So if you've ever seen the Winnipeg Art Gallery, you know it's a pretty impressive building from the inside and out. What you might not know is the WAG is Western Canada's oldest public gallery. And with that little gem of knowledge, I will casually segue into the topic of the WAG's 100 year celebration--smooth like butter I am, sometimes.
To mark the occasion they have launched an exhibit called 100 Masters which is basically what it sounds like. Namely, 100 works spanning the last few centuries up to modern day that encompass some of the most important artists and works of their era (and who still have impact today). It's pretty much as amazing and momentous as it sounds.
The pieces that make up the show have been collected from galleries from all over Canada. The really remarkable part is that many of these works never travel from their home galleries and they've made an exception just this once for our friends at the WAG. (I guess they've got some good influence or something.)
Basically, you will never see these same works of art in the same place at the same time like this ever again until the very end of time...
Mind blown.
If you've never been to a major gallery before, this is your chance to see an actual Picasso, Matisse and Van Gogh live and in the flesh (or canvas as it were). And even if you have, it's a remarkable chance to see them again. I really enjoyed the art tending towards more modern eras as it was stuff I've never really seen before. (Side note: this is a perfect show for the non-art-expert. Like me.)
My favourite piece was actually more of a sculpture where dozens and dozens of stone blocks were laid out in an intriguing pattern on the floor to form a circle. It was part existential creativity and part gardening department at Home Depot (I kid, I kid).
Unfortunately, since this is real art (no poker playing dogs or wolves on black velvet here), you aren't allowed to take any pictures, but that's okay, it just means you need to go and see it. The show runs until Aug 18 and there are all kinds of exciting programming options happening alongside the show. Check out the website for more details.
