Another ace show at aceartcinc..!

Twin dwarves in animal suits, wool leeches — galleries offer wholesome family fun

Leah Werier, volunteer staff

I recently wandered over to aceartinc. — a very interesting gallery on the 2nd floor of 290 McDermot Ave. There are currently two shows and both are running until Nov. 24. The smaller of the two shows is titled East Meets West — artists from eastern provinces are exchanging their works with Manitoba artists. Work from five New Brunswick artists is featured, covering a range of media from acrylics and encaustics to fabric and clay. One installation piece in this exhibit, by Janice Wright Cheney, is a standout. This eye-catching piece looks like chunky fraying curtains of a deep crimson colour, mounted on black iron rods from the top of the wall ending in puddles of fabric on the floor. Closer inspection reveals felted wool leeches curling and wriggling in the swirling drapery giving meaning to its title, “Escarleta (letting blood).” The encaustics were of period maps with rust, sepia tones by Sarah Petite.

More than a gallery wall separates the show East Meets West from the other exhibit, Art Imitating Life Imitating Art by Winnipeg artist, Dan Donaldson. What is telling between these two shows is the difference between the mild works from the Eastern artists and the powerful work by Donaldson. While I could not recommend the East Meets West exhibit as destination on its own, I highly recommend you make your way to the gallery to take in Art Imitating Life Imitating Art. This show is well worth your time.

Art Imitating Life Imitating Art is an explosive commentary that mixes Donaldson’s quirky style and his strong artistic voice. An aptly titled show, it captures the major theme that ties all of these works together, that art and life are interpretive reflections. As soon as you walk into the exhibit, you are bombarded with pieces of an immense scale. One of the pieces is so big that it covers an entire wall. There are no titles on works in this exhibit and the work is left to speak for itself. The pieces are of mixed media, in bold colour, some with a strong cartoon-feel reflecting his love of graphic imagery, and comic art. This is effectively contrasted with Donaldson’s impressive technical abilities. Life magazine’s documentation style has had a heavy influence on Donaldson’s work. These works span a period of 15 years from Donaldson’s time in fine arts at the University of Manitoba, when the first piece appeared in a student Bolshevic show called “Punished in Silk.” It is clear that careful thought and effort were put into each piece, resulting in the success of each of them. Donaldson captures the haunting faces and moments of our time, from Abe Lincoln to Marilyn Monroe, from PoWs to Dolly, the first cloned sheep. This is art that really makes you think about the controversial topics that absorb the modern media. I was lucky that the Donaldson agreed to answer some of the questions that came to mind, as I thought about his show

Manitoban: Can you explain the painting with two men dressed up in animal suits (with one of them cradling a puppy)? We see a face — is this anyone’s face in particular?

Donaldson: The image is of two stafftwin dwarves from a circus in East India, and I liked it because I could play off the title of my show, with one of them (holding the puppy with a gorilla mask on) having a name tag that reads “hello, my name is Art.” The other, with the mask off could then be Life, and his facial expression makes me think he’s saying to himself, “Man, I wish my brother Art would stop copying me!” Silly, I know, but that’s just my goofy sense of humour. Plus, he kind of reminded me of one of my older brothers, who has an obviously dyed, black, cheesy ’stache like that. Sorry, Bro.

M: What triggered you to create this vivid commentary?

Donaldson: I made the painting of Abe Lincoln in reverse or negative image, licking his lips, for that show (“Punished in Silk”). I painted the piece on an old bed sheet (money was tight) that just happened to have a square-shaped patch sewn on it, and this patch ended up in the corner of my stretcher . . . quite noticeably. Seeing how I lifted the image from Life magazine, I thought it was fitting that I hide this patch with part of the Life logo. From there, I just decided to keep adding new pieces.

M: What are you hoping your audience will think after your show?

Donaldson: I’m hoping they walk out with a variety of different emotions and thoughts. I want the work to stimulate them in any and every way, from hating it to loving it. Perhaps there are some images I’ve used that will upset them or make them laugh. It’s all good, I just want them to feel something . . . because feeling something is always better than not feeling at all. ‘Nuff’ said!

“Nuff” said, indeed.





Volume 95 Issue 13	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	November 14, 2007

Home About Us Advertising Rates Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Volunteer Online Classifieds St. Vincent's Academy Diaries	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly Another ace show at aceartcinc..! Twin dwarves in animal suits, wool leeches — galleries offer wholesome family fun Leah Werier, volunteer staff I recently wandered over to aceartinc. — a very interesting gallery on the 2nd floor of 290 McDermot Ave. There are currently two shows and both are running until Nov. 24. The smaller of the two shows is titled East Meets West — artists from eastern provinces are exchanging their works with Manitoba artists. Work from five New Brunswick artists is featured, covering a range of media from acrylics and encaustics to fabric and clay. One installation piece in this exhibit, by Janice Wright Cheney, is a standout. This eye-catching piece looks like chunky fraying curtains of a deep crimson colour, mounted on black iron rods from the top of the wall ending in puddles of fabric on the floor. Closer inspection reveals felted wool leeches curling and wriggling in the swirling drapery giving meaning to its title, “Escarleta (letting blood).” The encaustics were of period maps with rust, sepia tones by Sarah Petite. More than a gallery wall separates the show East Meets West from the other exhibit, Art Imitating Life Imitating Art by Winnipeg artist, Dan Donaldson. What is telling between these two shows is the difference between the mild works from the Eastern artists and the powerful work by Donaldson. While I could not recommend the East Meets West exhibit as destination on its own, I highly recommend you make your way to the gallery to take in Art Imitating Life Imitating Art. This show is well worth your time. Art Imitating Life Imitating Art is an explosive commentary that mixes Donaldson’s quirky style and his strong artistic voice. An aptly titled show, it captures the major theme that ties all of these works together, that art and life are interpretive reflections. As soon as you walk into the exhibit, you are bombarded with pieces of an immense scale. One of the pieces is so big that it covers an entire wall. There are no titles on works in this exhibit and the work is left to speak for itself. The pieces are of mixed media, in bold colour, some with a strong cartoon-feel reflecting his love of graphic imagery, and comic art. This is effectively contrasted with Donaldson’s impressive technical abilities. Life magazine’s documentation style has had a heavy influence on Donaldson’s work. These works span a period of 15 years from Donaldson’s time in fine arts at the University of Manitoba, when the first piece appeared in a student Bolshevic show called “Punished in Silk.” It is clear that careful thought and effort were put into each piece, resulting in the success of each of them. Donaldson captures the haunting faces and moments of our time, from Abe Lincoln to Marilyn Monroe, from PoWs to Dolly, the first cloned sheep. This is art that really makes you think about the controversial topics that absorb the modern media. I was lucky that the Donaldson agreed to answer some of the questions that came to mind, as I thought about his show Manitoban: Can you explain the painting with two men dressed up in animal suits (with one of them cradling a puppy)? We see a face — is this anyone’s face in particular? Donaldson: The image is of two stafftwin dwarves from a circus in East India, and I liked it because I could play off the title of my show, with one of them (holding the puppy with a gorilla mask on) having a name tag that reads “hello, my name is Art.” The other, with the mask off could then be Life, and his facial expression makes me think he’s saying to himself, “Man, I wish my brother Art would stop copying me!” Silly, I know, but that’s just my goofy sense of humour. Plus, he kind of reminded me of one of my older brothers, who has an obviously dyed, black, cheesy ’stache like that. Sorry, Bro. M: What triggered you to create this vivid commentary? Donaldson: I made the painting of Abe Lincoln in reverse or negative image, licking his lips, for that show (“Punished in Silk”). I painted the piece on an old bed sheet (money was tight) that just happened to have a square-shaped patch sewn on it, and this patch ended up in the corner of my stretcher . . . quite noticeably. Seeing how I lifted the image from Life magazine, I thought it was fitting that I hide this patch with part of the Life logo. From there, I just decided to keep adding new pieces. M: What are you hoping your audience will think after your show? Donaldson: I’m hoping they walk out with a variety of different emotions and thoughts. I want the work to stimulate them in any and every way, from hating it to loving it. Perhaps there are some images I’ve used that will upset them or make them laugh. It’s all good, I just want them to feel something . . . because feeling something is always better than not feeling at all. ‘Nuff’ said! “Nuff” said, indeed.


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