Craig Milliken: Emergent Meticulous

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Craig Milliken, "Untitled (Black and White Design 1)," n. d.

ink on paper

Craig Milliken: Emergent Meticulous

Reception on March 24 at 7 PM, preceding a performance by local musician Mitchell Mozdzen.

Born on a small farm in Southwestern Manitoba, three miles from the town of Reston, Milliken draws inspiration for his work from his family land. In 1975, Milliken was in the first graduating class of the Landscape Architecture program at the University of Manitoba where he also earned a degree in Environmental Studies. These early interests have continued to inform Milliken’s geometric, meticulous artistic practice.

From the fluvial geometry of an oxbow lake to the meticulous geometry of modern abstraction, this exhibition spans Milliken’s decades-long practice. Including documentary photography and scenic illustration, local viewers will also be able to enjoy his repetitive, reflective ink compositions, given new context by virtue of the sheer range of his approach to vision. Milliken has exhibited extensively around Manitoba, including four exhibitions in the AGSM’s Main and Community galleries, in 1992, 1997, 2012, and 2016. A long time AGSM member, his work has also been shared via the AGSM’s Annual Members show, which just passed its 17th year.

While his previous exhibitions at the AGSM featured sculptures, liquid abstracts, geometric botanical design, and photography, this exhibition will span his entire body of work including new abstract designs. “One of the really striking things about this body of work is the sheer scale of it,” says curator Lucie Lederhendler. “When you stand back and see the themes that Craig has repeated over and over, the trajectory from landscape photography, to formal sculpture, to totally abstract forms really starts to come into focus.” Milliken’s work ranges in not only media but also in his encapsulation of the prairie landscapes. From elms to cattails, this exhibition is a love-letter to Southwestern Manitoba and the landscape, farming and ecological intricacies on offer here.