2005-2006

Ten Short Years
Ten years ago, a group of artists achieved a long-standing dream and founded the GNO as an independent art gallery managed by Franco-Ontarian visual artists. Today’s aspirations are even more ambitious : exhibitions, exploration, training… An institution may change over time, but the GNO’s driving force, the dynamic artists at its very heart, is the one thing I hope will never change. -Paulette Gagnon

To celebrate its 10th anniversary as an Artists-Run Centre the GNO have put together a series of activities which all took place on Friday May 5th 2006.

Schedule of the day

At the GNO

3 pm - conference - Ten Years of Accomplishments in the Media of Space

What has been the impact of the GNO on the community? Does the promotion and dissemination of experimental art have an impact on artists and the public ? Under what paradigm does the GNO situate itself to pursue its work? These are some of the questions which will be raised during this conference, which will be bringing together curators, artists and individuals who have in one way or another been involved with the GNO.

Presenters :
Pierre Pelletier : visual artist, writer, philosopher and curator
Lisa Fitzgibbons : visual artist, cinematographer, curator and arts administrator
Anne Marie Émond - visual artist, curator researcher and art teacher at the University of Montreal
Anne-Marie Bénéteau - visual artist, has been involved with artist run centres, arts magazine and arts service organizations at a provincial and national level.

At le Salon du Livre du Grand Sudbury
Rainbow Centre
5 pm- opening reception of the Bookwork exhibition

A project that places the book in the heart of the creation. What is a book after all? How does a visual artist conceptualize a book? Should we reconsider its definition?

These original pieces of art representing the book was shown at the Salon du Livre du Grand Sudbury from May 4 to May 7th and showing at la Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario from May 9 to June 17.

The artists participating are Marc Audette, Jocelyne Belcourt Salem, Anne-Marie Bénéteau, Céline Blais Maltais, Mary Green, Lisa Fitzgibbons, Colette Jacques, La Gaan, Hélène Lefebvre, Joseph Muscat, Rob O’Flanagan, Claude Regimbal, Valerie Senyk, Cheryl Rondeau, Heather Topp, Danielle Tremblay et Paul Walty.

Découvrir
Paul Couillard
the performance took place at Le Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury and on the streets of downtown Sudbury

For the past several years I have been exploring themes of personal history, loss and death. In one body of my work, I have operated on a social and political level, using rocks and earth as elemental materials. These works are engaged with a process of recuperating traces
of my French lineage, links partially severed by my parents' decision to raise me in an exclusively anglophone environment. A separate body of work has operated on an emotional and spiritual level, grappling with the grief of loss, triggered by the witnessing of my partner's father's death. These works have used ice as their central material. In both cases, I have sought to transform my understanding of events and feelings though physical and visual rituals that treat my body as a text in action. For GNO's anniversary celebrations, I will bring together these two recent paths of exploration in my work in a a performance "text" that reflects on the intersection of these two areas of loss.

Come celebrate with the GNO, the artists, a space is reserved for you!

Our project sponsors are Grand & Toy and ArtVest.
Our season sponsors are CBON, la Première Chaîne and Radio-Canada Télévision.

testemonies

elevation of visual art to a place of distinction

The GNO is an oasis of creativity. Challenging exhibitions, convivial
openings and unique fundraisers are the hallmark of this Artist Run
Centre. My history with the GNO goes back to my first group exhibition,
with the Drawing Circle in 1990, at their old home at the Carrefour
Francophone. I have always admired their co-operative commitment to a
strong sense of identify, to the elevation of visual art to a place of
distinction in the cultural milieu, and the celebration and inclusion
of all artists in the life of the gallery.

I had my first solo exhibition, “Mementomori Project” at the GNO
in February, 2002. A couple of days after the vernissage, I suffered a
near-death experience. I left explicit instructions that if I died my
body should be put into a colourful papier mache casket and wheeled
into the Galerie to be displayed under one of my paintings. Beer and
pizza were to be served. The event would have been the ultimate in
performance art and surely qualified for some sort of grant from the
Ontario Arts Council. One of the Latin translations for “mementomori”
is “remember that you must die”.

The GNO has succeeded in dragging a sometimes reluctant audience
to view the work of contemporary artists. I wish them continued success
in their growth and evolution.
Ron Langin
Visual Artist and Associate Member of the GNO

impact is apparent and significant

La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario is such a significant force in the
development and promotion of contemporary creativity. From the Ontario
North to Toronto's downtown, the gallery's impact is apparent and
significant. Going forward, I expect the GNO's immediate francophone
community, along with a broad general public, will continue to be
enriched and enlightened by its important work. Bravo!
Bill Huffman
Associate Director, Toronto Arts Council
Associate Member of the GNO