Epp on bond, dyck, koop, and thorneycroft

Gallery One One One exhibit showcases the work of four established Winnipeg artists

JASMIN PICHLYK

I recently had a chance to sit down with Robert Epp, gallerist of Gallery One One One, in the Fitzgerald building. We discussed the current exhibit Bond, Dyck, Koop, Thorneycroft, which runs until Jan. 5, 2007. The exhibit, curated by Cliff Eyland, features works by Eleanor Bond, Aganetha Dyck, Wanda Koop and Diana Thorneycroft — works that on the exterior appear extremely different from one another. Naturally, Robert had plenty to say about the show, as he always does:

Manitoban: Why were these four artists chosen for a group show?

Robert: The pieces were all recent donations to the Gallery from the artists themselves, and we like to display donated works whenever possible. Additionally, they are all female, Manitoban, contemporary, senior artists with international recognition. They each have highly accomplished works and have a strong relationship in the Winnipeg arts community. And they were all students at the University of Manitoba, three of four having graduated here.

M: The works all appear vastly different. Do the works themselves have anything in common?

R: There are similarities, but they are not explicitly apparent. The most interesting aspect is that they all have a very strong background in drawing, especially Thorneycroft, who was recognized for her drawings before her photographs. Bond began by doing wall-size drawings before exploring paint as a medium, and Koop finds drawing essential in the first stages. Dyck has expanded her sculptures by delicately drawing on the wax surfaces.

M: How does a group show compare to your other solo artist shows?

R: They allow for more of an opportunity to compare and contrast various artists. It creates a different visual dialogue where works are able to play off one another and generate thought-provoking conversations.

M: What did you want viewers to take away from these works? R: We wanted the show to be more of a focus for students, since these artists have all been exhibited frequently in Winnipeg and are familiar in the local arts community. We felt this could be a wonderful learning tool for young artists, to show the evolution of local artists who all originated on campus, and to help our current students understand the depth of their accomplishments.

M: Do you feel the show has been well-received?

R: Yes, very much so. There have been a number of students and classes that have gone through the Gallery; even I was invited to give a talk for one of the classes. Everyone seems impressed since the work is such a high level; it’s far different than exhibiting work by students or emerging artists. All these artists have 20-plus years of experience behind the works, which has aided in shaping them as artists.

M: Did you have any further comments about the show you’d like to share?

R: I think it’s also important to note that all four of these artists deal with social and cultural issues. Thorneycroft focuses on race, religion and suffering; Bond’s pieces talk about social needs and our leisure culture; Koop makes reference to war and the environment; and Dyck explores human relationships with other species. These themes are all complex and heavily integrated within each work, although it may not be overtly apparent.

Bond, Dyck, Koop, Thorneycroft runs until Jan. 5, 2007 at Gallery One One One.