100 Small CuratorsBlog post written by the VAC Intern Team
Every December the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington (VAC) exhibits the 100 Small Artworks Show and Sale. The exhibition offers VAC members the opportunity to show and sell their artwork with 100% of the sale price going directly to the artists. The VAC is excited to wrap up 2019 with a celebration of local artists! This year’s exhibition was co-curated by our Young Canada Works Interns Carley Bruckner and Desarée Rosskopf, and they were asked to reflect on their experience. What approach did you take when curating the show? The show is a collaborative community process and we wanted to create a space that truly complemented and enhanced each unique work. We accomplished this through grouping artworks by a shared theme and feeling, rather than medium. These pieces are representative of the creative spirit of our community and we are honoured to showcase the artists and their stories. This year we’ve added a slight change to the title to include the many forms in which small works can exist, you will see a variety of pairings that bridge across mediums and techniques. We usually hear of people curating shows, but what is it like to co-curate? Co-curating was a wonderful and mutually beneficial experience because we had the opportunity to learn and grow from each, brainstorm ideas, and sometimes just be there to support each other. When you are curating it’s you and the pieces you want to present but when you are co-curating you’re approaching it as a team. We spent a lot of time together on the floor surrounded by artwork just running through different ideas! Did you experience any difficulties during the creative process? We found that we have different approaches and viewpoints that influenced how we perceive the works. Carley comes from an Anthropological background, while Desarée is a historian. We also discovered that we have very different personalities, interests, and outlooks on life that influenced how we perceive each piece. Some might see these differences as an obstacle but we found they became the greatest strength in our curation process. It allowed us to experience new perspectives and designs. One of us would become stuck on how to present a particular piece and the other would come in with an alternative concept. We also found that we added new dimensions to each other’s ideas. We hope to see you at the 100 Small Artworks Show and Sale, it is running until 15 December, 2019. Marketing Intern: Madison GulenchynMy time at the VAC has been so interesting, I haven’t been stuck behind a desk, I’ve been able to explore the true potential and creativity social media holds.
Connecting with teachers and professional artists has been an interesting aspect of this internship. I recently joined in on a lesson when Courtice Secondary School’s Arts and Culture Specialist High Skills Major students came to visit, and took one of our school programs. The program was lead by a former VAC Education Coordinator Intern, Sam Jones. She worked with us through the Young Canada Works Internship program helped create education programs from JK- Grade 12 for visiting schools. Urban Visionaries was designed to look at Canada’s history including the early buildings in Bowmanville, like heritage sites. The course uses printmaking to look at ways to redevelop them for the community to use and explore for the future.
Something else I was fortunate enough to photograph was the Ron Benner exhibition in the third floor Loft Gallery. The exhibition, Trans/mission: Barley-Corn-Maize, has been something beautiful to document. From the intricacies in the design of the exhibitions to the interesting story behind it, and the VAC.  I’ve even been able to connect the exhibition to National Holidays that we can celebrate through our social media channels. There are wonderful photographs included in this exhibition to detail the history behind it, which is why we’re using them for May, which is National Photography Month! Stay tuned on our social media channels. Most recently, I was able to watch the installation of Sameer Farooq’s exhibition, Boop Museum. It was so interesting to watch boxes full of deaccessioned objects, turn into a beautiful, creative display. Being an intern at the VAC allowed me to meet Sameer and even help him move dolls out of his way, while he was labeling the names of the dolls! For sure not something I 100 per cent saw myself doing during this internship, but definitely an interesting, niche experience that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else! Blog post written by: Madison Gulenchyn
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This past month we’ve been hard at work to create engaging social media posts and looking outside of the box when it comes to how we control our social media as a brand.
While my current journey with the VAC has been amazing, I think it’s important to know that my history with the centre didn’t begin recently. It started when I was in Gr. 3. I first met the VAC in 2008, being an architecture and art lover, even in my early days, I instantly fell in love with the beautiful building, its surrounding area and what was held in the gallery spaces. I remember spending my time in the second floor painting studio, creating art I actually cared about making. I chose the centre for my field placement, not only because I believe in the power of community and art but because I love the work I see the VAC doing. I see the inclusive space that has been created for a diverse community, and how the VAC strives to better itself despite already being incredible. As a journalist, I love stories. Learning the stories behind the very building the VAC lives in, the stories behind artists, teachers and staff, how they all got to be where they are today have inspired me. At first, I was very nervous for the change of scenery and schedule. My first day, is a day I will never forget. When I got to my desk that morning, I looked up and noticed everyone’s business cards with their emails and phone numbers on my whiteboard. I have never felt so welcomed in such a short amount of time. If I’m being honest, part of me never wants to leave the VAC, it’s almost like a second home. While the building is gorgeous and has definitely helped it feel like home, it wouldn’t feel that way without the wonderful people who are behind the VAC. My time spent here at the VAC has been enlightening and changing, I will remember it as a defining time in my life where I met new people, I was introduced to the local art community and was taught so many new things to bring with me in my future endeavours. |
Welcome to the Beyond the Barley, the Visual Art Centre of Clarington’s (VAC) blog. Our blog instills the same messages our vision and mission as a brand do.
A place to connect people of all ages and backgrounds in a creative place for learning and discovery. We want our blog to hold the same mission to create an inclusive space where ideas can be exchanged, questions are asked, and connections are made. If you're curious about our history, click here to learn more about our history as a former barley mill. Authors
This blog has multiple contributors such as VAC Interns, Camp Counsellors and staff. If you have any questions about this blog, please email communications@vac.ca ArchivesCategories |
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