MUSINGS: VIEWING ECOLOGIES OF LANDSCAPE

Special Edition | Alexandra Forand

Over the last few months I have had the privilege of working on the exhibit Ecologies of Landscape at the Barbara Edwards Contemporary (BEC) Project Space. My roles a research assistant on this project, was to help instal the exhibition, offer tours in the space, and (in a couple of weeks) help deinstall the exhibition. The idea for the exhibit came out of two conversations in the Spring of 2018 between Barbara Edwards and curator and Professor, Mark Cheetham. The exhibit was originally meant to consist of a few pieces by local artists, a small opening, and be on display to the public for a few weeks during the holiday season The curator’s and gallery owner’s ambitions for the show grew considerably as we discussed what it could be. The exhibit featured nine artists (a mix of Canadian and international), hosted an opening in which over 300 people attended, and boasts numerous tours with viewing extending into late January.

Photograph courtesy of Hana Nikčević.

While landscape art has been an area of focus for large blockbuster exhibits in 2018 (for example, Anthropocene at the Art Gallery of Ontario and Terroir: Then and Now at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Yarmouth), Professor Cheetham is no stranger to landscapes in art. His book, Landscapes into Eco Art: Articulations of Nature Since the ‘60s, published in 2018, was the result of 15 years of research. Professor Cheetham believes “the works in the exhibition give visitors the opportunity to think about landscape and societal issues in a range of contemporary contexts.”

Photograph courtesy of Hana Nikčević.

Neda Omidvar, the director of BEC and assistant curator of Ecologies of Landscape, supervised the collection and installation of the art in the exhibit. She explains that the uniqueness of the exhibition stems from the immense community support. Each of the artists, private art galleries, and other entities (locally or internationally) who were approached with the idea of this exhibit were encouraging. The ready support of the community illustrates the importance of an exhibition of this kind.

Photograph courtesy of Hana Nikčević.

Hana Nikčević, head research assistant, has worked tirelessly behind the scenes of the exhibition. She believes exhibits like this are important because they remind us that ecological awareness is vital. Hana explains that “there are multiple approaches to this topic––it can and should be addressed not just by or through the sciences.”

Photograph courtesy of Hana Nikčević.

In Canada, landscape painting has been an important way to construct “nature” as well as our own identities. Notable artists include Emily Carr, David Milne, and Paul Kane. That being said, artists from many places and times have grappled with landscape, environment, and human interaction. Now, more than ever, it is important to draw attention to complex issues, such as access to land, land stewardship, and land degradation, that affect this planet that we call home.