From the Editor

Western Canada's art magazine since 2002

27 March 2018  Vol 3 No 7  ISSN 2561-3316  © 2018

From the Editor

I was hanging out with some new acquaintances recently when the conversation turned to an image the host had painted on the wall of his apartment. The others admired it. “Don’t ask me,” I blurted. “I’m an art critic.”

The host fell silent and I found myself pondering the relative ranking of lawyers, cockroaches and art critics in the popular imagination. Cockroaches may have the edge. At least they can scuttle under the sofa.

I actually consider myself more a journalist than a critic. (“I know a lot about art,” I sometimes say. “But I don’t know what I like.”) Still, as editor, I track exhibitions and select the shows we cover. Opening my email some days feels like Christmas morning. But I get to rifle through Santa’s sack and grab the goodies. So, perhaps I’m more of an art mugger.

A fellow I know has been spending time with some folks who are experimenting with a gift economy based on kindness and generosity. Let’s say you’re hungry and go into a restaurant. Instead, of paying your bill, you pay for the person who follows you. Ha, you might scoff, that restaurant will soon go broke. But that hasn’t happened. People often pay more rather than less, even when no one is looking. Apparently, it's something to do with our innate joy in giving, or, if you want to be harder nosed, a human history where reciprocation and sharing resources ensured survival.

This magazine has some elements of a gift ecosystem. It’s offered free online and galleries  pay nothing for the stories we write. And while we give away editorial content – and access to our immense online archive – we're happy when someone buys an ad or a listing because even a digital magazine has overhead, including remunerating writers for their work.

We're also happy when readers share and like our stories, because that spreads awareness of both the art and the magazine, and demonstrates that readers are engaged with our content. More than a thousand of you have done that in recent weeks with our most popular story ever. So please "like" us with the usual button at the top of each story and try out our new "share" buttons, now to the left of text – they follow you around, just like that shy kid in grade school who wanted to be friends. 

What's in this issue? Ottawa writer Paul Gessell considers a new book that looks at the legacy of Inuit artist Annie Pootoogook. He also writes about a bare-shouldered self-portrait of Emily Carr, now on display at Calgary’s Glenbow Museum. It turns out experts can’t quite agree whether it's really Carr, who was quite prudish.

Meanwhile, John Thomson reviews Bombhead, a sobering show about art in the nuclear age, and Agnieszka Matejko muses about art's ability to provide solace. We round things out with two commercial shows – Patrick Dunford in Calgary and Patricia Johnston in Victoria.

Looking ahead to April, we’re rounding up some “best bets” for Vancouver's Capture photo festival, reviewing the Jimmie Durham show at the Remai Modern in Saskatoon, and celebrating Prairie ceramic artist Jack Sures, who just won the Saidye Bronfman Award.

Until next time,

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE:  Beverly Cramp, Paul Gessell, Agnieszka Matejko