"Signals in the Dark: Art in the Shadow of War"

Signals in the Dark: Art in the Shadow of War
January 17th to March 2nd, 2008

Opening Reception
Wednesday January 16th
5 to 7 pm at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery
6 to 9 pm at the Blackwood Gallery
A free shuttle bus will depart from Hart House at 7pm and return at 9pm


Signals in the Dark: Art in the Shadow of War is an inter-disciplinary project exploring contemporary art’s relationship to war and its representations. A collaboration between the Blackwood Gallery (University of Toronto at Mississauga) and the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery (Hart House, University of Toronto), this project includes an exhibition of seventeen international artists at two university gallery locations, a forty-day film/video program, a catalogue, and a public symposium.

Investigating the interstices between perpetual war, dominant politics, and military aesthetics, this project confronts issues of global warfare, how it is imaged, and how it is imagined. Curated by Séamus Kealy, the exhibition presents artists who are responding to these representations of war through informed critique. While a number of artists produce analyses or outraged expressions arising from their own or others’ experiences of war, other artists challenge the spectacle of contemporary war, its veracity and, ultimately, its intertwinement with a New World Order.

Exhibition:
Maja Bajević (Bosnia)

Omer Fast (Israel/USA)
Annie MacDonell (Canada)

Dominique Blain (Canada)
Kendell Geers (South Africa)

Anri Sala (Albania)
Bureau d'etudes (France)

Johan Grimonprez (Belgium)
Sonja Savić (Serbia)

Paul Chan (USA)
Jamelie Hassan (Canada)

Sean Snyder (USA/Germany)
Köken Ergun (Turkey)

Kristan Horton (Canada)
Ron Terada (Canada)

Harun Farocki (Germany)
Abdel-Karim Khalil (Iraq)


Symposium (Friday January 25th): Expanding the subject of the exhibition, the symposium includes WJT Mitchell (University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA), Stephen Eisenman (Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA), Boris Groys (ZKM, Karlsruhe, Germany), Brigitte van der Sande (Independent Curator, Netherlands), and Allan Harding MacKay (Artist, Canada).
A free shuttle bus will depart from Hart House at 1pm and return at 8pm

Catalogue: To be released at the symposium event, the catalogue includes illustrations of the artworks as well as essays on art, war, and representations of terror by Boris Groys, Séamus Kealy, Gene Ray, and Brigitte van der Sande.

Film/Video Program: Twenty-five films and videos by international artists and directors will be presented at both galleries throughout the exhibition.

All programming and events are free of admission.

To reserve a seat on the shuttle buses, please call the Blackwood Gallery at 905-828-3789


Support generously provided by The Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, The Connaught Committee, University of Toronto, The Jackman Humanities Institute at the University of Toronto, The Centre for Studies of the United States, The Institute of Communication and Culture, Office of the Vice-Principal/Research (UTM), The Centre for Visual and Media Culture, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, UTM Residence Life, Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Goethe-Institut

For more information, please visit http://www.blackwoodgallery.ca/

Blackwood Gallery3359 Mississauga Rd. N.,
Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6
Tel: (905) 828-3789

Fax: (905) 569-4262

2007 Graduate Exhibitions

For Immediate Release

2007 Graduate Exhibitions

Exhibition 1
March 1 – March 11, 2007
Reception: Wednesday, February 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Exhibition 2
March 15 – March 25, 2007
Reception: Wednesday, March 14, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

This year marks the thirty-sixth anniversary of the Art and Art History Program. In 1971, Sheridan joined with the University of Toronto's Erindale College to establish what became Canada's first collaborative fine art program between a college and a university.

On exhibit will be artwork realized in a broad range of media including photography, painting, print, digital technologies, drawing, sculpture and installation. The students explore the technical, expressive and metaphoric possibilities of each media to probe such diverse concerns as contemporary and historical art practices, popular culture, beauty, identity, sexuality, cultural background, and social and political issues with humour, seriousness, and often, great acuity.

Graduates of the Art and Art History Program earn both a Diploma in Art and Art History from Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning and a four-year Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto at Mississauga. Both full-time and part-time study is possible. The Art and Art History Program gives each graduate a flexible base from which to pursue a career in the broad spectrum of the arts community. Graduates may wish continued involvement with education such as teaching at the secondary or post-secondary level, or may pursue graduate studies in studio or art history leading to an M.F.A. or an M.A. degree.

Graduates work as practicing artists exhibiting their work in artist-run, public, and private galleries both nationally and internationally. Production careers also have included activities in commercial art that include graphic design, advertising, or art direction. With its strong historical format, this program also enables one to develop a career in museology, gallery curatorship, restoration, or art criticism.

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 11 to 5 pm and Sunday 1 to 5 pm

For additional information, please visit http://www.blackwoodgallery.ca

For more information please contact either the Blackwood Gallery at 905-828-3789 or Art and Art History Program Coordinator, Louise Noguchi, at 905-845-9430, x 8786.

Emerging Viennese artists rewrite their cultural history in Canada, again

Unterspiel opens January 17, 2007...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Unterspiel

An exhibition (and related performances) by contemporary Viennese artists:

Patrick Baumüller & Severin Hofmann, Catrin Bolt, Marlene Haring, monochrom, and Hans Schabus

Opening Reception: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 from 6 – 9 p.m. -- Artists in attendance

A free shuttle bus departs the Gladstone Hotel --- 1214 Queen St. W., Toronto at 6 pm (returning 9 pm)

Exhibition runs January 18 to February 25, 2007
monochrom Performance: Wednesday February 7, 2007



Hans Schabus, Western, 2000
video documentation, 2002. Courtesy of the artist


This is the second, much anticipated installment of Unterspiel after its inaugural exhibition at Vancouver’s Contemporary Art Gallery in 2005.

Featuring the work of five contemporary Viennese artists/artist groups, Unterspiel explores the problematics of contemporary art production in Vienna. The works in this exhibition demonstrate a specific, sometimes belated relation to a tradition of avant-gardism that has its origins in fin de siecle Vienna. At the same time, they sometimes paradoxically take issue with the provocative actions of the Viennese Actionists (1960s). In the wake of the Actionists’ inherently political and violent work, contemporary Viennese art often engages in socio-political issues concerning notions of Austrian identity, or in confrontation to political and/or art institutions. A catalogue with a text by Séamus Kealy accompanies the exhibition.

Hans Schabus, who represented Austria at the 2005 Venice Biennale, presents the video installation Western, a complex work that questions post-war Viennese identity. In this work, Schabus boats through the famous catacomb sewers beneath Vienna, where Orson Welles had evaded authorities in the 1949 film, The Third Man.

Severin Hofmann & Patrick Baumüller transplant a clichéd image of Austrian culture with their ongoing Würstlstand project, shown in the gallery on video. These artists set up mobile traditional Viennese hotdog stands as a site of intersecting cultural identities.

Catrin Bolt & Marlene Haring present individual installations that follow on their collaborative work. These young artists have made provocative video and performance work, such as the 2003 video, Call Boys, involving male prostitutes, and recent performances in politically-charged contexts such as government buildings.

monochrom invites volunteers drawn from the audience to be buried alive. With a small, private graveyard set up in the gallery, willing individuals may come to experience their own mortality. Events scheduled for Wednesday, February 7. A monochrom installation is also part of the exhibition.

IMAGE BAR programming alongside the exhibition includes: The Third Man, contemporary Austrian film, and films selected by the participating artists.

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 11 to 5 pm and Sunday 1 to 5 pm.

For more information, please contact Curatorial Assistant, Milena Placentile, at the Blackwood Gallery (905.828.3789 / m.placentile [at] utoronto.ca) or visit the website: http://www.blackwoodgallery.ca.

The Blackwood Gallery gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Austrian Cultural Forum in Ottawa, Simple Alternative Funeral Centres, and the Gladstone Hotel.

Another glowing review!

We're very happy that NOW Magazine also loved the show!


Have -you- had a chance to see it yet? There are only a few days left!

Terence liked it!

Here’s some cool news:

In the latest Akimblog, Terence Dick took some time to share his thoughts about 18:Beckett and his impressions were very positive. We're thrilled!

Re-posted from Akimblog, Toronto, December 7, 2006.



The big name group show (including heavy hitters like Gary Hill and Stan Douglas) at the Blackwood Gallery is currently tempting downtowners to make the trek out to U of T’s Mississauga campus. The exhibition, 18:Beckett, marks Samuel B’s 100th birthday and is as intriguing and problematic as these sorts of thematic mash-ups go. My knowledge of the Irish writer’s oeuvre is limited to a couple plays, a novel and the pop cultural trivia his name inspires, so I didn’t try too hard to connect each work to SB (though I’m sure curator Séamus Kealey attempts it in his catalogue essay and, if you’re interested, the whole text is available as a pdf on the gallery’s website). The highlight for me was finally seeing Bruce Nauman’s Clown Torture, though I always imagined it to be significantly more torturous. Actually, the most fun was tracking down half the exhibit (spread as it is over five sites) to a discreetly marked door that housed offices for a now abandoned library. Hooray for alternative spaces!

Visit Akimblog by clicking here.

Ride the Beckett Bus from downtown Toronto!

We’ve just added another Beckett Bus! Now there’s no excuse to miss this fantastic exhibition ;-)

BUS SCHEDULE #2
(Serving downtown Toronto)

2:30 pm pick up -- Gladstone Hotel
...........................1214 Queen Street West, Toronto
3:00 pm drop off -- Blackwood Gallery (Kaneff Centre)
...........................University of Toronto at Mississauga
...........................3359 Mississauga Rd N
4:30 pm pick up .-- Blackwood Gallery (Kaneff Centre)
...........................University of Toronto at Mississauga
...........................3359 Mississauga Rd N
5:00 pm drop off -- Gladstone Hotel
...........................1214 Queen Street West, Toronto

To accommodate what we hope will be a bus load of people [make that TWO bus loads of people!], Seamus will offer two tours. The first will take place from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm, and the second will take place from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm.

All of this is happening on Sunday, December 17, so mark it down on your calendars and plan to join us!

Ride the Beckett Bus!

What are you doing on Sunday, December 17, 2006?

We’ve coordinated a FREE Mississauga shuttle bus to the Blackwood Gallery because we’d love for you to enjoy a tour of 18:Beckett led by gallery curator, Seamus Kealy.

This will be the last weekend 18:Beckett is available before it closes on Thursday, December 21, so if you haven't already had a chance to view this innovative exhibition of contemporary art inspired by the work of Samuel Beckett, this is the perfect opportunity!

We’ve arranged three pick up and drop off points throughout Mississauga -- all you need to do is meet us, and we’ll do the rest!


BUS SCHEDULE

12:00 pm pick up -- Cawthra Community Centre (front doors)
.............................1399 Cawthra Road
12:20 pm pick up -- Square One - Go station terminal
.............................100 City Centre Dr. (Rathburn Rd. & Duke of York Blvd)
12:40 pm pick up -- South Common Mall (bus terminal)
.............................2126 Burnhamthrope Rd W.
1:00 pm drop off .-- Blackwood Gallery (Kaneff Centre)
.............................University of Toronto at Mississauga
.............................3359 Mississauga Rd N
3:00 pm pick up .-- Blackwood Gallery (Kaneff Centre)
.............................University of Toronto at Mississauga
.............................3359 Mississauga Rd N
3:20 pm drop off. -- South Common Mall (bus terminal)
.............................2126 Burnhamthrope Rd W.
3:40 pm drop off .-- Square One - Go station terminal
.............................100 City Centre Dr. (Rathburn Rd. & Duke of York Blvd)
4:00 pm drop off .-- Cawthra Community Centre (front doors)
.............................1399 Cawthra Road


The tour will take place between 1:00 – 2:30 pm. Admission to the gallery is always free.

For further information, please visit http://www.blackwoodgallery.ca or call 905.828.3789.

Dorothy Cross, Chiasm
(video stills), 1999

18:Beckett tour

Have you been wondering about those strange sounds emanating from the former UTM library? Have the strobe lights flashing from behind the curtain of the e-Gallery stimulated your curiosity?

Join curator Séamus Kealy for a tour of the exhibition 18:Beckett!

The tour starts at 12:00 pm on November 22, 2006. To join in, meet Séamus at the Martin Arnold space of the eGallery, and from there you’ll move on to see works at the Blackwood Gallery, the former UTM library, and affixed to the exterior of the South Building.

This tour is taking place as part of a symposium featuring presentations by international and local guest speakers.

Remember: all students, staff, faculty, and visitors are welcome to attend both the tour and the symposium, which is taking place in CCT 0150 from 10 am – 5 pm.

We look forward to seeing you there!

18:Beckett

Opening Lecture (followed by Opening Reception):
Wednesday November 8th, 4 pm
A free bus leaves the Hart House (U of T Downtown) at 3 pm for the lecture
A free bus leaves the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St. W, Toronto) at 6 pm for the opening

Exhibition runs from November 9 – December 21, 2006

18:Beckett is an interdisciplinary exhibition project marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nobel Prize-winning Irish writer Samuel Beckett. The title refers to the eighteen years since Beckett’s death and the eighteen sites where this project will take place in Mississauga and Toronto. These sites and events are an artist’s lecture, eight artist projects, six weekly film/video art events, a film screening evening, a symposium and performance, and a publication; all of which arise out of Beckett’s legacy.

Events are free of admission and have free shuttle service to and from venues.


Wednesday November 8th
1) Artist Talk with Gary Hill: Kaneff Centre 137, University of Toronto at Mississauga (adjacent to the Blackwood Gallery); 4 to 5 pm.

Participating artist Gary Hill discusses his work with curator Séamus Kealy.

2) Exhibition opens to the public, Blackwood Gallery (and satellite locations); 6 to 10 pm

Eight international artists will present their work in and around the Blackwood Gallery, as well as at the Goethe Institut Toronto. The exhibition highlights formal and conceptual strategies that artists are exploring in relation to Beckett’s work and includes a catalogue with essays by Séamus Kealy and Terry Eagleton. Artists:

Martin Arnold (Austria), Dorothy Cross (Ireland), Stan Douglas (Canada), Gary Hill (USA), Bruce Nauman (USA), Gregor Schneider (Germany), Ann-Sofi Siden (Sweden), Zin Taylor/Allison Hrabluik (Canada)

Contemporary Video Art Program including Stephane Gilot (Canada), Kelly Mark (Canada), Nikos Navridis (Greece), Daniel Olson (Canada), Hans Op de Beeck (Belgium), Michal Rovner (Israel), Anri Sala (Albania), Magdalena Szczepaniak (Poland)


Wednesday November 22nd
1) Symposium: CCT Building, Room 1050, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 10 am to 5 pm

International and local scholars discuss Beckett’s experiments with new media and the use of Beckettian formal strategies within contemporary visual arts and film. Includes new media performance.

2) Film Screenings and Lecture Evening: Goethe Institut, 163 King St. W, Toronto, 7 to 9 pm

Screenings of Beckett-related films hosted by Walter Asmus and Linda Ben-Zvi.

Funding by the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, Humanities Centre U of T, Culture Ireland, Connaught Fund (University of Toronto), The University of Toronto at Mississauga, Foreign Affairs Canada, The Centre for US Studies, The Department of English and Drama (UTM), The Gladstone Hotel, Goethe Institut Toronto, Irish Embassy (Ottawa)

Isuma Events

still from Atarnarjuat (The Fast Runner) @ Norman Cohn/Igloolik IsumaProductions Inc.


Sunday, October 1, 2006 12:30 pm to late afternoon
CONTEMPORARY ART BUS TOUR SUNDAY
A free bus departs the Textile Museum (55 Centre Ave.,Toronto) at 12:30 pm to the Blackwood Gallery, Koffler Gallery and Doris McCarthy Gallery UTSC. To reserve a seat, please call the Doris McCarthy Gallery at 416-287-7007 by September 29. This event is FREE.


Thursday, October 12, 2006 3-5pm
RECORDS IN OUR HEADS: WOMEN'S VOICE AND VIDEO
Screening of video by Arnait Video Productions
Followed by a Panel Discussion with Marrie Mumford, Kass Banning, Peggy Gale and Marie-Helene Cousineau. Moderated by Joan Simalchik
Co-Presented with the Study of Women and Gender Program at UTM

MIST Studio Theatre, CCT Building, University of Toronto at Mississauga Admission: FREE

Arnait Video Productions (Women’s Video Workshop of Igloolik) voices concerns, beliefs and experiences of Inuit women in debates of interest to all Canadians. Arnait shares oral traditions (songs and stories), re-enacts traditional activities, history and legends, and celebrates the specificity of the culture of women in Igloolik.


Saturday, October 21, 2006 5 pm to 6:30 pm
RECORDS IN OUR HEADS: MEMORY, MEDIA AND THE TELLING OF HISTORY
Panel discussion co-presented with Toronto’s ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, with filmmakers Zacharias Kunuk, Merata Mita, and Alanis Obomsawin

To be followed by a screening of Isuma's new feature film The Journals of Knud Rasmussen at 7 pmAl Green Theatre (750 Spadina, downtown Toronto)


Sunday, October 22, 12 noon to 2 pm
CLOSING RECEPTION for Isuma -- to have an idea
co-presented with Toronto’s ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts FestivalArtist Talk and Reception with Isuma filmmakers Zacharias Kunuk and Norman Cohn Blackwood Gallery, University of Toronto at Mississauga FREE bus transportation will be provided from downtown Toronto to the reception at the Mississauga campus. Buses will leave Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (Bloor and Spadina) at 11:00am and will return at 1:30pm.


BLACKWOOD GALLERY WRITING AWARD
$150 Juried Prize for winning entry for a critical review (750-1000 words) of the film(s) featured in ISUMA - to have an idea Drop off a printed copy at the Blackwood Gallery, E-gallery or Curatorial Office (CCT Room 3019) Deadline: Oct 23rd 2006, 5pm

PREVIEW: future graduates

Video screening in Kaneff building, across from Blackwood Gallery
Shown in conjunction with the third set of Graduating Exhibitions from the Art & Art History program

Opening: Wednesday April 19, 5:30 - 7:30
runs until Sunday May 7 during Blackwood Gallery hours

Videos selected by Ashley Andrews

PREVIEW: future graduates brings together a number of videos from students that are still continuing their studies at U of T. The work is chosen from both the Art & Art History Program and the Visual Studies Program at the St. George campus.

Video one (April 20-28)

1. taint. Donna Lee 3:25 min

2. Kali Yuga. Gintas Trillis 0:58 min

3. dream. Enya Hou 4:30 min

4. untitled. Darcie Kennedy 1:24 min



Video Two (April 30- May 7)

1. untitled (yellow). Olha Fihol 1:00 min

2. A foot’s existence. Patricia Tsastos & Melanie Bracey 1:07 min

3. Egg. Maurice Lam 1:00 min

4. untitled(red). Olha Fihol 1:00 min