to life by deepening young peoples’ understanding of their environment, history and culture, thus impacting their own personal development. We aim to nurture the next generation of artists by introducing tools to foster visual literacy, encouraging students to find pleasure and meaning in art and to think critically about the array of visual images that surround them.

Yukon Electrical Youth Gallery Calling all youth artists! The Yukon Electrical Youth Gallery displays the works of young Yukon artists in a professional setting. Exhibitions are open to individuals, groups or classes. Please book in advance. The Yukon Electrical Youth Gallery is presented by presented by Yukon Electrical an ATCO Company.

Free Family Art Classes – Kids Kreate Get messy, have fun and learn about art at our monthly Kids Kreate art classes. Every Kids Kreate activity is specially tailored to respond to the materials and methods featured in our current exhibition. This family-friendly event runs one Sunday per month between September and April from 1 pm – 4 pm. Kids Kreate is presented by Yukon Electrical an ATCO Company. Kids Kreate schedule is available online at www.yukonartscentre.com/programs.

Education at Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery

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Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery Table of Contents

Exhibitions

September 12 – November 16, 2013 3, 4

November 28, 2013 – February 22, 2014 5, 6

March 6 – May 10, 2014 7, 8

May 22 – August 23, 2014 9

September 4 – November 29, 2014 10

Volunteer Opportunities 11

Learning Resources 12

Guided Tours & Curriculum Links 13-14

Booking a Tour & Guidelines for Teachers 15

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September 12 – November 16, 2013

Ken Anderson Reflections on Form

In this exhibition of recent work, Ken Ander-son explores unusual materials such as Plexi-glas within the Tlingit style. His work is contemporary while adhering to the high standard and rules of the old masters. He believes that the Northwest Coast art form is both purely creative and limitless from an artist’s point of view. Anderson considers the art form representational of something larg-er than the artist, namely a living culture.

James Nizam Percept

At the heart of James Nizam’s work lies his understanding of the photograph as a “trace”; a documentary image that comes to act as a ruin or a relic, a fragment or a memory, by virtue of its engagement with an altered (and absent) site. Percept will feature new works along with the Vancouver-based artist’s most recent series of work, entitled Trace Heavens. In this series, Ni-zam cut structural incisions into an aban-doned house in order to manipulate the sun into light sculptures, which he then photographed. Intrinsic to all his works is

the idea that the installation or the sculpture is destroyed in the act of demolition, save for the photographic record – making the documentation itself the artwork.

Drill Holes Through Studio

Wall, 2012

Untitled, 2012

Drill Holes Through Studio Wall, 2012

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Yam Lau In Praise of Evanescence: Space, Time and Image of the Everyday Organized by Musée d'art de Joliette Curated by Gaëtane Verna

This exhibition by Toronto artist Yam Lau brings together re-cent works that combine digital video and 3D animation. Us-ing three-dimensional modelling software, Lau constructs do-mestic spaces that overturn conventional representations of space and time. Slowly rotating virtual environments display filmed sequences of the artist in his everyday private life. We are left with moving worlds in which our gaze cannot find any fixed landmark to focus on, but where, paradoxically, familiar acts and objects take on a new dimension. Time seems to have become frozen in an endless present, balanced on the edge of the void.

September 12 – November 16, 2013

Room, 2007-2009

November 28, 2013 – Feb 22, 2014

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Jane Isakson From the Outer Edges From the Outer Edges is a collection of landscape paint-ings by Whitehorse artist Jane Isakson. Her paintings are both representational and exploratory expressions of her experience in the natural world. In this exhibition, the three outer edges of Canada’s west, north and east coasts are represented through three remote National Parks: Gwaii Haanas in Haida Gwaii, Ivvavik in Yukon and Gros Morne in Newfoundland. By emphasizing forms and geometric patterns in the landscape, both real and imagined, Isakson implies a sense of underlying order and meaning in nature.

Sky House SGang Gwaay, 2009

Tanu Gwaii Haanas, 2009

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Jennifer Walden Land at the end of the sticks Based in Yellowknife, Jennifer Walden has a distinctive style that explores Canadian and Northern life through people, wildlife and topography. She works primarily in acrylics, using vibrant colour, rich texture, dynamic line and three-dimensional relief to create a truly sensual experience. Her work is deeply influenced by the natural and human environment, in partic-ular the geography and culture of her immediate surroundings. This body of work was created on the Canol Heritage Trail during a residency at Dechen la – Kaska for “land beyond the sticks.”

November 28, 2013 – Feb 22, 2014

Hills of Dechenla (detail), 2012-2013

Caribou Trail, 2012-2013

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March 6 – May 10, 2014

Michèle Karch-Ackerman Foundling

Known for her stunning exhibition Lost Boys, about soldiers of WWI, Michèle Karch-Ackerman returns to the Yukon Arts Centre to tell the story, stitch by stitch, of her family history. At seventeen, her grandmother became pregnant and was sent to an institution in Montreal called Misericordia – a home for unwed mothers run by an order of Catholic nuns. Foundling honours the secret lives of women who fled to such institutions across Canada from the 1920s to the 1960s. One hundred baby sleepers, created from a vintage 1950s pattern and the curtains that hung in the living rooms of these girls’ homes, will be the central work of the installation.

Helen O’Connor New Works

Yukon visual artist Helen O'Connor makes handmade paper to create sculptural works of art, assemblages and installations. For O’Connor, making paper by hand is a physical connection to the past and to the earth. She uses paper sculpturally to create beautiful organic assemblages and provocative installation work. Helen's art process is informed by her Canadian / Irish heritage, relation-

ships and the wilderness surrounding her home. O'Connor studied visual art at the University of Western Ontario and the Ontario Col-lege of Art, and has exhibited in Canada, U.S.A., Australia and U.K.

Foundling, 2010

Untitled, 2010

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March 6 – May 10, 2014

Rosemary Scanlon The Rose Parade

Known primarily for her whimsical yet dark northern watercol-ours, Whitehorse-based Rosemary Scanlon also creates installations and photographic works. Along with her distinctive paintings, The Rose Parade will introduce some of her lesser-known practic-es, such as large-scale wallpaper. Her work, which she describes as “humorous and mildly unnerving,” has evolved from influ-ences as diverse as medieval tapestry, religious icon paintings, the work of folk artist Henry Darger and vernacular photography. Historical notions of craft, myths of northern / frontier life, nar-rative and composition are reconsidered within the ever-expanding framework of pop culture and the Internet.

Bear Icon, 2013

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May 22 – August 23, 2014

Jim Robb Jim Robb is a well-loved and well-known local artist. He is most recognized for his ‘colourful five percent’ publications and his illustrations of Yukon buildings and landscapes past and pre-sent. Artwork from the Yukon Arts Centre Permanent Art Collection This is a rare opportunity to see the safely stored treasure of the YAC gallery. Due to the limited space in the Public Art Gal-lery we do not often get the opportunity to show all the spec-tacular work in our permanent collection. This exhibition will display selected works from artists such as Pnina Granirer, Mar-lene Creates, and Michael Belmore.

Yukon Arts Centre by Jim Robb, 2012

Join us for our summer exhibitions featuring a solo exhibition of local artist Jim Robb and a curated selection of artworks from the Yukon Art Centre’s Permanent Art Collection. Titles and artworks are yet to be determined; call or email for more information.

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Ice Age Mammals A partnership between Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre and the Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery Join the over 1 million people who have viewed this exhibition across North America and chill out with a great new travelling exhibition on ice-age mammals. This exhibition features dozens of real fossils, touchable casts and specimens along with really cool interactives. Over 90 of the specimens in this show are from the Yukon. Dramatic murals by former Yukon-based palaeoartist George "Rinaldino" Teichmann round out the experience of Ice Age Mammals. Contemporary and relevant research is presented in an engaging way that is designed to appeal to the public and to school audiences. The exhibition focuses on ice-age mammals, climate change, extinction and human impact on climate and species.

All tours must be booked in ad-vance for the Ice Age Mammals exhibit. Please call in to book a school tour. Ice Age Mammals exhibition is a partnership between the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Montreal Science Centre, Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre.

September 4 – November 29,

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Volunteer Opportunities

Do you know of any students who might be interested in: Careers in the arts (theatre technician, curator, educator etc.)? Meeting other members of the community with similar inter-

ests? Learning from experienced arts professionals in a hands on,

challenging and fun environment? The Yukon Arts Centre is more than just a place with art on the walls! There are several different ways volunteers can get involved at the Yukon Arts Centre. Volunteers are needed to help usher theatre shows, assist with gallery exhibition set up and take down, help out with our month-ly family art classes and so much more. Volunteering is a great opportunity to make new friends, see the shows, learn something along the way and have a good time. Volunteers will be given complementary tickets to use at the theatre productions of their choice. Interested? Contact Matt Poushinsky, Volunteer Coordinator, for more information. (867) 667-8699 or matt.poushinsky@yac.ca

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Learning Resources

There are many different ways to access educational activities at the Yukon Arts Centre in addition to guided tours. Art Library The Yukon Arts Centre Gallery Library contains catalogues, refer-ence books and videos on local, national and international con-temporary art. The Yukon Arts Centre and Arts Underground/Yukon Art Society have partnered to bring this collection to the public, with YAC do-nating its art library to the resource room at Arts Underground. The art library can be accessed at Arts Underground, 305 Wood Street Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2E7. The catalogue is available online at http://www.librarything.com/catalog/YAC . Videos The Yukon Arts Centre Video Series brings you behind the scenes with artist interviews, public talks and all the latest news related to upcoming shows. Please check out our blog for current and archived podcasts at http://yukonartscentre.com/blog/category/art_gallery/ .

Virtual Tour of the Permanent Art Collection The Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery has a diverse collection that rarely gets seen. Unfortunately, our facility does not have a permanent space for display of the collection, and the art works spend most of their time hidden away from public view. To make these artworks more accessible to the public, the Yukon Arts Cen-tre has created a online digital exhibition! Explore the collection at http://yukonartscentre.com/gallery/our_collection/ .

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Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery Tour Summary

Curriculum Links for Gallery Tours Visual Arts Language Career Development Society and Culture Comprehensive Tours These tours are designed to examine a broad range of concepts, regardless of what is currently on exhibit, while developing students’ critical thinking and discussion skills. The Art of Discovery 45 minutes – 1 hour View all of our art work in one tour! Students will visit not only the current exhibition in the main Gallery, but will also visit the Community Gallery, Youth Gallery and Sculpture Garden (weather permitting). This tour can also be combined with a visit to the Art Vault and Theatre. The Elements of Art 30 – 45 minutes Discover how artists use the basic elements of line, shape, colour, light and texture to create works of art. This tour is a great introduction to the Gallery and to visual art. Yukon Artists 30 – 45 minutes Every exhibition features at least one Yukon artist. Students can find out how our local landscape, climate and traditions have influenced Yukon artists’ work as compared to the work of southern artists.

Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery Tour Summary

Social Statement 30 minutes – 45 minutes The visual arts define our culture and many artists choose to create work that comment on their surrounding world. This tour is geared towards social studies and language art classes and us-es the exhibition as a stepping-off point for discussing contem-porary issues. The White Glove Tour 45 minutes – 1 hour The Yukon Arts Centre houses not only its own growing permanent art collection, but the Yukon Government collection too. Students are invited into the Art Vault to see and discuss selected pieces in our collection and to discover what makes them so important in our community. Discussions may reflect on the conceptual, historical and technical elements and how they comment on contemporary culture. This tour is specifically for older students or specialized art classes. Art Careers/Behind the Scenes 45 minutes – 1 hour Gain knowledge about the variety of art careers that are available. We will take a behind the scenes look at how an art exhibition comes together, including the types of careers that are available to artists and those working in the visual arts/culture sector.

This tour can also be combined with a tour of the theatre. The theatre tour is given by the Technical Director and it allows the students to experience the theatre’s back stage environment – all the unseen but necessary elements which make a perfor-mance work. Students visit the sound and light booths and see the fly system, workshop, dressing rooms and green room, as well as having general theatre terminology explained to them.

Please be advised that all tours are dependent on the season schedule and may not always be available. It is recommended to book in advance.

Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery Guidelines for Teachers

Please review with students Gallery etiquette. We ask that you please: - Do not bring food or drinks in the Gallery - Leave school bags outside the Gallery - Do not run inside the Arts Centre - Do not touch any parts of the exhibitions - Turn off your cell phones - Respect the space and people within it - Respect each others’ opinions – discussion

and constructive criticism of the art work is one of the most fundamental elements in their Gallery experience, but students must be

considerate

Contact Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery

To book a tour or for more information about Gallery activities please contact: Jessica Vellenga, Community Engagement—Visual Arts (867) 393-7109 or jessica.vellenga@yac.ca

Free Buses to and from Gallery Tours: Funding for buses is available on a first come, first served basis and kindly provided by the City of Whitehorse. Transportation scheduling is the responsibility of the school.

Visit us online at www.yukonartscentre.com