Art
Art Gallery of Ontario under pressure to explain Indigenous art curator’s ousting
A letter addressed to the board of trustees of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) by the Toronto-based Indigenous Curatorial Collective (ICCA) is demanding answers about the circumstances of curator Wanda Nanibush’s sudden departure last November. The letter, titled Let Wanda Speak, requests that “the AGO release Nanibush from any legal obligations preventing her from speaking publicly about her tenure and dismissal, about how she sees what happened and why”.
News that Nanibush, the first curator of Canadian and Indigenous art at the AGO, was leaving the institution shocked the Canadian art world. The news was linked to a leaked letter accusing her of “posting inflammatory, inaccurate rants against Israel”. That letter, verified by Hyperallergic and The Global and Mail, was sent to the AGO on 16 October by Israel Museums and Arts, Canada (IMAAC), an organisation set up to support the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and Israeli grassroots arts organisations. It was signed by members of IMAAC’s leadership team.
The letter accused Nanibush, who was a jurist for the recent 2023 Sobey Art Award, Canada’s leading contemporary art prize, of “hate speech”. It cited an article she wrote for the now defunct Canadian Art magazine that drew links between the Indigenous Canadian and Palestinian experience. In it she wrote: “Colonisation marks a before and after where identity is radically altered by loss.”
Since then Canadian artists, writers and cultural workers have been among the signatories to three separate letters criticising the AGO over Nanibush’s dismissal. One of them, an open letter to the AGO with more than 3,500 signatures, begins by expressing “outrage at the recent push out of Wanda Nanibush from her position” as a result of “the bullying of the museum by pro-Israel art collectors and donors”.
A second letter, entitled “A Statement of Concern from Members of the International Arts Community to Institutions Worldwide”, was signed by more than 100 Indigenous artists, curators and professors from Canada and around the world. A third letter, published on 28 November and signed by 40 Governor General Award-winning artists, also called for accountability from the AGO: “The forced departure of Wanda Nanibush is an act of political censorship with shades of a new McCarthyism.”
In an open letter published subsequently, on 30 November, AGO director Stephen Jost wrote: “The AGO, along with many other cultural institutions, is being asked to better define the rights and limits of political and artistic expression in a locally diverse but globally complex environment. We will go through a process to listen, to understand multiple perspectives and then together we will articulate our institutional position.”
This response was unsatisfactory to the ICCA, whose letter criticises Jost’s for “apparently assum[ing] the Indigenous arts community will be willing to work with the AGO in the future—that the harms caused are focused on Nanibush alone and that her dismissal does not greatly affect us all. […] We require transparency and inclusion, trust and respect, if we are to continue on this journey together. For us, the first, necessary and most obvious step is to understand what happened and why.”
The letter ends with a demand for a response by 31 January. “If we do not hear from you by this date, we will consider other options that are arising from ongoing conversations within Indigenous arts communities.”
Nanibush declined to comment on this matter and the AGO had not returned calls and emails from The Art Newspaper as of press time.
In a statement, the Lebanese Canadian artist Jamelie Hassan—a winner of the Governor General Award and signatory of the third letter—criticised the museum for silencing Nanibush through a non-disclosure agreement.
“No artist should be forced to muzzle their political beliefs, nor be restricted from discussing attempts to silence them through such odious legal mechanisms,” Hassan said. “Ontario is considering passing legislation to outlaw non-disclosure agreements which prevent a victim of discrimination, harassment or sexual abuse from discussing the details of the incidents. Non-disclosure agreements designed to squash political ideas should be treated the same.”
[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
Source link
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.
Dolphins will bring in another quarterback, while Tagovailoa deals with concussion
Unifor says workers at Walmart warehouse in Mississauga, Ont., vote to join union
Canada to donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to combat mpox outbreaks in Africa
12 Bizarre Things People Did Just To Make Social Media Content
AP source: Bears acquiring quarterback Nick Foles from Jaguars – Sportsnet.ca
dynaCERT Inc. Invites You to Join Us at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference | INN – Investing News Network
-
Sports16 hours agoLawyer says Chinese doping case handled ‘reasonably’ but calls WADA’s lack of action “curious”
-
News15 hours agoB.C. to scrap consumer carbon tax if federal government drops legal requirement: Eby
-
News15 hours agoA linebacker at West Virginia State is fatally shot on the eve of a game against his old school
-
News16 hours agoCeiling high for Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ahmed: Canada coach
-
Sports10 hours agoCanada’s Marina Stakusic advances to quarterfinals at Guadalajara Open
-
News16 hours agoShapovalov, Auger-Aliassime lift Canada over Finland 3-0 in Davis Cup tie
-
News16 hours agoOttawa loses bid to quash Israel advocates’ lawsuit calling for halt to UNRWA funding
-
Sports23 hours agoCanada’s Michael Woods rethinks retirement, targets Montreal win after Vuelta triumph
