The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) is one of Canada’s oldest civic galleries and Manitoba’s leading art museum. With over 27,000 works and constantly evolving exhibitions, it’s an understatement to say that no walk through the WAG is the same.
There’s always something new and exciting to see, and this summer and fall the WAG will not disappoint with innovative events, tours that tantalize every sense and captivating exhibitions.
Uncover the mysteries of the WAG
Dust off your thinking caps and pull out your magnifying glass because The Great Scavenger Hunt is back for an evening of strategy and sleuthing! This gallery-wide scavenger hunt will help you discover the collections of the WAG in a whole new way.
As part of the gallery’s Summer Rooftop Pop-Up series, this special event will bring out your inner detective to concur a series of games and prizes, all while learning the fascinating stories behind the art.
Sign up solo and meet new friends or gather up a group to test your investigative skills. It all goes down on Thursday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Feast your eyes – and stomach
Vision Exchange: Perspectives from India to Canada is a stunning exhibit by contemporary artists from India and Canada which depicts the Indian diaspora in a variety of mediums. The art starts before you even step into the gallery, with a cheeky piece by Winnipeg artist Divya Mehra directly on the doors that reads "I'M INDIAN SO I'M IN THIS SHOW".
The exhibit includes paintings, photographs, videos, sculptures and even a huge green and red inflatable "attempt" at the Taj Mahal. The variety of pieces use humour, history and the human-experience to address issues of shifting histories and boarders and themes of migration and immigration.
On Thursday, August 8, you’ll have the chance to savour the Vision Exchange exhibit along with delicious dishes from one of Winnipeg’s best Indian restaurants with FEAST, the WAG’s signature dinner and tour.
Vision Exchange will pair perfectly with the dishes and flavours (including plenty of vegan and vegetarian options) from the East India Company. The restaurant is a staple to downtown Winnipeg and has been around for over 35 years which speaks to the quality of food and service.
Divya Mehra. Afterlife of Colonialism, a reimagining of Power: It’s possible that the Sun has set on your Empire OR Why your voice does not matter: Portrait of an Imbalanced, and yet contemporary diasporic India vis-à-vis Colonial Red, Curry Sauce Yellow, and Paradise Green, placed neatly beneath these revived medieval forms: The Challenges of entering a predominately White space (Can you get this in the gift shop?) where all Women and Magical Elephants may know this work, here in your Winnipeg, among all my Peers, 2019. Inflatable attempt at the Taj Mahal, acrylic deep base paint, 15’ x 15’ x 15’. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Sarah Ferrari - Tourism Winnipeg
Tiny art, huge impact
The WAG features the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art anywhere in the world, and a small but mighty new exhibition is highlighting a selection of tiny pieces from the more than 13,000 amazing works.
The Small Worlds Inuit Miniature Carving exhibit opened on July 20 and features more than 100 intricately designed carvings that come from Inuit artists from nineteen communities across Nunavut. The collection is the first to be curated by Jocelyn Piirainen, the WAG’s new assistant curator of Inuit art.
As you walk through the exhibition, you’ll quickly find yourself mesmerized by just how much detail and expression has been carved into each tiny sculpture. From carefully crafted antlers to adorable polar bear paws, each piece in the collection is an impressive display of the intense precision and patience of the artists.
Inuit sculpture reflects the resources available to the artists in their communities such as soapstone, bones, ivory and antlers and comes in many shapes and sizes. Each piece represents the Inuit way of life and together create an incredible exhibition that acts as a captivating contrast to the larger Inuit carvings at the WAG.
The Small Worlds Inuit Miniature Carving exhibit runs until February 2020.
A glimpse into the North End
John Paskievich: The North End gives a unique perspective on a foundational Winnipeg neighbourhood. The series of 50 black-and-white photographs depict the complexities of the culturally diverse community through a range of simple and somewhat gritty scenes in Winnipeg's North End from the 1970s to the 2000s.
It’s easy to get lost in your thoughts trying to figure out the story behind each eclectic character. The older and newer photographs blend together impressively well to bring you on a journey through the neighbourhood and highlight its inhabitants, wide streets and boulevards, warehouses and corner stores.
On Thursday, August 23, join the Winnipeg Art Gallery for a free public celebration of the exhibit and hear from the artist himself. Ukrainian-Canadian photographer and filmmaker John Paskievich will be in attendance for a conversation with Alison Gillmor and Michael Redhead Champagne in the WAG Muriel Richardson Auditorium. For more information head to the WAG’s website.
A Story of Resilience
To paraphrase the WAG, Kent Monkman’s Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience was created as a response to the Canada 150 celebrations and explores the complexities of historic and contemporary Indigenous experiences. The collection, which consists mainly of paintings and drawings, guides visitors through Canada’s darker history, from New France and Confederation to Winnipeg’s North End and contemporary life on the reserve.
As you make your way through the thought-provoking collection, you’ll meet Monkman’s gender-fluid alter ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, who makes regular appearances in his work to celebrate resilience and explore important Indigenous issues.
Kent Monkman is a Canadian artist of Cree ancestry who grew up in Winnipeg and works with a variety of media, including painting, film/video, performance, and installation. His work is known for its provocative reinterpretations of Romantic North American landscapes and explores themes of colonization, sexuality and loss.
Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience opens on September 26 with a free event.
Visit the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s website for more details about upcoming events and exhibits!
