Tag Archives: Venice Biennale for Art

Honouring Arts Advocate Dr. Shirley Thomson

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The headline Donor supports Venice Biennale’s Canada Pavillon caught my eye.  I’m fond of Venice  – one big art gallery, really! – and visited the Architecture Biennale in 2016.  (You can read a short post about my Biennale adventures here, and a brief description about the Canadian exhibition here.)

Venice Biennale site, image by T. Vatrt

Venice Biennale site, image by T. Vatrt

What is interesting about the $3 million donation to maintain the Canadian Pavillon at the Venice Biennale site is that the donor remains anonymous.   Instead, the patron wishes to honour a former director of the National Gallery of Canada, Dr. Shirley Thomson (1930-2010.)  Barbara Stead- Coyle (National Gallery of Canada Foundation) reports The donor wanted the focus to be on Dr. Thomson and Dr. Thomson’s time at the gallery.  

Among her many achievements, Dr. Thomson was the director of the National Gallery of Canada when it moved from an office building to its current (and stunning) purpose-built location along the Ottawa River.

Maman, Louise Bourgeois, 1999 National Gallery of Canada image

Maman, Louise Bourgeois, 1999 National Gallery of Canada image

National Gallery of Canada, T. Vatrt image

During her 1987-1997 tenure at the National Gallery, Dr. Thomson diversified the permanent collection, acquiring contemporary art, as well as important historical works.  Under her direction, the gallery purchased  Barnett Newman’s Voice of Fire (1967) in 1989 for $1.8 million.  It proved to be a highly controversial topic in Canada, outraging Conservative politicians, and sparking discussions amongst Canadians. How wonderful to have citizens talking about art!

Here’s a concise video by  National Gallery curator Annabelle Kienle Ponka  explaining the significance of this painting.

Voice of Fire, Barnett Newman, Winnipeg Free Press image

In addition to her degrees in fine art and history, Dr. Shirley Thomson received an honorary degree from Université Concordia in 2001.  This citation outlines some of her many accomplishments throughout her career, as well as at the National Gallery.  Besides diversifying the permanent collection with savvy purchases (imagine what Voice of Fire is worth today) she valued education and accesibility for all:  she initiated an internship program for university students, and began the Cybermuse program, which ensured the collection’s online availability.  In honour of the donation, the Abstract Expressionist space is now The Dr. Shirley L. Thomson Gallery.

Isn’t it refreshing to have an arts advocate honoured, instead of the usual Mr. and Mrs. Millionaire/Billionaire Memorial Gallery?  For a bit of insight into Dr. Thomson’s leadership style and personality, this interview with Rob Labossiere provides some insight into this remarkable woman.  Our thanks to the generous donor for maintaining the Canadian Pavillon at the Venice Biennale and for bringing Dr. Shirley Thomson to our attention.

Dr. Shirley Thomson, Ottawa Citizen image

Dr. Shirley Thomson, Ottawa Citizen image

 

La Biennale di Venezia

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Many of us have heard of the Venice Biennale…..probably the most important international exhibition of contemporary art, held every two years.  I think of it like the World’s Fair of art:   many countries have pavilions, and different exhibitions are installed for each new Biennale, but it occurs (largely) in a dedicated site in Venice.

Visiting Venice this year, I knew that this wasn’t the year for the Biennale for Art.  What I didn’t know is that it’s the year for the Biennale for Architecture. (What I don’t know could fill volumes! As Saint Augustine said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” The Art Caravan has miles to go…..)

Venice Biennale site Photo by T. Vatrt

Venice Biennale site
Photo by T. Vatrt

Venice Biennale site map

Venice Biennale site map

The theme of this year’s Biennale Architettura is Reporting from the Front.  It runs from May 28 to November 27, 2016.  There are 63 nations participating, including Nigeria, the Philippines, Seychelles and Yemen as first time participants.  It’s a big deal!  The exhibitions are not confined to the Arsenale and Giardini sites, but a few are installed in other locations in Venice.  As well, there are symposiums, panel discussions,  a summer school, and much more.

The second pavilion I visited was Great Britain.  (Yes, the first was Canada, but I’ll share my thoughts about it in a separate posting.) Five different, creative propositions answered the challenge of affordable housing in Britain, and by extension, other countries.  Please click here to see a short video explaining the project.  If you want to see and hear more in another short video, please click here.

British pavilion at Venice Biennale for Architecture Photo by T. Vatrt

British pavilion at Venice Biennale for Architecture
Photo by T. Vatrt

The American pavilion showed 12 different responses to rejuvenating sections of Detroit.  Here is a very good video explaining the project in less than five minutes.

Rest assured, I won’t report on every pavilion or display I visited….at least not today.  Perhaps the most important observation is the engagement I felt visiting the Biennale Architettura, despite my very limited knowledge of formal architecture.  For the most part, the projects proposed solutions to real life problems, or reported on creative solutions to challenging circumstances.   The ideas were not only accessible to an average citizen, but also inspiring in their creativity to improve the quality of life for everyone.  This is not an elitist, theoretical display but an opportunity (for everyone) to think both serious, and fun thoughts, about the built world we inhabit.

An added reason to visit Venice soon…..as if you need another excuse to go.