Cambridge Galleries Architecture in Canada Exhibit's Venice Premiere is a Local Coup

[UrbanWaterloo]

'Panoramic' architectural exhibit to represent Canada in Venice
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 | 1:39 PM ET
CBC News - http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2008/02/19/biennale-arch-crosscanada.html

An exhibit celebrating buildings from regions across Canada will represent the country at the 2008 Venice Biennale in Architecture this fall.

The Canada Council for the Arts announced Tuesday that 41 Degrees to 66 Degrees: Architecture in Canada — Region, Culture, Tectonics will be the country's official selection for the prestigious festival, which runs Sept. 14 to Nov. 23.

Co-curated by architectural professors John McMinn and Marco Polo, the exhibit examines buildings from six cultural and geographic regions: Arctic, West Coast, mountain, Prairie, continental and Atlantic.

Featured in the exhibit are buildings designed by some of the country's top firms and that draw on iconic building styles — including the igloo, tepee and sod house — while also addressing a variety of issues, such as cultural identity, climate and sustainability.

The exhibit "embodies a new wave of thinking and living in our society," Canada Council director Robert Sirman said in a statement, adding that it offers a "panoramic view of contemporary Canadian architecture to the international community."

Originally launched in Cambridge, Ont., at the Design at Riverside Gallery in 2005, the exhibit has also been shown in Edmonton, Toronto, Regina and Halifax. This year, it will also travel to London, Ont., and Surrey, B.C., and is scheduled to stop in Whitehorse in 2009.

For the Biennale, the exhibit will be bolstered by accompanying literature as well as additional audio and video material.



Exhibit's Venice premiere is a local coup
February 20, 2008
KEVIN SWAYZE - RECORD STAFF - CAMBRIDGE
http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/311462


A travelling show created in Cambridge to highlight the best in new Canadian buildings will represent Canada at the world's biggest architecture festival.

Two years ago, Cambridge Galleries unveiled 41 degrees to 66 degrees: Architecture in Canada -- Region, Culture, Tectonics.

Yesterday, the Canada Council said the show will represent the country at the 2008 Venice Biennale in Italy.

This was the first time the Cambridge Galleries, run by the Cambridge Public Library, have created an art show that's gone international.

The achievement might seal a possible deal to bring the Biennale's proposed North American expansion to Cambridge and Waterloo Region next year.

"It certainly strengthens our position and our credibility about where we're going," said Rick Haldenby, director of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture. "We can do this."

Haldenby has been working behind the scenes for more than a year to make Cambridge and Waterloo Region home to the proposed expansion of the Biennale across the Atlantic.

He's optimistic the deal will fall into place for 2009, but to make it happen signatures must be dry by June.

"This is, to be honest, a very useful piece to fall into place," he said of the Cambridge show's selection for the Biennale.

"It certainly helps the cause."

La Biennale, which happens every even-numbered year, will run from Sept. 14 to Nov. 23. Haldenby's vision is to bring key parts of the display from Venice here for a show in the following years. He would also add components to localize the show.

Such an event would boost the region's artistic credibility on a world stage and draw tens of thousands of visitors, supporters say.

Mayor Doug Craig announced the Cambridge show's trip to Venice at the Riverside Gallery, in the School of Architecture, during the opening of Logotopia, a show about the architecture of libraries.

He hinted that more good news was brewing about the Biennale.

"I think it is very obvious this is a great step to looking at the Biennale coming to Cambridge," he said.

Cambridge MP Gary Goodyear praised the city for growing its artistic side in a big way.

"You can palpate the movement of this community onto the world stage."

The 41 degrees to 66 degrees show presents contemporary buildings from all parts of the country. Architecture professors John McMinn of Cambridge and Marco Polo of Ryerson in Toronto were lead curators.

The show going to Italy will be a customized version of the drawings, models and art now travelling across Canada, said Mary Misner, Cambridge Galleries director.

The Venice presentation will be tailored over the next six months into a more interactive event, fitting for the Canada pavilion in Venice, Misner said.

"It's kind of a rejuvenated version."

[UrbanWaterloo]

City council approves Venice study
Ray Martin, Cambridge Times
Apr 03, 2008 - 12:01 AM
http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news/local/article/85552--city-council-approves-venice-study

First it was the school of architecture, then the new city hall, and Drayton Theatre. Now city officials are contemplating another "monument" .

Monday night council voted to pay for half of an $80,000 feasibility study to determine whether or not Cambridge should partner with Venice, Italy, to host the world's largest architectural exhibition - Venice Biennale.

While the study passed six to one in favour of funding a study, several councillors voiced concerns.

"Here we go again creating another monument," said Coun. Rick Cowsill, who questioned why the project wasn't brought to council prior to setting the 2008 budget last week.

Chief librarian Greg Hayton explained that Rick Haldenby, director of University of Waterloo School of Architecture, couldn't bring the project forward until they had support from an anonymous donor who is paying the other half of the study's cost.

"The problem is they don't work along the same timelines as the city," he said.

Mayor Doug Craig took exception to Cowsill's shot at creating another monument.

"Those other monuments seemed to have worked out pretty well for the city."

City chief administrative officer Don Smith told council that part of the proceeds from the sale of the former Woolco building at 90 Main St. can be used to pay for the study and two city staff members will sit on its steering committee.

"We want to go through this carefully," he said. "It's a big commitment on the part of the city and we need solid information before any recommendation can be made."

Coun. Linda Whetham was the only councillor to vote against the study.

"We have a lot of other things that need to be done first," she said. "We seniors need a new seniors' centre, the youth need a new youth centre, we need to do something about job losses and then there are the potholes that have to be fixed. I'm trying to look at this with an open mind, but right now we're not ready for this."

In an interview after the meeting, Whetham said the project is outside the city's mandate.

"Our job is to take care of the trash, put up stop signs and things like that."

Councillors Karl Kiefer and Gary Price also had reservations. They, along with Cowsill, want to make sure the public has a say in what happens.

"For something of this magnitude, we need to go to the citizens," Kiefer said. "I can see the benefits, but this needs careful consideration."

Another concern Kiefer had is whether Cambridge is ready for a different kind of culture.

"This is a hockey town and I'm not sure our citizens are ready for this type of thing," he said.

Councillors Pam Wolf and Ben Tucci supported the project. Before asking for public input, Wolf said council needs to gather all available information - that means completing the feasibility study now.

She also noted that a project like the Venice Biennale would create jobs in the hospitality industry, increase tourism and again put Cambridge on the map.

Tucci said it's easy to take care of potholes, but council needs to have vision to make "bold decisions that will take the city to the next level".

Tucci said the project may be "too big for Cambridge, but it isn't too big for Waterloo Region."

"It's a huge opportunity that will benefit not just Galt, but other parts of the city, as well as North Dumfries and up as far as even St. Jacobs," he said. "We're talking about Venice, Italy here and they want to partner up with us. It just doesn't get better than that."

With council approval, terms of reference for the study will be drawn up immediately. An interim report is due in June and the final report will be completed by September. Once the report is tabled a meeting will be called to get public input.

In making his presentation to council, Hayton noted that a number of North American cities have asked to be called should Cambridge decide not to proceed.

[roberto]

I am looking forward to updates about this amazing oppurtunity.