Geoffrey Farmer: The Sound of Footsteps as Summer Walks Away
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West Vancouver Art Museum 680 17 Street, West Vancouver, British Columbia V7V 3T2
Geoffrey Farmer, “A Fugitive Among the Flowers,” 2024
cardboard, white paint, wire, putty, book cut-outs (courtesy of the artist and Catriona Jeffries Gallery)
OPENING RECEPTION: OCTOBER 15, 6-8 p.m.
This exhibition features new work by the artist, Geoffrey Farmer. It is a site-specific contemplation of his experience growing up in West Vancouver, contrasted with his recent life, based elsewhere. Since representing Canada at the Venice Biennale in 2017, Farmer has sought out a different, quieter lifestyle, moving to Kauai, Hawaii. Recently, he has combined his art-making practice with intensive training as an agricultural farmer in Hawaii. His pursuit of this practical education is fueled by a deep concern for environmental sustainability and the devastating effects of recent natural disasters. In a serendipitous nod to his family name, Farmer has become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
For this project, the artist created work that is largely collage-based, from materials drawn in part from de-accessioned books recycled from the West Vancouver Memorial Library. Themes resonating within the exhibition include reflections on personal alienation, the impacts of climate change on individuals, and the importance of gratitude inspired by everyday pleasures. Having spent much of the last year learning outside, Farmer’s work here is a demonstration of his ongoing appreciation for the absurdity of life in the natural world.
Curatorial Tours:
- October 17, 2024, 2—3 p.m;
- October 19, 2024, 2—3 p.m;
- December 14, 2024, 2—3 p.m.
Farsi Tour: November 2, 2024, 2—3 p.m
Mandarin Tour: November 30, 2024, 2—3 p.m.
WVAM! Drop-In Family Art Project:
- October 19, 2024, 12—4 p.m;
- November 16, 2024, 12—4 p.m;
- November 30, 2024, 12—4 p.m.