visual art

One of Katherine Takpannie's photos

Each year, the award recognizes three outstanding Canadian photographers under the age of 35. This year due to COVID-19 six were recognized — two years’ worth of winners — three from 2020: Noah Friebel, Curtiss Randolph, and Katherine Takpannie, and three others from 2021: Dustin Brons, Chris Donovan, and Dainesha Nugent-Palache.

“That’s something that I really appreciate about the Ottawa art scene—you have more freedom because there is no trend, because there is no pride in just being here, you just have to make work.”—Jinny Yu, associate professor of painting at the University of Ottawa

Ode, this year’s grad show, will be one of the largest ever. An annual tradition, this is the last opportunity for artists in their final year of their undergraduate degree to present their work that has been the product of four years of artistic exploration and self-discovery. The exhibit is run entirely by the students, who organized themselves into groups responsible for fundraising, planning for the opening night, or creating the catalogue.

The nature of this gallery makes its latest exhibit, Full Catastrophe, appear almost ironic. The pieces, all created by University of Ottawa MFA candidates, disrupt the tranquility, leaving behind a catastrophe of sorts, reflecting the nature of the seven artists’ pieces featured in the exhibit.

Curious Creatures is Studio LaMouche’s latest exhibit, and includes graphic drawings and prints that use an abstract take on anatomy. Lucie B’s pieces in the show are part of her ongoing “Fly” collection, which includes black-and-white prints of the insect taking part in human activities—in one drawing he is playing a guitar, in another wearing a suit.

One of the artists behind this mural was Kalkidan Assefa, an Ottawa-based artist also known as @drippin_soul, his Instagram handle and tag for his art. When members of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) decided they wanted a mural painted in the University Centre (UCU) for Black History Month, they knew exactly who to call.

Rachel Kalpana James, one of the artists involved with the exhibition, explains that all the artists who contributed to There’s Room have had experiences or a personal connection to migration. Each artist has a unique story about crossing borders—some have lived in Ottawa for many years, whereas others have recently arrived.

Mackenzie Valley pipeline revisited through portraits and interviews Photo courtesy of Linda MacCannell “If you want to have a political debate, this is a good place to do it, ” said Drew Ann Wake. An art exhibit exploring the landmark 1977 Berger Inquiry into the building of the Mackenzie River Valley River Pipeline is coming …

U of O student a finalist in RBC Painting Competition  Photo by Tina Wallace In a packed room at the National Gallery of Canada on Oct. 2, the RBC Canadian Painting Competition finalists waited to hear who would win the grand prize of $25,000. The annual competition gives finalists exposure and finances early in their …

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