Art
Art of the archives: Hidden history revealed in new Beaverbrook exhibit
A giant map of the Saint John River is laid out on a table in the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton.
The map is close to six feet long, and is so big that the gallery had to build a new table to display it.
The map — which was drawn as part of an 1826 survey of the Saint John River — meticulously details the river from Fredericton to Grand Falls.
“It’s an incredibly detailed look at every bend in the river. It’s all hand drawn and hand-coloured with watercolour,” said Josh Green, manager of the Special Media Unit at the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
Fredericton’s Beaverbrook Art Gallery partners with the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick to showcase historical treasures from the past.
In addition to the natural topography the map marks all the churches and taverns dotted along the river.
When this map was created, it was never intended to be displayed in an art gallery.
However, the map — along with a collection of often quirky visual artifacts from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick — is on display at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, as part of an exhibit that is, fittingly, called ARTchives.
Finding ‘documentary art’
Visitors will find artifacts dating back to the late 18th century: sketches, architectural drawings, political cartoons, labels, the original drawing for the New Brunswick flag, and even plans for the Bricklin, the famous sportscar with the gull-wing doors made in New Brunswick in the Seventies.
The items were pulled from boxes in the repository of the archives and are what Green and other archivists call “documentary art.”
That can mean hand-crafted or printed “documents which speak to the political or social atmosphere of a place and time,” said Green. “It’s very broad and vague, but for us it meant we could start considering almost everything.”
Considering the possibilities — the items on display came from a collection of more than 90,000 boxes — was a daunting task. Green said the provincial archives has been working in the background on the exhibit since just before the pandemic.
“I think we have one map here and there are thousands — maybe tens of thousands of maps — that we had to consider whittling it down from,” said Green, who added that there were also thousands of architectural drawings and sketches to sift through.
John Leroux, manager of collections and exhibitions at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, said they were pruning the exhibit until just before it opened. Some artifacts made it to the gallery before he realized there wouldn’t be enough space to display them.
“We could have had a show that was 10 times this size but where would we have put it all? It was a matter of saying a lot with a little,” said Leroux, who worked with the archivists on the exhibit.
‘Everything is done by hand’
Leroux said a lot of pieces in the exhibit were chosen because they show just how many things used to be made by hand.
“Today we long for the hand-made, and things with integrity,” said Leroux. “Everything [here] is done by hand. There’s no machine in any of this.”
He said the idea for this show came to him almost by accident. He was at the archives looking through government documents about the Centennial Building and found a rough sketch from artist Bruno Bobak that was a plan for one of the building’s murals.
He hopes people who have the chance to visit the exhibit, which runs until May, also realize that the archives are much more than a collection of census forms and government records.
Hidden in all those boxes are works of art, just waiting to be rediscovered.
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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