Next week, I will be in Calgary for the opening of my exhibition with Stacy Lundeen at The New Gallery. The show, titled Pretty Boys, You Owe Me, is a two-person show that includes works by both Stacy and me dealing with text, self-deprecation and lust. I feel like there is also a bit of humour running through both of our works…this will be my first two-person show and it’s kind of interesting, two artists working separately and then being shown alongside each other. A dialogue will take place between the works, no doubt, and perhaps one artist’s work will colour the reading of another’s, and vice versa, but I think this is a good thing. I’m looking forward to the hanging of this exhibition, as I think it will be a fun exercise in itself.
There’s a funny story about this series of drawings, pretty boys kill me. When I was first starting the work, I applied for a grant (I won’t name which one), and in my application I had stated that I wanted to show this body of work in some artist-run centres in Canada. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive the grant but when I called for feedback, the only quotes written down from the jury were, “I don’t like the work” and “No artist-run centre will ever show this work”. Not the most positive or helpful feedback, but it didn’t deter me from continuing with this project. And I’m happy to say that the series of drawings, which includes some new Phantasmagoria drawings, will be shown starting next Friday at the artist-run centre, The New Gallery.
This is the first time I will be showing in Calgary, which I’m excited about as I’ve heard good things about the art scene there and am looking forward to having a look around, but it’s also the first time that a body of my work has traveled for a show. The New Gallery has been great to work with. They also commission writers to write a text in conjunction with their exhibitions. Beauty and Repetition, by Karly Morimer, can be read on The New Gallery’s website.
Pretty Boys, You Owe Me opens October 17 at 8 pm at The New Gallery in Calgary. The show runs until November 15. If you are in Calgary, I hope to see you next Friday at the opening night.