Glamour and elegance; sublime lines and exquisite contours; the hottest of the haute: such are the defining characteristics of Glenbow’s Winter 2019 Exhibition Season as we proudly present the Royal Ontario Museum’s hit exhibition, Christian Dior – the first major, international fashion exhibition to ever open in Calgary. But that’s not all: we’re excited to be debuting four new art galleries where we’ll bring you more of Glenbow’s amazing art collection more often. Let’s take a look at all of the exciting things coming in February 2019 to Calgary’s premier visual arts destination.
Christian Dior
Feb 3 – June 2, 2019
Organized by the Royal Ontario Museum
Paris, 1947: Christian Dior presents his debut haute couture collection, characterized by cinched waists, soft shoulders, accentuated bosoms and prominent hips – a stark contrast to the more pragmatic fashions worn in wartime Europe. Dubbed the “New Look,” the collection was a celebration of femininity and luxury that caused a sensation, including protests in the streets by women who rejected this return to pre-war feminine stereotypes. Nonetheless, Dior’s extravagant debut marked not just the ascent of one of the most famous designers of the 20th Century but also a fashion revolution – Dior changed the business of global fashion retail and marketing. The exhibition, Christian Dior, is drawn from the Royal Ontario Museum’s extensive collection of fashion and textiles and focuses on the “golden age” of Christian Dior haute couture, 1947 to 1957, when Dior himself designed the collections (he passed away in 1957). Expect to see a grand selection of designs, from extravagant evening wear to daytime suits and dresses (for the “woman on the move”), and, of course, accessories, including perfume, shoes and costume jewellery – integral elements of what Dior referred to as the “entire costume picture.”
The “New Look” soon became THE look for style-minded women – legendary actress Marlene Dietrich issued the edict “No Dior, No Dietrich” to her studio’s wardrobe department – and the House of Dior became synonymous with not only elegance but the extraordinary technique used in the construction of its fashions. For the first time, Calgary audiences will be able to explore the ground-breaking work of one of the world’s greatest couture houses and a glimpse into the rise of—and shock waves caused by—a fashion icon.
Meryl McMaster: Confluence
Feb 3 – June 2, 2019
Organized by the Carleton University Art Gallery
“The camera shows only what it sees, but it can uncover dreams if you know how to use it. Meryl McMaster did not come into her own as a fine-art photographer until her daydreams began to shape the self-portraits on view this year in a national touring exhibition…” – The Globe & Mail
Placing her body centrally in front of the camera, Ottawa-based artist Meryl McMaster transforms her appearance, whether by layering photographic images onto her body or through elaborate costumes and props she creates and inhabits as alter egos.
An individual of Plains Cree and Euro-Canadian heritage, McMaster explores the dimensions of her own sense of identity, and the complex history of the photographic representation of Indigenous peoples through photographic self-portraiture. Her work has been garnering praise across Canada and the United States.
One New Work: Chris Cran
Feb 9 – May 26, 2019
Organized by Glenbow
In the eighth installment of curator Nancy Tousley’s ongoing series of new works by Calgary artists, she has invited the acclaimed Chris Cran, who has been described in The New York Times as a painter who “…has built a career on tampering with people’s perceptions” to debut one new work at Glenbow. We can’t wait to see what he has in store for us this time.
More! More! More!
February 3, 2019 also marks the grand opening of four new galleries which will house exhibitions drawn from Glenbow’s art collection and an exciting collaboration with our latest Artist-In-Residence.
On Location: Artists Explore a Sense of Place
On Location: Artists Explore a Sense of Place draws from Glenbow’s collection of modernist and contemporary art for an expansive view of place. Classic Canadian vistas by the likes of Lawren Harris are juxtaposed with Eleanor Bond’s abstracted cityscapes, Edward Burtynsky’s photographic study of the Carrara marble quarry and Faye Heavyshield’s sculpture work, which encompasses the land itself as material for its construction. From grand landscapes to quiet interiors, On Location features a fascinating range of artists including Tanya Harnett, Jeff Thomas, Vikky Alexander, Maxwell Bates, Ron Moppett and more.
Kent Monkman: The Rise and Fall of Civilization
Glenbow is fortunate to have been gifted this powerful, room-filling installation by Kent Monkman himself, and it will make its debut to Calgary audiences with the unveiling of our new galleries. Monkman’s alter-ego, Miss Chief, stands atop a nine-foot high replica of a rock-face buffalo jump as sculptural bison run through the gallery. The work references the near extinction of the North American bison and the subsequent decimation of indigenous peoples who relied on it for sustenance.
Artist In Residence: Albertine Crow Shoe
Through Glenbow’s Artist-In-Residence program, guest artists are invited to interact with Glenbow’s collection to inspire new works. Previous artists include musician Corb Lund and fashion designer Paul Hardy. Our current Artist-In-Residence, Albertine Crow Shoe, will exhibit past work alongside entirely new creations based on her discoveries from working behind the scenes in Glenbow’s collection. Known primarily for her exquisite jewellery, Albertine fashions her designs using both traditional Blackfoot materials (i.e. elk and bison horn, pipe stone and other locally-sourced materials) and non-traditional elements such as silver and brass, creating a cross-cultural connection.
Antoni Tàpies: Prints, 1948-1976
One of the most significant Spanish artists of the last century, Antoni Tapies’ printmaking was an integral component of what he called his “abstract visual vocabulary.” Intense, politicized and defiant, Tapies’ work served as a response to the oppression experienced in the Catalan region, where Tapies was from, under the authoritarian rule of General Francisco Franco. The works in this collection were acquired by Glenbow in 2010 and range from the late 1940s to the mid-1970s. They have never before been publicly exhibited at Glenbow.
Images:
Delphine cocktail dress. Christian Dior, Paris, Aimant Autumn-Winter 1956. © Royal Ontario Museum; Palmyre ball gown. Christian Dior, Paris, Profilée Aimant Autumn-Winter 1952-3. © Royal Ontario Museum
Caracas late afternoon dress, Christian Dior, Paris, Libre Spring-Summer 1957. © Royal Ontario Museum
Meryl McMaster, Aphoristic Currents, 2013, Chromogenic print, edition 2 of 5, Private Collection
Chris Cran. Courtesy of Chris Cran
Maxwell Bates, Tourists in Victoria, 1967, oil on canvas, Collection of Glenbow
Kent Monkman, The Rise and Fall of Civilization (installation view), 2015, Courtesy the Gardiner Museum. Photo Jimmy Limit
Albertine Crow Shoe researching in Glenbow’s Indigenous Studies collection. Photo Elyse Bouvier
