Imagine a Halifax where every public space had art as part of it. Close your eyes and picture a trip to the mall that included taking in a mural or two. A visit to a government building also meaning a visit to a mixed-media installation. When, this Wednesday, Halifax Regional Council voted unanimously to spend […]
Ursula Johnson
Posted inArts + Music
Ursula Johnson rewrites the book
Award-winning artist Ursula Johnson gathered with Diane Mitchell and Robin Metcalfe last Wednesday night under dimmed lights—laughing, teasing and talking like old friends. They sat in front of a full audience at St. Mary’s University Art Gallery for the catalogue launch of Johnson’s ongoing exhibit Mi’kwite’tmn (Do You Remember). The 160-page publication tells the story […]
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Visual arts review: group effort at The Craig Gallery
To July 21 The Craig Gallery, 2 Ochterloney Street Group effort, the aptly named exhibition at Dartmouth’s Craig Gallery, features work by eight artists at various stages in their careers. Since 2006, Visual Arts Nova Scotia’s mentorship program has paired emerging and established artists for a 10-month period; the resulting show works to highlight the […]
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Visual arts review: A Sense of Site at the AGNS
To May 12 Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, 1723 Hollis Street In 2017, a series of projects were commissioned and performed by contemporary artists in and around National Parks and Historic Sites. In contrast to the Canada 150 celebrations that took place that summer, the artworks that were a part of Landmarks 2017 / Repères […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Visual Artist
Gold Winner Ursula Johnson Silver Winner Caitlin McGuire Bronze Winner Liz Mac The 2017 Sobey Art Award winner, Ursula Johnson, has spent the year since doing what artists do: Working. She also moved from Dartmouth to the south shore, but no matter where she is you’re keeping an eye on her vital, intense installations. “This […]
Posted inArts + Music
L’nuwesimk: El-noo-wee-simk: Speaking Indian
Exhibit 201 Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre 2158 Gottingen Street (6pm) Burying grounds at Sinnot Hill Park, 31 Windmill Road, Dartmouth (8pm) Granville Court, Granville at Duke Street (10pm) For their Nocturne piece L’nuwesimk, the artists Ursula Johnson and Angella Parsons are proposing something very small and incredibly wide at once: At three sites in Halifax […]
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Sobey Art Award long list finalists announced
The Sobey Art Award, which doles out $240,000 to Canadian artists including 100K to the winner, has announced its 2018 longlist. The Atlantic region finalists are Haligonians Lisa Lipton and Lou Sheppard plus Jordan Bennett, Jerry Ropson and D’Arcy Wilson. The shortlist will be announced May 29, with the winner crowned November 14 at the National Gallery […]
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Maria Hupfield’s balancing act
Maria Hupfield: The One Who Keeps on Giving Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery 166 Bedford Highway To May 13 Dressed all in black, four artists slip into orange work vests in headlamps before their faces are painted with neon makeup: Lines of hot pink across foreheads, small purple triangles on cheeks and electric yellow […]
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The year in visual art
In a year commemorating many anniversaries, 2017 is a landmark, for better or for worse. And with so much political upheaval it often felt like a landmark to come, history in the making. So with a historical lens pointed in all directions, it is no surprise that some of the most interesting exhibitions reflected this […]
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Ursula Johnson’s big win
“It’s strange, you know, thinking about this idea of ‘the first,’” says Ursula Johnson. “There’s a certain amount of pride that comes with it, but then there’s also a certain amount of ‘What the hell,’ you know?” Johnson is sitting in Java Blend on a rainy Monday. Five days ago she was in Toronto, being […]
Posted inArts + Music
Toqolu’kwetijik
Exhibit 108, Public Gardens 5665 Spring Garden Road With this year’s group of anchor artists all working to activate the Public Gardens, Ursula Johnson and collaborators will be kicking up dust along the gravel paths encircling Griffin Pond. These clear paths, strict rules and enforced designated sitting areas that make up the Public Gardens are known […]
Posted inArts + Music
Sobey Art Award shortlister Ursula Johnson weaves cultural narratives
Ursula Johnson could be the first Atlantic Canadian to bring home one of the country’s most distinguished art awards. The shortlist of nominees for the 2017 Sobey Art Award were announced on Tuesday, out of a list of 25 artists from across Canada. Johnson hails from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The Sobey Art Award is considered […]
