On Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 7:00 PM, the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba will host a reception occasioned by two exhibitions, i {heart} Brandon in the Community Gallery, and Nothing Smells in Absolute Zero in the Main Gallery. The latter was coordinated by the AGSM’s new curator, Lucie Lederhendler, and marks the first curatorial project of her new role.
i {heart} Brandon brings together nearly 100 works of art by Westman residents, all of whom are responding to the question, “What do you love about Brandon?” The result is a celebration of our city, its assets, and, importantly, the range of perspectives residing in it. Sponsored by Brandon Tourism, submissions to this exhibition will be evaluated by a team of four judges to win a cash prize in three categories: Youth, Teen, and Adult. A fourth “audience choice” winner will be selected via physical ballots, which will be available at the gallery until April 21, with winners announced April 22.
Nothing Smells in Absolute Zero is a solo exhibition of Brandon-based artist Chris Reid’s hyper, uncanny artwork. She was recently involved in the touring exhibition A Prairie Vernacular (AGSM Main Gallery, January 14 – March 13, 2021) as an artist and educator. Over the span of her career thus far, Reid’s practice has consistently illustrated a landscape populated by unreal residents formed from either Ukranian mythology or her own imagination. Absolute Zero marks a shift in her practice, from a documentarian to a witness. Reid has worked in the “homelessness industry,” as she calls it, for over a decade. During that time, a few nagging questions arose and persisted about the more abstract qualities of house and home. Longtime residents of Brandon will recognize much of the built environment in this exhibition, though new arrivals will not, as they are extinct, such as the 8th Street Bridge, the burned italianate home on Fourth and Louise, or the absent house next to the Princess Grocery.
The reception will take place virtually, with invited on-site guests. After a virtual tour of i {heart} Brandon, Reid and Lederhendler will walk through the exhibition and reflect on the processes of artmaking and curating. The following day at 1:30 PM, they will meet again for a Lunch & Learn that will be hosted entirely online. Live-streamed events can be accessed through the AGSM’s Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter channels.
Following health and safety protocols, the Gallery is open to the public with limited hours (Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12-5PM and Thursday 12-8:30PM) and controlled capacity. The presentation and publication of Nothing Smells in Absolute Zero is generously supported by New System Store, SuttonHarrison Realty, and Dr. Derry Dector.
