Graduating Sculpture Students (from left to right) 3rd row: Chantelle Boismier, Allan Farnell, Marilyn Freedman, Kery Maddison, Jounghwa No, Hannah Pertsovsky, Cynthia Ravindran, Rebecca Richards, Patty Wilkinson, Christina Trutiak; 2nd row: Chelsea Greenwell, Fumiko Ohno; 1st row: C.L.Linda Park, Aurora Judge, Semone Rajkumar, Linda Pleet, Tammy Tang, Jesse Wardell
The 20th Annual Juried Graduating Sculpture Student Exhibition and Award Presentation at the Canadian Sculpture Centre literally could not be contained on this hot summer night. Patrons crowded in the large space of the gallery to see their friends and family proudly display their art works, some even standing outside the door, attempting to squeeze in. It was a diverse mix of competitors, about half being recent graduates and the other half established sculptors and sculpture lovers.
Jurors and award winners (from left to right): C.L.Linda Park, MST Bronze Ltd Award; Chantelle Boismier, A & M Green Award; Joshua Burston, juror; Barbara Fletcher, juror; Kelly McCray, juror; Linda Pleet, Artcast Inc Award
Most of the pieces were large objects sitting on the floor, constantly disturbed by the flow of the crowd. Thankfully most works were heavy pieces that could stand a bit of disruption. Linda Pleet, winner of the Artcast Award, displayed a sizable sculpture of a bird-like object that initially fools the eyes. It is constructed of long pieces of wood that are stained to resemble metal scraps. Also using cement fondue and pieces of wood that stick outwards, Pleet created a work that is assertive and threatening at the same time.
Linda Pleet receiving the Artcast Award (left) and her sculpture (right)
Winner of the MST Bronze Award, Linda Park, displayed a large potpourri-style burlap sack containing both English and Korean alphabets, titled “Mind-Scent: Emanation”. Park posits that when one speaks, his/her mind travels to others like a scent would: it emanates. However, unlike a traditional potpourri, Park’s work is displayed on the floor instead of being suspended in the air. The reason for this placement, according to Park, is that words carry a sense of gravity. While her ideas are interesting, there is not enough indication that it is a potpourri, and that it is emanating. The wood-patterned letters are color-coded based on language; without flowers or actual scent and the burlap sack is not specific enough to point to the concept of potpourri.
Winner of the MST Bronze Award, Linda Park with her work, Mind-Scent: Emanation
On the lower floor of the space, Chantelle Boismier displays ” Fusion”, a stunning wood and resin sculpture. It is a large block of a tree trunk, with a layer of clear resin on top and pieces of the tree reconstructed using resin as adhesion. Although not shown in the best possible display, a closer look reveals the intricacy of her work. There is a juxtaposition between the clinical and the organic. While the top might look like an MRI scan of a tree, the bottom part shows the greatness of nature. It brings back the sensations that occur when one stands in front of a vast cave or a thousand-year old tree: an overwhelming sense of nature that could consume the self. The sculpture’s ability to recreate this sensation is rather astonishing. Whether it is a celebration or a study of the tree, Boismier presents a piece that is both calming and expansive.
Chantelle Boismier, Fusion, wood and resin
Chantelle Boismier receiving the Al & Malka Green Award form Judi Michelle Young, President of SSC / Co-director of CSC
Aside from the award recipients, several other pieces were notable as well. Chelsea Greenwell’s “Reflex Loop” is a wonderfully creepy display of a 3D-printed human spine. When a person walks by the sensor and it feels the heat, it automatically pumps water through its pipes to cool itself down. When it happens, the hanging spine twitches and oscillates, in the never ending quest to achieve equilibrium.
Chelsea Greenwell with Reflex Loop, 2015, mixed media
Christina Trutiak presents a gentle blue figure sitting ever so depressingly in “Solitude”. Deprived of his ‘soul’, the figure displays distorted and contorted limbs and facial expressions. There are several aspects about this piece that come effectively together: the ambiguity, the bright blue skin paired with copper nails and nipples, suspension of movement, and the oddly elongated tongue. The fact that the piece itself was separated from the other pieces contributed to its desolation as well.
Christina Trutiak, Solitude, 2015, resin and acrylic
Citing the Greek myth, Patty Wilkinson presents “Sisyphus”, a humourous approach to the frustration of life. Illustrating the futility of effort, she mirrors the story of Sisyphus with her unsolvable Rubik’s cube of rubber bands. Wilkinson will never create a perfect cube, since it will bounce back again and again, doesn’t matter how hard we try and will stay unsolved. I laughed in my frustration and walked away feeling like Trutiak’s figure in “Solitude”.
Patty Wilkinson, Sisyphus, 201, wood and rubber bands
Through this exhibition the Sculptors Society of Canada welcomes and introduces emerging newcomers definitely worth watching in the future. With this kind of support system for sculpture artists, both the Canadian Sculpture Centre and artists will benefit from their relationship.
Text and photo: Sunny Kim
*Exhibition information: June 11 – July 3, 2015, Canadian Sculpture Centre, 500 Church Street. Gallery hours: Tue – Fri: 12 – 6, Sat: 11 – 4 p.m.