Postcard from Winnipeg
June 16, 2017
Winnipeg
Last week was very busy and exciting as the WAG launched ART EXPRESS’D/ART EXPRIMÉ and celebrated the kickoff on June 9th at Parks Canada Place at The Forks National Historic Site with a press conference and an afternoon of free art activities for the public.
WAG Launches Epic ART EXPRESS’D Cross-Canada Adventure
Canada 150 mobile art studios kick off in St. John’s, Winnipeg, Inuvik, and Alert Bay
Winnipeg, Manitoba, June 9, 2017:
What do you get when you combine four shipping containers, three artists, and a coast-to-coast-to-coast journey? A historic Canada 150 celebration! The Winnipeg Art Gallery’s ambitious Canada 150 Signature Initiative ART EXPRESS’D/ART EXPRIMÉ launched this morning in four corners of the country: Newfoundland, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and British Columbia.
ART EXPRESS’D/ART EXPRIMÉ consists of three six-metre metal shipping containers transformed into mobile art studios traversing every province and territory via train, truck, and cargo ship en route to Winnipeg. With the help of local galleries and grassroots partners at designated stops, artists Jessie Buchanan, Evin Collis, and Becky Thiessen are running collaborative installations designed to inspire the public to explore their visions of Canada. A fourth container is stationed at Parks Canada Place at The Forks National Historic Site, where it will feature free art-making activities for the public.
Quotes
“As we celebrate Canada 150, the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s project ART EXPRESS’D/ART EXPRIMÉ is offering an original, innovative and artistic image of Canada’s diversity. This summer, the transformation of shipping containers into mobile art studios will give Canadians the chance to be part of a one-of-a-kind activity.”
—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage
“As ART EXPRESS’D/ART EXPRIMÉ travels from coast-to-coast-to-coast, people all across the country will be connected through art, highlighting our nation’s unique natural geography and cultural diversity. Thanks to the generous support of the Government of Canada, communities in every province and territory can be part of this historic expedition and work with artists to express their visions of Canada 150.”
—Dr. Stephen Borys, Director & CEO, Winnipeg Art Gallery
