Western Canada’s art magazine since 2002
10 December 2024 Vol 9 No 25 ISSN 2561-3316 © 2024
Shelley Boettcher
From the Editor
Books! One of the best things to do in late December is to curl up on the couch with a few good books, a cup of tea and some tunes. Watch the snow fall (or rain, if you're on the West Coast.) Flip another page. And another. Maybe take a little nap. Then read some more. Bliss.
With that in mind, Galleries West contributor Katherine Ylitalo has pulled together some of this year's best art books in 15 Notable Art Books of 2024 — plus she mentions a couple to watch for in 2025.
Then Becky Rynor heads to the National Gallery of Canada for a look at Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction, on now through March 2, 2025.
On the West Coast, Yani Kong takes us for a look at the first North American survey exhibition of Firelei Báez’s work on until Mar. 16, 2025 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The show, Kong says, “hints at changes in store as the VAG begins its steady glow-up in the coming months and years.”
Abbas Akhavan has been named the artist who will represent Canada at the 2026 Venice Biennale. But you can see his work now. Abbas Akhavan and Rochelle Goldberg, Disembody, continues through Jan. 25 at Catriona Jeffries in Vancouver.
In Winnipeg? Mayberry Fine Art is holding an exhibition and sale of 53 paintings by Joshim (Josh) Kakegamic from the estate of Jerry Litman. The exhibition, Joshim Kakegamic: The Litman Collection, is being held at Mayberry’s Exchange District gallery through Dec. 21.
And if you're in Kleinburg, Ont., don't miss Clarence Gagnon’s beloved paintings for the novel Maria Chapdelaine. Created in the 1930s, they're on view are on view once again at McMichael Canadian Art Collection — but they can only be shown every three years.
And back to books. After seeing Katherine's story, a few readers reached out with suggestions for books to check out. Chuck is looking forward to opening up Dorothy Grant: An Endless Thread, a new book celebrating the life and career of Indigenous-Canadian fashion designer Dorothy Grant, whose work is found in collections around the world including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While it isn't a new release, Phaidon's Great Women Artists (2019) got a shout-out from reader Grady. And another reader sent a note about the 2015 release by Molten Wood and Feral Ideas: Art and Words from Outside the Outside by Canadian artist and author Caril Chasens.
What's new and art-related in your life? Drop us a note. We're here to chat!
CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE: Agnieszka Matejko, Katherine Ylitalo, Becky Rynor, Yani Kong
We acknowledge the support of the Government of Alberta Media Fund, the Government of Canada Periodical Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts.
