Anna Gustafson: Object Lessons
to
Esker Foundation 444-1011 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 0H7
Anna Gustafson, "Object Lessons," 2020
The following programs have been cancelled:
Master Class for Families: Sunday 15 March, 1-2:30pm
Crash Course: Thursday 19 March, 7-8:30pm
Youth Workshop: Friday 20 March, 4-6pm
Community Evening: Friday 27 March, 6-8pm
Mini Masters: Thursday 2 April, 11-11:45am
Bring the Baby Art Tour & Tummy Time: Friday 3 April, 12-1pm
Artist Talk with Katie Ohe: Saturday 4 April, 1-2pm
Presented in partnership with The New Gallery at the Esker Foundation Project Space.
As we deplete the earth’s resources to manufacture and power consumer products, we destroy ecosystems. When such objects are deemed obsolete, these pieces of our contemporary material culture are consigned to landfills and further continue the sequence of ecological devastation.
In response to the destructive cycle of late capitalist consumer culture, Anna Gustafson began enshrouding discarded appliances in old, white linen; a manner historically used by many cultures to prepare the dead for burial. Intrigued by this ritual, the material problem solving, the physical, repetitive labour involved, and of course, the enveloped object’s transformation, Gustafson came to understand this process as a way to individuate each item, and to honour the destruction necessary to make and power them.
Beginning with nearly any small abandoned appliance she could find—in particular kitchenware, including kettles, toasters, pots, and irons—Gustafson’s focus soon shifted to encompass objects that might resonate more strongly and universally upon contemporary, common ground: consumer electronics such as remote controls, entertainment electronics, and film and slide projectors. By enshrouding these ubiquitous items, Gustafson’s work extends a broad address to those that hold the decision-making power behind the destruction of our natural world.
For this installation of Object Lessons, Gustafson includes the ubiquitous leaf blower. Once disruptors in our neighbourhoods, they now float mutely through their new context of decommissioned remote controls.
Call to Community
As part of this exhibition Gustafson has made a call out to the community for contributions to the ongoing Object Lessons project by donating items that will be enshrouded. Gustafson is currently collecting remote controls, film and slide projectors, film cans, slide carousels, flashlights along with white cotton and linen fabric for shrouding. Donations can be brought to The New Gallery from February 3 to April 19.