Western Canada's art magazine since 2002
17 May 2022 Vol 7 No 10 ISSN 2561-3316 © 2022
Portia Priegert
From the Editor
I often compare editing a digital magazine to that old Lucille Ball comedy skit about working in a chocolate factory – those chocolates, er, deadlines, keep rolling down the conveyor belt far too quickly. And, if, like Lucy, you can’t keep up, you’re soon in a panic. At least she had the option of stashing errant chocolates in her pockets!
During the pandemic, the sense of being overwhelmed and falling behind has felt particularly resonant. It’s been challenging to produce a steady supply of interesting articles, and, at times, we’ve had to scramble. Whether it was sudden gallery closures, postponed exhibitions, writers coming down with COVID-19, or the sheer ennui of isolation, these times have tested our mettle.
Now, we’re hoping, once again, to get ahead of the curve. So we're asking galleries to let us know earlier about shows and other events that might make interesting stories. Our goal, as always, is to provide lively, informative and timely coverage of the visual arts scene in Western Canada and, when possible, beyond.
To do a good job covering exhibitions, we need time to find writers and edit their work, and they need time to visit shows and write thoughtfully about the art. So, if you work at a gallery, please let us know what you are planning for June, July and August as soon as possible.
We also welcome tips from other sources, so if something is happening in your community that deserves coverage – including art-related news stories and or even commentaries on vital issues – please don't hesitate to contact me at editor@gallerieswest.ca.
In this issue, Jera MacPherson writes on quirky new work by Bill Burns; Lissa Robinson reviews a show by Ottawa painter Carol Wainio; Mark Mushet offers his take on Jay Cabalu, an emerging Vancouver pop-themed artist; Agnieszka Matjeko discusses the immigrant experience in her review of an Edmonton group show, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From; and Shazia Hafiz Ramji considers a Vancouver exhibition by Shahla Bahrami.
We're also pleased to publish a commentary, Lost Opportunity?, by Zainub Verjee, who casts a critical eye on the National Culture Summit hosted by Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez earlier this month. Zainub looks at issues that should concern anyone in the visual arts sector – the challenges posed by new digital technologies, the struggles facing cultural workers, and the need for new policies for post-pandemic recovery.
As Zainub writes: “The opportunity for change is here now. We need to move beyond the narrow confines of political expediency and collectively work toward a transformative cultural agenda. We must relearn the language of art as a public good. What we accomplish in the next three to five years will dictate the course of the next four decades. History will judge us. The onus is on us to get it right.”
We're already at work on the next issue of Galleries West, which includes reviews of exhibitions by Jin-me Yoon, at the Kamloops Art Gallery, and Adrian Stimson, at the Remai Modern in Saskatoon. Stay tuned!
CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE: Jera MacPherson, Agnieszka Matjeko, Mark Mushet, Shazia Hafiz Ramji, Lissa Robinson, Zainub Verjee
We acknowledge the support of the Government of Alberta Media Fund, the Government of Canada Special Measures for Journalism Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts.
