On the occasion of Canadian Art magazine's 25th birthday, a variety of artists, curators and gallerists were interviewed about their thoughts on the magazine and the national art scene it represents.
In this 25th anniversary interview, iconic photo artist Edward Burtynsky talks about the ways that Canadian Art connected him to the wide scope of the country's creative landscape, giving him a clearer picture of Canada's cultural sphere. He also discusses one of his works that appeared on the magazine's cover, and the impact that had at a time of transitions in his career. (Running time 3 minutes 47 seconds)
In this video, Toronto artist Allyson Mitchell explains how, having not been to art school, Canadian Art taught her about the names, faces and trends in art across the country. Her work has been featured on the magazine’s cover and her first large-scale commission was for the annual Canadian Art Gallery Hop fundraising gala. Listen in as Mitchell describes the profound impact of these experiences on her career and her family’s relationship to her art. (Running time 3 minutes 58 seconds)
In this interview Michael de Pencier, one of the first publishers of Canadian Art, describes how he created the magazine despite considerable odds, forming a partnership with Maclean Hunter before setting up as a not-for-profit publisher a decade later. Looking back 25 years at how his “gamble” has paid off, de Pencier examines the characteristics that make a good publication and why it’s important for Canada to have a national art magazine. (Running time 6 minutes 3 seconds)
In this interview, current board member and past advertising sales director Wendy Ingram reflects on how far the magazine and its publisher, the Canadian Art Foundation, have come since their inception. Along the way, she discusses key historical challenges to the magazine's survival and highlights related efforts that were made to obtain its charitable non-profit organization designation. (Running time 2 minutes 53 seconds)
In this interview, current Canadian Art editor Richard Rhodes discusses the evolution of the magazine’s content and design over the years. He recalls his desire to include artists’ voices in the early editions, and he explains how the new fall 2009 redesign builds on this tradition by featuring perspectives on the scene from gallerists, museum directors and other art-world figures. Rhodes also highlights how Canadian Art’s new design in many ways refers to an earlier place in its history. (Running time 5 minutes 31 seconds)
This interview focuses on gallery owner Olga Korper, who held the very first Canadian Art Gallery Hop at her gallery in 1996 for 250 guests. She marvels at how the Hop has grown into a large-scale, routinely sold-out affair today. Korper reflects on how the foundation’s work mirrors her own as a dealer, discusses how the magazine opens the Canadian cultural scene to new audiences, and explains the importance of having an art magazine that can be understood by a broad readership. (Running time 3 minutes 49 seconds)
In this video, Art Gallery of Ontario director Matthew Teitelbaum considers how the history of Canadian Art has chronicled the changes in the country’s art field to become as internationally focused as it is today. He discusses how the developments of communities, from the local to the regional to the national and abroad, have influenced his own career, and how these communities are reflected in the pages of Canadian Art. (Running time 5 minutes 17 seconds)
To receive the most up-to-date news from the Canadian Art world and for updates on Gallery Hop talks, visit www.canadianart.ca/eweekly to sign up for Canadian Art’s weekly e-newsletter.
