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A Poesy: a postscript
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 June 2016
Abstract
Curating is not a question of self-indulgence, self-expression, it’s a question of certain duties …. A guest curator muses on her role in setting up an exhibition in the new facility in the Library and Archives of the National Gallery of Canada, and describes the double-edged sword of freedoms and perils presented by an exhibition area that is sited within a museum setting but remains other.
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- Research Article
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- Copyright
- Copyright © The Art Libraries Society 2000
References
1. A quotation adapted from Finlay’s, Ian Hamilton ‘Art is not a question of self-indulgence, self-expression, it’s a question of certain duties…’. This appears in the brochure A poesy, selected works by Ian Hamilton Finlay, published by the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) to accompany an exhibition held in the new gallery space of its Library and Archives, 5th May-27th August 1999.Google Scholar
2. See Library and Archives Collection Development Policy. [Ottawa: NGC, 1996]. This document describes program strengths while making recommendations for future directions. One of the recommendations was for the establishment of Library publication and exhibition programs.Google Scholar
3. The first exhibit, Invading the book, was curated by Cathy Busby, 1997/1998 Research Fellow in Canadian Contemporary Art at the Canadian Centre for the Visual Arts, and presented a selection of the Library’s newly acquired artists’ books and multiples. The second, Rare Canadiana, was curated by Murray Waddington, the NGC’s Chief Librarian, and was drawn from the Library’s Canadiana collections, which encompass the full printed record of the history of the visual arts in Canada. Copies of the brochures for the Library exhibitions are available free of charge from the Library of the NGC.Google Scholar
4. Peter Trepanier, Head of Reader Services at the Library of the NGC, was instrumental in proposing an exhibition of Finlay’s work. I am indebted to him for his expert guidance and support in helping me to organise A poesy.Google Scholar
5. Art Metropole, one of the first artist-run centres in Canada, was established in 1974 by the three artists (A. A. Bronson, Felix Partz and Jorge Zontal) who formed the group General Idea. Over a 25-year period the Centre collected art and documents associated with the conceptual art movement. This collection is on loan to the NGC.Google Scholar
6. All NGC departments experienced budget cuts in excess of anticipated amounts.Google Scholar
7. Canada has two official languages, therefore documents at the NGC are produced in English and in French.Google Scholar