welcome to our
SATURDAY EVENING POST
June 29th, 2024
Paul at Contemporary Calgary
This week, our visit to Calgary has been a remarkable journey through some extraordinary homes housing impressive private art collections. These collections are not only intelligent and rich in history but also reflect a profound passion for art. As gallerists, the most rewarding part of our visit is not only discovering the history of each piece—where it has been exhibited, its previous owners, and the inspiration behind its creation—but also understanding the collectors themselves. Learning about their lives, professions, and what drives their collecting passion adds a deep, personal layer to the experience.
Every artwork tells a story: some are gifted, others traded, commissioned, or lovingly purchased. As private collectors, we become the custodians of these works, charged with the responsibility of loving and caring for them, sometimes loaning them to museums and exhibitions for public enjoyment, and other times simply sharing them with fellow art enthusiasts. By doing so, we honour our role as good custodians.
Building a collection is a deeply personal endeavour. The best private collections are born from an unwavering confidence and self confidence mixed with an ongoing passion and thirst of knowledge for art. They are built out of works that truly resonate with us in profound and impactful ways. These works may be challenging to understand, digest, or even house. Sometimes, they might even stretch our financial limits at the time of purchase but ultimately prove to be immensely rewarding. We collect because we genuinely love the works and develop a deeply meaningful relationship with them over time. We collect certain works not to simply echo the choices of our friends, nor to chase the fleeting approval of others. We resist the urge to follow the crowd, to acquire art merely to fill a space, or out of an incomplete understanding of its deeper value or long term impact.
While we are unable to show you the private collections, we are thrilled to share a glimpse of Calgary's unique charm with you. Our journey through Calgary has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by the warmth of its residents, and the city's youthful vitality and substantial public and private support for the arts are evident everywhere we go.
Contemporary Calgary
Ghost of Canoe Lake: New works by Marcel Dzama
Being one of Canada’s most celebrated contemporary artists, Marcel Dzama, originally from Winnipeg creates works span various media, blending folk elements with influences from both art history and modern culture. His early career saw him co-found the renowned Royal Art Lodge, earning the group a reputation akin to a modern-day Group of Seven. Since moving to New York in 2004, Dzama has continued to refine his distinctive visual language, delving into the complex interplay between reality and the subconscious. Dzama's work, characterised by its blend of surrealism, dark humour, and theatrical figures, invites viewers into a world where imagination runs free. Each work strikes a delicate balance between whimsy and darkness, challenging conventional perspectives and drawing the viewer into a multifaceted narrative.
This exhibition signifies Dzama’s long-awaited return to the Canadian art scene, featuring a new body of work that draws on his deep connections to Canadian landscapes and his childhood memories in Manitoba and northern Saskatchewan. These works also address the pressing issue of climate change, juxtaposing nostalgic themes with contemporary concerns. Dzama revisits the iconic imagery of Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, reinterpreting their legacy with his unique perspective. A highlight of the exhibition is the film "To Live on the Moon (For Lorca)," commissioned for the Performa Biennale in New York in 2023, which adds a modern, interdisciplinary layer to his exploration of art and nature.
Marcel Dzama, Lady of Fire, 2023, Pearlescent acrylic, ink, watercolour, and graphite on paper.
”This extraordinary diptych was the last work completed for the present exhibition, a ferocious depiction of blazing wildfire that embodies the events of summer 2023, when Canadian wildfire blanketed the eastern United States in dense smoke. The rapacious glee and abandon of the central figure, swirling her fiery skirts, suggest the force of those infernos.”
Marchel Dzama, After the Fire Before the Flood, 2023, Watercolour, graphite, acrylic, and gold leaf on paper.
“This triptych shows a dystopian landscape of rising floodwaters and impending wildfires—the stuff of the daily news during the hot and smoky summer of 2023. At the centre, cats are rescued by a stoic-seeming denizen of the Gilded Age, while Tom Thomson appears at the right, struggling and then succumbing to his death by drowning. In this work, Thomson resonates as a symbol of loss and grieving—in his own time for the many young men killed in the First World War, in ours for the health of our planet and her diverse species. Picasso’s famous dove of peace figures at left, an image that Dzama often invokes with reference to the current war in Ukraine, the land of some of his forebears. The contemporary political figure evoked by the chubby pink piglet-in-arms is open to interpretation.
Marcel Dzama, My Body Belongs to Canada, But My Soul Belongs to Guadalajara, 2023, Fourteen-colour lithograph, pearlescent acrylic, ink, watercolour, and graphite on Rives BFK paper.
Marcel Dzama, I Didn’t Come From Your Rib…You Came From My Vagina (or the Origin of Us All), 2023, Pearlescent acrylic, ink, watercolour, and graphite on paper.
“Dzama once wrote the slogan ‘The Revolution will be Female’ in Spanish on a drawing featuring women insurrectionists. This drawing extends that theme with an anatomical assertion of woman’s power.”
Marcel Dzama with the very lovable Contemporary Calgary CEO David Leinster
Contemporary Calgary Senior Curator Danika Anand interviewing Marcel during an artist talk.
Paul with Marcel.
We were truly honoured to hear Marcel Dzama speak about his works, his creative process, and the passions that drive him. His insights into his inspirations and ongoing obsessions provided a deeper appreciation of the significance of his creations. Dzama’s discussion about his process revealed the layers of sometimes random thoughts and encounters, as well as some tender emotional moments embedded in each piece, shows his commitment to exploring the depths of human experience through art. His openness about his interests and the themes that persistently intrigue him added deeply beautiful and human side to the exhibition.
Marcel's presence at the exhibition was a gift, his warmth, humanity, and generosity left a lasting impression on all who attended. He engaged with the audience with genuine interest, and his thoughtful discussion on the relevance of his work in the broader context of art history was enlightening, providing valuable insights into how his art fits into and challenges the existing narrative in art. In the context of the space of Contemporary Calgary, the works are presented beautifully and thoughtfully, If you find yourself in Calgary, this exhibition is a must-see.
An Outdoor Excursion with Friends
Calgary has quite a number of fantastic public works, it was really on our wish list to see them as the opportunity arises during this trip. These works reflect the city's dynamic spirit and cultural commitment. These artworks celebrate Calgarian identity and heritage, creating landmarks that enhance the city's aesthetic appeal and cultural dialogue. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our friends, who devoted their time and spirit to guide us through some of their favorite pieces. We would like to share some of them with you.
ABOVE IMAGES:
Alex Caldwell sculptures in front of a private residence.
Alex Caldwell, Anomaly, 2020, Stainless steel, 156 x 144 x 72 in. One Park Central
Jaume Plensa, Wonderland, 7/8” and 3/4” coated mild steel rod, 40 x 44 x 26 ft. The Bow Tower Plaza. Second image courtesy of Jaume Plensa.
Micah Lexier, The Forest and The Trees, 2017, Cast aluminum tiles, bronze-coated with a patina finish, 27 1/2 x 27 1/2 ft, each individual tile is 24 centimetres square. Brookfield Place Calgary. First two images courtesy of AFK Studios.
This stunning metal tapestry in the north tower lobby of Brookfield Place, downtown Calgary, features a grid of 1,225 hand-finished metal tiles. Each 24-centimeter square tile, detailed with raised segments and numbers, gleams as winter light moves across its surface. Starting with a mid-century pattern book of floral cross-stitch designs, Lexier transformed them into 1,225 low-relief sculptural tiles, using a 3-D printer to cast them in aluminum and coat them with bronze. Lexier noted, “I love it when an artwork exceeds expectations. The bronze’s responsiveness to light became the defining quality of this piece.”
ABOVE IMAGES:
James Carl, thing’s end (Eau Claire – yellow), thing’s end (Eau Claire – red), 2020, Hand-hammered stainless steel with autobody paint finish. 126 x 108 x 40 in. (yellow), 114 x 102 x 102 in. (red). Eau Claire Tower lobby. Photos by Jared Sych.
ABOVE IMAGES:
Joe Fafard, Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si, Do, 2010, Powder-coated 5/8-inch-cut steel plate. Harley Hotchkiss Garden.
Calgary welcomed us with open arms, and we were deeply touched by the generosity of everyone who invited us into their homes, galleries, and museums. The conversations we had, the stories we heard, and the moments we shared with the people of Calgary made this week truly special. We are profoundly grateful to all who spent their time with us, sharing their passion for art and the unique spirit of this wonderful city. Our time here has been beautiful and fulfilling, and we carry with us heartfelt memories of Calgary.
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