| Democracy as an art form
Two events at The New Gallery are vying for my pick as best art activity. Artist Trading Cards and Space for Space are based on flux principles of art as process and communal activity.
Artist Trading Cards, in particular, follow the belief that everyone is an artist and give it a practical, accessible application. Calgary became the official second home of the intiative in 1997, and since then, trading cards has been a regular event at The New Gallery. The phenomenon has also spread to other centres throughout Canada, Europe and most recently Australia.
The idea is both subversive and simple. Miniature works of art are created and traded on the last Saturday of each month. Aside from the size restriction, participants are free to work in any medium, style and subject matter. Trading takes place, as does conversation, and that is perhaps the greatest benefit.
Take a similar precept, give it a cabaret setting and you have Space for Space – or, rather, had. Unfortunately, Space for Space no longer takes place, but in its time it featured some of the most innovative performance-based activities in Calgary. Capitalizing on the empty space at the gallery between exhibitions, Space for Space began as a response to the growing experimental performance/ noise scene. Through an informal, non-hierarchal process, artists had the opportunity to perform for a consistent, appreciative audience.
Although Space for Space is on an indefinite hiatus, the activities it encouraged are continuing in different guises. A recent concert featured regular Space for Space-ers Cody Oliver and Darren Williams, alongside legendary avante-garde guitarist Dr. Eugene Chadbourne. Be sure to keep all your senses open for new developments in the future. |
