The Alberta College of Art and Design's Illingworth Kerr Gallery features work by Edmonton artist Richard Boulet from January 8-March 27, 2009.
The artist's latest body of fibre work is decidedly reflexive in nature, confronting past behaviours and decisions that have impacted negatively on his mental state. Boulet's time-intensive working process provides the artist an opportunity to contemplate the past and, stitch by careful stitch, to put things right. As he explains, “To use quilting and cross-stitching in a body of work that alludes to the psychological dilemmas of redressing regrets seems appropriate, in that there is a strong sense of comfort and self care in these two fibre techniques. Things can't be so bad, so confused, so basically wrong, if the resulting product produced instils a sense of a home well tended, eventually.” Commenting on the contrast between two aspects of his practice, drawing and quilting/cross-stitching, Boulet explains that drawing provides him an outlet for another sort of expression. “My drawings have a much different job to accomplish. This is when I mentally let loose. I let my mind slide into the energy of the atavistic psychological experience. I jump into the psyche with abandon and see what I can pull out by the seat of my pants. Drawing can be a testing ground to see if I have finally managed to recover to the point that there is no hidden danger lurking in my mind. Yes, the schizophrenia is always present at a certain level, but rules for maintaining mental health do exist, in part; drawing rules that were learnt in university and on my own. It is the sublime training of experience applied to the task at hand that eventually allows the fears and joys of the past to be investigated and given light.”
Don't let missing this show be a regret you have to reflect on, go out and see it!
Alberta College of Art + Design
1407-14 Ave NW
Calgary, AB Canada
HOURS : Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted)
2 comments:
I shall have to go see that----thank you for posting the info!
Karin and i went this morning, and HIGHLY recommend it. I hadn't known what to expect, even after reading as much as i could find about Boulet, and was thoroughly engaged at the show.
Gender is usually NOT an issue for myself in viewing another's art, but it *was* surprising to see such a feminine touch in the works.
Post a Comment