Art Matters brings it home
Previously a two-week festival, this year’s Art Matters Festival has stretched itself out to one month, allowing plenty of time to get out and experience the diversity of Concordia’s undergraduate art all around Montreal. Week three shone the spotlight on student shows concerned with the equity within Fine Arts.
UNTITLED at VAV Gallery
Florence Yee with her paintings and VAV Gallery co-director Eli-Bella Wood. Photo by Laura Mongollón
With drinks, snacks, live music by student band Milla Thyme, and ongoing conversation, the finissage of UNTITLED- a show devoted to representing the work of artists of colour based at Concordia- proved to be one of the liveliest events in memory at the VAV Gallery. “It was a good opportunity for those with few opportunities,” reflects 2nd-year Painting and Drawing student Florence Yee, who presented paintings engaging with diasporic Chinese identity.
A community was definitely formed from this exhibition. We were very glad to develop a network of support, as it can be a very solitary experience when individually advocating for our personal issues.
– Florence Yee
Islands at Espace Cercle Carré
Jordan Beaulieu and Art Matters coordinator Christina Richer. Photo by Laura Mongollón
It could be a sense of mystery- or perhaps a sense of winter wanderlust- that has led to Islands receiving plenty of buzz as a not-to-miss Art Matters exhibition. The show has caught the interest of The Link, as well as Montreal Rampage. At the onset, 4th-year Studio Arts student curators Jordan Beaulieu and Zeke Best Rothfels were nervous about choosing such a specific theme- simply, islands.
Every Fall, all undergrads at Concordia are welcome to submit their artwork to Art Matters. This year’s edition was the first in seventeen years to release the themes of the exhibitions conceived by student curators during the call-out.
Honestly, we are still amazed that there was so much strong work about islands among this year’s Art Matters submissions.
– Jordan Beaulieu
xxxxxxxx*8 at POPOP Gallery
Gabrielle-Verette Paquette (wood sculpture), Mel Arsenault (ceramic figurines), Belote (photography), Tina Lam (painting on metal)
One of the most unusual proposals Art Matters has taken up in years, xxxxxxxx*8 came to fruition simply by randomly selecting applicants to the festival. The title refers to the show’s formula that used 8-digit student numbers in order to curate the exhibition. Curator and 6th-year Photography student Edwin Isford proposed the idea after having participated in several juries and exhibitions at Concordia, including having co-coordinated Art Matters in 2015.
As an art student at Concordia, I have engaged with the student body on extra-curricular levels as gallery co-director, exhibiting artist, or in other roles. The relationship between curator and artist could feature an unbalanced power dynamic, however this hierarchy is necessarily flattened when both these positions are held by students at the same university.
– Edwin Isford
With one exhibition remaining, it’s obvious what not to miss! The View From Here is a one-night event March 27 at Espace Cercle Carré presenting works and performances by Concordia-based queer and women artists engaging with themes of sexuality.
Keep up on Arts Matters! Follow the festival on Instagram (@artmattersfestival) or on Facebook. Check out upcoming events and exhibitions online at www.artmattersfestival.org
