EBA: Shaken, but not stirred

A while ago, I wrote an article about some of the Enriched Bread Artists (EBA) taking part at the Moscow Biennale, see Link.

Svetlana Swinimer, one of the EBA at the Moscow Biennale

Now, the EBA artists invite all of us for a photo exhibition in the context of the CULTURE DAYS.

That's what they state on their web site – which makes me really curious about their show: “In the aftermath of the storm that blew the roof off EBA we are having a defiant "in your face weather!" photo-based exhibit. EBA is taking part in Culture Days again this year. We are playing host to an eclectic mix of local photographers from the well known to the should be known. Think “Wizard of Oz” meets “James Bond” and you get Shaken, but not stirred an irreverent take on weather with courage and danger and bears, oh my!”

They refer to the huge storm that hit the stage on Bluesfest and also damaged the roof of the EBA building, see on their facebook page.

Some artists' studios suffered from major water damage – but now it looks like they all recovered so far to brave the weather with this exciting exhibit.

Opening Night: Friday, September 30th, 2011, from 6 to 9 PM.

951 Gladstone Avenue, just off Preston Street.

The exhibition continues:

Saturday, October 1st, 11-5 PM.

Sunday, October 2nd, 11-5 PM.

Admission is free.

Participating Artists:

Marion Bordier, Erin Molly Fitzpatrick, Meaghan Haughian, Adrienne Herron, Marika Jemma, Karina Kraenzle, Claude Latour, Catherine Levasseur-Terrien, Gavin McLintock, Don Monet, Brad Snow, Rémi Thériault, Cara Tierney, Sharon Vanstarkenburg, David Westrop, Joyce Westrop, Ted Willis and Justin Wonnacott.

The Culture Days weekend (this weekend) includes – all over Canada – activities that celebrate the creative expression of the communities. Culture Days features free, hands-on, interactive activities and “behind the scenes” experiences. I true chance to discover a world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators and designers.


http://www.culturedays.ca/en/2011-activities

And remember: End of October is the annual EBA OPEN STUDIO! Looking forward to it!

Last Day of Carravaggio @ National Gallery / Copyright and the Re-monopolization of artworks

Today is the last day of National Gallery of Canada's (NGC) extraordinary summer exhibition “Carravaggio and his Followers in Rome” – so take your last chance to see it!

I would love to include a picture of a Caravaggio painting here (e.g. Saint Francis in Ecstasy, c. 1594-1595) and one by his follower Simon Vouet (The Fortune-Teller, c. 1620) that I adore. But I am not sure if I am allowed because of copyright restrictions by the NGC. Of course, this blog has no commercial approach, but publish pictures online has its pitfalls. The NCG policies is unclear in that point, stating “The Materials on this Site are provided for browsing, viewing, downloading, listening where such activities are limited to, non-commercial, educational and personal use only. By downloading, printing or otherwise using text, images, files from NGC web sites, users agree that they will limit their use of such files to fair dealing, and will not violate NGC's or any other party's proprietary rights.” (http://www.gallery.ca/en/terms-of-use.php)

The Canadian Copyright Act states in §29: “Fair dealing for the purpose of research or private study does not infringe copyright.” But does private study also include blogs? I don't think so, and there are huge discussions out there (e.g. see: http://blog.tech-and-law.com/2009/07/copyright-in-photo-of-painting-national.html).

Further, the Saint Francis in Ecstasy (c. 1594-1595) belongs to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art; and the amazing Martyrdom of Saint Matthew (c.1620) that the NCG uses in his exhibition pamphlet, belongs to Contarelli Chapel in Rome, but the photo credits in both cases belong to Art Resource that sits in New York. As far as I know, the international copyright law states that works of art comes into the public domain 70 years after the artist's death. But the question remains, if photographic reproductions of the artworks are also public domain. The National Portrait Gallery (UK) states that the digital reproductions of their paintings are recent works, and due to the amount of work that needed to be done to create them, qualify as copyrighted works. That means by using just reproduction techniques without creating an artistic original, they made a a new copyright, which – in my opinion – is a improper re-monopolization of artworks.

Nevertheless, the Caravaggio exhibit is a unique treasure chest of Caravaggio's master works – nevertheless that the NGC only owns paintings AFTER Caravaggio and not by himself (http://www.gallery.ca/en/see/collections/artist.php?iartistid=7957). But thanks to this exhibition, organized by the NGC and the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, we can see some of his masterpieces for the first time here in Canada.

http://www.gallery.ca/en/see/exhibitions/current/details/caravaggio-and-his-followers-in-rome-64

Must See Exhibits this Week in Ottawa

Tami Galili Ellis
THE COMMAND TO LOOK
@Blink Gallery

Exhibition Dates: September 8 - September 11, 2011

A series of mixed media expressive drawings, inspired by a vintage book from 1937 with the amusing title 'The command to look'. Tami Galili Ellis is an Israeli-Canadian artist. I am looking forward to see her mixed media drawings, because so far I just know her expressive, colorful works in oil. Her nudes are really impressive!

VERNISSAGE
Thursday, September 8, 6–9 pm
www.blinkgallery.ca
http://tamigaliliellis.com/


Bryna Cohen 
9/11 2001-2011
@ Galerie St. Laurent + Hill

Exhibition Dates: September 8 - September 21, 2011
Reception: Thursday, September 8, 2011 5 - 8pm

The Exhibition marks the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and examines its social and cultural impact. Bryna Cohen’s works are inspired by Picasso’s ‘La Guernica’ and Goya’s ‘Disasters of War’. Interesting remark: The City of Ottawa bought two works in this collection in 2010.

www.galeriestlaurentplushill.com


Mustapha Chadid: Présence /
Joe Fougère: Body & Blood 
@ L. A. Pai Gallery

Exhibition Dates: September 8 – 28, 2011
Meet the artists Thursday, September 8, 6-8 pm.

Mustapha gets his inspiration from transience that occurs in ecosystems. Matter is always recycled in nature and is never entirely lost. He recycles metal pieces in using them for his sculptures. His metal artworks, made of discarded bits of iron, show furthermore the traces that time leaves on metals.

Joe Fougère expresses in his jewellery his critical and often satirical ideas. Under the title 'Body&Blood', he deals with topics like religious conviction and commercial industry. His aim is to challenge ideologies of these existing systems; the exhibit includes e.g. jewellery that refers to rosary and pyramids.

www.lapaigallery.com