Western Canada's art magazine since 2002
7 November 2017 Vol 2 No 23 ISSN 2561-3316 © 2017
From the Editor
Portia Priegert
It’s been a year since we launched Galleries West Digital to replace the print version of Galleries West. It’s been fun this week to flip back through the first 25 digital issues – that's one issue every two weeks – and reflect on how our online presence has evolved. If you want a tour, simply click on the three red bars in the upper right hand corner of this page and then the red box to see a drop-down menu of our previous covers. Click on any cover and you can browse through that issue.
One thing that struck me is the number of stories we’ve published. At six features per issue, that makes a whopping 156 pieces over the last year. Another thing I noticed was how our covers have been graced by the work of many fine artists – including 16 who were born in the West, live here now, or have been based here in the past. Seven covers feature work by Indigenous artists, four of them women. Our overall gender balance? Of the 15 solo shows featured on the cover, seven were by women and eight by men.
One goal for the coming year is to build a stronger sense of community around the magazine. We're exploring ways to raise our profile and connect more with readers. We'd love to hear from you – whether you post public comments or send an email directly to me or the publisher, Tom Tait. If you’re an artist, consider sending us a photo of your studio (studiophotos@gallerieswestdigital.ca) or one of your studio classes at school. We publish these images in the listings section in the back pages of Galleries West Digital.
In the front section of this new issue, we have stories about Victoria-based photographer Tara Nicholson, who has been documenting marijuana grow ops around British Columbia. Agnieszka Matejko looks at arresting portraits by a young Edmonton artist, Campbell Wallace. Beverly Cramp checks out a show of newspaper photographs of a century of protests and demonstrations, while Katherine Ylitalo catches up with former Calgarian Wil Murray, who is showing his latest work in London. Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, Stacey Abramson reviews an innovative show that connects contemporary Indigenous artists with ceramics of the past, and I chat with Vancouver artist Camrose Ducote.
Looking forward to the next issue, John Thomson is covering the opening of North Vancouver's Polygon Gallery, the largest photography venue in Western Canada. Veteran Ottawa arts journalist Paul Gessell offers his take on the latest biennial at the National Gallery of Canada, and John Grande checks out Gordon Smith’s unusual black paintings at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
This last year has been full of exploration as we developed and honed our digital presence. We hope you’ve enjoyed this new chapter in the magazine's life. And, remember, it’s easy to sign up for the email reminder we send every second Tuesday when we post our newest issue.
Until next time,
CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE: Stacey Abramson, Beverly Cramp, Agnieszka Matejko, Katherine Ylitalo
