Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery

[IEFBR14]

Curtain comes down on Art Bar

After more than nine years at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Art Bar Creative Dining & Wines is closing.

It will close at the end of this month or early June, said co-owner Bryan Izzard.

The decision to shut down the restaurant was “kind of a mutual thing” between him and the art gallery, he said.

Although the bistro-style restaurant was open six days a week in its early years, in more recent times it was only open for special parties, functions and before and after performances at the adjacent Centre in the Square.

“You can’t really build a full-time business around 100 shows a year (at the Centre),” Izzard said.

Moreover, he just felt it was time to move on. “Ownership of a restaurant for 10 years is very emotionally and mentally all-consuming.”

Art Bar was among the first restaurants in the province to introduce the “small plates concept,” where meals were larger than tapas snacks but smaller than a full dinner, but it may have been too far ahead of its time in doing so, he said.

His proudest accomplishment was launching a summer cooking school for kids at the Kitchener Market and at Glen Acres Church in Waterloo. Last year, it attracted 300 students and this year he is expecting an enrolment of 300 to 400.

Art Bar has four full-time staff, five or six part-time and another dozen occasional employees, he said.

Trained as a sommelier at George Brown College in Toronto, the 42-year-old Izzard is not sure what he will do next. “I want to clear my head and think about my options.”

Officials from the art gallery could not be reached for comment on what they plan to use the space for in future.

[Spokes]

The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery´s Winter 2011 exhibitions open January 21, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Admission is free and all are welcome.

Robert Linsley:
A Geomorphic Fantasy

Colwyn Griffith:
Something About Time

Michelle Allard:
Materialscape

View the info here>

Cash bar.

[Trogdor]

Martin de Groot was very complimentary of the Groundhog Day Meet-Up. Here's the article link:

Social networking blossoms with new Groundhog Day effort
Sat Jan 29 2011 | Martin de Groot | The Record | Link

“Groundhog Day Meet-Up,” the invitation said, with emphasis on “meet-up,” a happy graphic of a winking marmota monax (Punxsutawney Phil, perhaps, or one of his Canadian counterparts — Wiarton Willie, Spanish Joe, Shubenacadie Sam, Balzac Billy, Brandon Bob) checking his watch and very little additional information:

“February 2, 2011 at 7 pm at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery. Sponsored by Wonderful Waterloo, with a 6 More Weeks of Winter Fashion Show by Gloss ...”

That’s about it. But it was enough to get my attention.

It’s great, first of all, to see the art gallery and friends make something of Groundhog Day.

[UrbanWaterloo]

New Director Announced at Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
March 10, 2011 | PDF

The Board of Directors of the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery is delighted to announce the appointment of Shirley Madill as the Gallery’s new Executive Director, effective May 2, 2011. One of Canada’s foremost curators of contemporary art and senior administrators in the visual arts field, Ms. Madill brings a wealth of experience, dedication to contemporary art and innovative programming approaches to her new role at KW|AG.

“Shirley is just the right candidate to continue to build on and advance the Gallery’s trajectory of success, which has been based on programming excellence, community engagement and fiscal responsibility,” notes Judith Stephens-Wells, President of the Gallery’s Board of Directors. “That the Gallery truly has taken its place on the national stage is evidenced by our ability to attract a new Director with as high a profile and as qualified as Shirley. We know KW|AG’s future is in good hands and we look forward to seeing the Gallery’s continued progress under her leadership.”

Ms. Madill currently serves as Director of Rodman Hall Art Centre at Brock University, and is the former Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the Art Gallery of Hamilton and Senior Curator of Contemporary Art and Photography at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. She holds a Master of Arts in International and Cultural History as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History and Art History from the University of Manitoba, and has completed the prestigious Museum Leadership Program at the Getty Institute in Los Angeles.

Teaching has always been an important aspect of her career and she has taught a variety of curatorial, museum studies, photography and art appreciation courses at Brock University, the University of Victoria, Mohawk College and the University of Manitoba. She has served the national and international Gallery community through Board positions with the University and College Association of Canadian Art Galleries, the International Council of Museums, and the Ontario
Association of Art Galleries. An active speaker and presenter, Ms. Madill regularly conducts lectures and talks on such topics as public art, creative cities, and the role of museums and public art galleries in their communities.

“I have been impressed by KW|AG’s increasing importance on the national Gallery scene and I consider it both an honour and a wonderful opportunity to step into this position at this stage in its development. I sense a real spirit of innovation, excitement and willingness to collaborate in this community and I believe a public art gallery has a vital and central role to play in helping to shape and contributing to such an environment,” comments Ms. Madill.

Recruitment of a new director was triggered last fall by Director General Alf Bogusky’s announcement that he would be stepping down, as of March 31, 2011, after nearly 10 years of service to KW|AG. Led by a committee of the board that included business and community leaders, the search attracted candidates from across the country, and internationally. Mr. Bogusky’s contribution to the Gallery was acknowledged at a special public gathering Friday March 4, attended by more than 150 patrons, supporters and V.I.P.s.

[Danielle.Babcock]

Another Victory Over the Sun and Let’s Glow shine at KW Art Gallery’s latest showcase, Let There Be Light.



The exhibits premiered Jan. 20 with opening remarks by museum director Shirley Madill. Attendance was notable, and the crowd spilled into the corridor of the gallery to listen to Madill’s address.

Purposely showcased in winter, Let There Be Light provides a contrast of light to the dark season of winter. Madill welcomed the exhibit by calling it, “a source of illumination”.

In Another Victory Over the Sun, the gallery space is lit only by the art itself. The journey into the exhibit begins by crossing a wooden dock with water beneath, lit by a floating orb of light. Immediately, the viewer is welcomed to become part of the work. Madill explained, “The gallery becomes a stage.”

The unique, interactive experience allows viewers to locate themselves within the art. Reflections, shadows and participatory requirements submerse the viewer into the eerie experience. Within the darkness, the given light is appreciated.

Let’s Glow provides the ultimate juxtaposition to the other collection by flooding the senses with vivid colour and stark gallery lighting. Children cooed with glee at the transforming graphic characters on TV sets.

The kaleidoscope of bold shapes, colours and lines are a refreshing birth of joy into the somber season of winter. The exhibit begs for a soaring imagination to fantasize about the mythical creatures presented.

Allow light and colour to flood your senses this winter at the KW|AG. All are welcome. Admission is free or by donation.

End dates:
Another Victory of the Sun – March 11, 2012
Let’s Glow – March 4, 2012

Website more info:
http://www.kwag.ca