The Unmakers / Kim McCollum

Coming next month to the gallery!

“The Unmakers” is an exhibition by Edmonton-based artist Kim McCollum, which will be open at the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie on February 29, 2024.

Kim McCollum is a visual artist based in Treaty 6 territory (Edmonton, Alberta). McCollum’s work explores relationships between digital and analog, old and new, hand and machine. Through extensive work within local weaving communities she collects woven swatches, techniques and stories that she works into woven, painted, and new media artworks.

McCollum is a creator of networks within local craft and arts communities in Edmonton, connecting people and ideas through her work as an artist, organizing events, and working as an educator. She also co-owns Gather Textiles, a workshop space and community building initiative.

Curated by Jessica Groome

🎤 Artists Talk + Opening Reception on February 29, 2024 from 6:00 pm.

To learn more about the artists and the exhibition visit kimmccollumart.com and aggp.ca

Featured artwork: Grid Makers, Acrylic and oil on canvas, 14.75”X16″, 2022

Artist Talk w/ Aretha Laverne

In recognition of Black History Month, the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie will be hosting Aretha Laverne, at the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie for an Artist Talk on Thursday, February 22nd at 6PM. Aretha’s work will be in a TREX exhibition this coming September and she was a featured artist in the Gallery exhibition, Jazz Influences.

The tranquil effects of nature on a somewhat anxious mind are the inspiration for Aretha Laverne’s work. To Laverne art can be quite a therapeutic medium, whether indulged on a personal or professional level. In her past she has worked as a Program Coordinator and helped to bring this ideology to children’s centres through the facilitation of art programs she had designed. Aretha’s focus within these programs was on the process of creating rather than the end creation itself, the same methodology Laverne uses today in her creative process. As jobs change stressors vary, be it political, professional, or personal, she finds that over time her draw towards Mother Nature has remained.

Aretha Laverne finds that working in mixed media has allowed her to find balance for her Gemini-like nature to capture the levels of dreamlike flow experienced when surrounded by the beauty of the Canadian landscape or mindful meditation after processing current events. The foundation of all this begins with a sketch, an intuitive mark working in tandem to nurture and bring forth the feeling and impression made by an early morning hike or late evening stroll, until that work becomes art, and she is at peace with her creation.

Call to Members – Featured Members Wall 2024

Are you a Member of the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie? Are you also an Artist? We’d love to work with you!

The Featured Member Wall is an opportunity that’s offered as a membership benefit. We know many who support the Gallery through membership are also artists. As part of our commitment to showcasing local artwork, and to celebrate our dedicated members, we have released our latest Call for Submissions for 2D artwork to be featured in the Gallery’s reception area. This is a great opportunity for new and emerging artists looking to display their artwork, as thousands of visitors interested in the Arts will see this work.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MONDAY, March 18, 2024

Artist Fee($): Honorarium is paid to artists based on the length of term

Submission Criteria:

Please send a JPEG image of your work.
Submissions must be no larger than 40 inches wide. Artwork doesn’t have to meet the maximum size, but it can’t exceed it. As an example, an artist could submit two drawings that are each 11×14 and that would be ok to display together too.
Framing isn’t a requirement, but artwork does need to be ready to be displayed. That may mean a matted/framed photograph, or a stretched canvas with wire hangers.
Submissions must include the name of the artwork, date, medium, size.
Please send a short artist statement or a description of the individual artwork.
Please send a short biography of the artist to help us get to know you.
Submissions are open to members living in Grande Prairie and surrounding area within the Peace Region including, but not limited to, Sexsmith, Beaverlodge, Fairview, Valleyview, AB and Dawson Creek, BC.

Apply: Please apply and send questions by email to melanie@aggp.ca

We encourage submissions from experienced artists as well as emerging artists of all ages, including those with minimal exhibition history.

Successful submissions will be featured in the Gallery’s reception area for up to 3 months.

Memberships: Memberships may be purchased online or at the Front Reception desk.

PURCHASE A MEMBERSHIP ONLINE

Current view of the wall space. Artwork by Roberta Linfield.

Roberta Linfield, “A Rose,” Scene A,” “Forest Shadows,” and “Footsie.” 2023. Acrylic monoprints on paper

Rosemary Kay, “Night Watch” 2022. Acrylic on canvas. 30 inches x 40 inches.

Sheri Brewster, “Map of Human Brain,” “Foxglove Heart,” and “Skull Crown.” 2023. Acrylic paint and pressed flowers

HEIDE ENZMANN, Pandemonium, 2020. Alcohol Ink and Paint Marker on Canvas. 36 inches x 36 inches

Patrick Evans. A Little Landscape, 2021. Oil paint on canvas

TREX WALL – Call for Submissions

We are looking for solo exhibition or group exhibition (for example 2-3 artists or a community art group) proposals to display artwork on the TREX WALL outside the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie located in the Montrose Cultural Centre for this coming year.

December marked 1 YEAR for the TREX WALL!! The wall is a prominent space for Alberta based artists to display their artwork located just outside the doors of the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie . We have had over 70,000 people walk past the TREX Wall this year. Thank you to our TREX Program Sponsor, KMSC Law for the support to make the TREX WALL a reality for the next 4 years!! KMSC Law has deep roots in this community, over 100 years, and are pleased to continue their relationship with the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie and support the arts in Grande Prairie and surrounding area through the TREX program.

Visit the TREX page to see all the exhibitions from 2023!

TREX WALL Open Call for Submissions

Proposal submission deadline is February 9, 2024 by 11:59pm

This is an open call for Alberta artists to submit a proposal for the TREX WALL which is located just outside the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie. This public exhibition wall is in the busy Montrose Cultural Center, home to the Grande Prairie Public Library, Jeffreys Café & the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie. The 15-foot TREX Wall will be equipped with a rail hanging system, but this doesn’t limit the artwork to be only 2D, the space also lends itself well to creative installation works.

We are looking for engaging proposals that respond to the space and take into consideration potential interactions with viewing audiences – there is no limit on the type of exhibition proposed they can be two dimensional, sculptural, and/or mixed-media in nature. We would also welcome an educational or public engagement component. In your proposal, please indicate if you are interested in working with the organizers on developing this.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Eligibility

This call is only open to artists residing within Alberta. Art collectives or groups are welcome to apply.

Responsibilities of the Artist(s) and Fees

Installation/take-down assistance is available for out-of-town applicants, however shipment and delivery of artworks as well as retrieval of artworks at the close of the exhibition duration is the responsibility of the artist. CARFAC fees will be paid to artists for exhibiting. Exhibitions will be displayed for approximately a three month period.

Proposal Submission Requirements

Please submit the following components in a single PDF by email no later than February 9 2024, 11:59pm to Jamie-lee@aggp.ca with the following subject line: TREX WALL Exhibition Proposal – [YOUR NAME OR NAME OF COLLECTIVE]

Proposal (750 word max) – Briefly describe your exhibition idea. Please indicate if you are interested in working with the organizers on developing a workshop or educational aspect in your exhibition.
Artist Bio/Statement(s)
10-20 Digital Images (Include: Title, Medium, Size, Year | optional – paragraph describing image)

2023/24 Holiday Hours

Join us in December! Exciting things are happening at the Gallery, and we hope you’ll join us for some new art experiences over the holidays. With four exhibitions currently on view, and two interactive artmaking spaces, we’re happy to have both levels of the Gallery fully open for our visitors.

MAIN LEVEL
Threads Through Time and Weaving Cultural Identities. Two nationally touring exhibitions from the Vancouver Biennale.
Collective: Miranda Bellamy and Amanda Fauteux
NEW: Double-Sided, featuring artwork from the Permanent Collection.

2nd LEVEL
Weave and Intertwine: Interactive Community Art Exhibition
The Carlstrom Family Green Space, an interactive gallery and self-directed studio space.

NEW: Don’t forget to pick up our new Creativity Kit, “Warmth” to make a watercolour painting of your own at home!

HOLIDAY HOURS
Sunday, December 24: CLOSED
Monday, December 25: CLOSED
Tuesday, December 26: CLOSED
Wednesday, December 27: 10am – 6pm
Thursday, December 28: 10am – 9pm
Friday, December 29: 10am – 5pm
Saturday, December 30: 10am – 5pm
Sunday, December 31: CLOSED
Monday, January 1, 2024: CLOSED

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Appointment of New Executive Director and Chief Curator

Dear Art Gallery of Grande Prairie members, supporters, and stakeholders,

We are delighted to introduce our new Executive Director and Chief Curator, Jessica Groome.

Jessica brings with them a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the art and museum field having held most recent the position of Curator at the AGGP. Their visionary leadership, passion for the arts, and commitment to AGGP’s mission makes them the ideal candidate to guide us into the next chapter of our journey.

As the Executive Director, Jessica will be responsible for overseeing the overall strategic direction, daily management, and operations of the gallery. In their role as Chief Curator, Jessica will play a pivotal part in shaping our artistic vision and curatorial direction. Their informed eye will contribute to the curation of compelling exhibitions that engage and inspire our audiences.

As a board we are confident that Jessica will bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a collaborative spirit to our gallery. We believe that their appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence and our dedication to providing enriching experiences for our community.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Jessica.

Thank you for your ongoing support and trust,

Kindest regards,

Terry Gorgichuk
Chair

Artist Talk w/ Kenzie Housego

Join Grande Prairie native, Kenzie Housego, Thursday December 7 at 6PM, as she talks about her art practice and about the works in her TREX Wall exhibit, ‘

: Digital Courtship’.

December marks 1 YEAR for the TREX WALL!! The wall is a prominent space for Alberta based artists to display their artwork located just outside the doors of the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie . We have had over 70,000 people walk past the TREX Wall this year. Thank you to our TREX Program Sponsor, KMSC Law for the support to make the TREX WALL a reality.

Artist Tavel Supported By:

Artist Bio:
Kenzie Housego recently completed a Master of Fine Art specializing in new media at the University of Calgary, Mohkinstsis, in Treaty 7 region southern Alberta. As a multidisciplinary artist, her practice includes fiber, embroidery, new media, and assemblage mediums. The use of technology such as LEDs, Arduino micro-controllers, texting, and screens within her research is symbolic of the virtual realms in which we participate as a society. The virtual encompasses social media platform activity, online personas, online dating, and online branding. The digital world has become ubiquitous in communication, shaping contemporary society, particularly in relation to online representation.

It’s important to her that her artwork always offers an invitation for interactivity, encouraging viewers to shift from passive observers to active co-producers as they engage with the digital media, experience other points of view, and ultimately, form their own individual meanings. ‘

: Digital Courtship’ explores contemporary courtship, romance, technology, and historical signs and signifiers connected to dating and romance.

Housego has had the opportunity to showcase her art nationally and internationally at Beakerhead festival in Calgary, CURRENTS festival, Santa Fe New Mexico, Rome MakerFaire, MakerFaire Bay Area in California, Fashionwear New York, CES Vegas, Xiamen Fashion Week, China, CES ASIA, Shanghai, China, Dublin Ireland, and at a two-week art residency in Shenzhen, China.

Artists Website : https://www.kenziehousego.com

See less

Closed November 11th

The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie will be closed on Saturday, November 11, 2023 for Remembrance Day.

We will resume regular hours on Sunday, November 12th.

REGULAR GALLERY HOURS
Sunday: 1 pm – 5 pm
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: 10 am – 6 pm
Wednesday: 10 am – 6 pm
Thursday: 10 am – 9 pm
Friday: 10 am – 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm

Learn more about current exhibitions.

A Message from the Board of Directors

Dear valued stakeholders,

The Board hopes this message finds you well. We are writing to inform you of an important change at the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie. Our Executive Director, Daniel Becker, has made the decision to resign from their position, effective Monday, October 02, 2023. The Board of Directors thank him for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavours.

We will be initiating a thorough search for a new Executive Director who will build upon the foundation laid by Daniel Becker and lead AGGP into its next phase of growth. We are committed to finding a highly qualified and visionary Executive Director who shares our mission and values, which will drive AGGP forward.

We want to assure you that our commitment to delivering exceptional programming and maintaining strong relationships with our stakeholders remains unwavering. We will continue to prioritize transparency, open communication, and collaboration throughout this transition.

The Board extends our heartfelt appreciation to all our stakeholders for your understanding, continued support, and trust in the AGGP.

Kindest regards,

Vaughn Bend
Chair

Upcoming: ThreadsThrough Time and Weaving Cultural Identities

October 26, 2023 – March 17, 2024

We are pleased to host two travelling exhibitions from the Vancouver Biennale titled ‘Threads Through Time and Weaving Cultural Identities’ on October 26th, 2023. The exhibitions feature weaving as a central practice and an important cultural life-force of Muslim and Indigenous communities, transcending time, space and language.

‘Threads Through Time’ is a manifestation inspired by the monumental Vancouver Biennale public art installation ‘Paradise Has Many Gates’: a life-size chain-link mosque created by the Saudi Arabian artist Ajlan Gharem installed at Sen̓áḵw – Vanier Park, Vancouver. During its installation for the 2018-2020 Vancouver Biennale exhibition, the artwork inspired a historic collaboration amongst Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Islamic weavers and designers. For ‘Threads Through Time’ the Muslim community and Jacquard weavers responded to the mosque, creating a 15’ x 32’ prayer rug covering the floor. The second exhibition ‘Weaving Cultural Identities’ features 10 woven artworks as part of the dialogue inspired by Gharem’s mosque.

For this exhibition, textile artists and graphic artists from diverse cultural backgrounds were asked to collaborate based on their own experience and histories, creating a series of works that celebrate the rich significance of textile arts, with a focus on the payer rug and weaving traditions. Together, participating artist developed a platform and process for community dialogue through arts-based discussions around often complex issues of belonging, diaspora, assimilation and honouring the land.

The Vancouver Biennale is a non-profit charitable organization that exhibits great art in public space, creating a catalyst for learning, community engagement, dialogue, and social action.

All posts in News