New publication co-authored by Prof. Kirsty Robertson
Kirsty Robertson and Heather Davis's article “Plastic Dislocations: Questions of Labour and Environment in Plastic Heart” Sculpture Journal (27 November): 561–582, was recently released in the special issue Plastic Art, Plastic Meanings.
Editorial: Mobilizing Museum Minerals
Congratulations to Postdoctoral Associate Camille-Mary Sharp, whose co-edited double issue of Museum and Society, Mobilizing Museum Minerals, was recently released. The journal is open access and can be found at the link below, and features articles by current and past collaborators with the Visual Arts Department including Eleanor Armstrong, Elysia French, and Eugenia Kisin.
Chained to the Gallery: 1970s Protest, Nationalism, and Anti-Racism at the Art Gallery of Ontario
Professor Kirsty Robertson's article "Chained to the Gallery: 1970s Protest, Nationalism, and Anti-Racism at the Art Gallery of Ontario" was published in the Canadian Historical Review 105.4
You and I Are Water Earth Fire Air of Life and Death - PART 5 | artLAB Gallery and Livestreaming
December 12, 2024 12 NOON to 12 MIDNIGHT 
"Water (Deshkan Ziibi)” is curated by Christof Migone, Sheri Osden Nault, and Ruth Skinner. Presented by the artLAB Gallery at the Department of Visual Arts, this 12-hour event will be streamed via YouTube and will feature performances by participants Kate Armstrong, Bagida’waad Alliance, Dickson Bou, Penelope Cain, Shannon Cooney, Tom Cull, Melissa General, Farheen Haq, Kaya Joan, Sharmistha Kar, Claire Liu, Patrick Mahon, Thomas Mahon, Brady Marks, Christof Migone, Laura Millard, Valerie Mills-Milde, Star Nahwegahbo, Sheri Osden Nault, Eli Nolet, Raquel Rowe, Jon Sasaki, Lou Sheppard, Ruth Skinner, Quinn Smallboy, Jordyn Stewart, Mark Timmings, Paul Walde, Michelle Wilson.
coda(.) | Satellite Project Space
November 29 - December 7, 2024 
Satellite Project Space's current exhibition, "coda(.)" features work by graduate students Eric Allan Cameron, Tia Bates, Natasha Beaudoin, Sebastian Evans, Behnaz Fatemi, Brittany/Andrew Forrest, Jen Hamilton, Moira Hays, Danielle Petti, Emilie Robertson. Closing Reception: December 7, 3-5pm
Call for Applications: Indigenous Artist-in-Residence
The Department of Visual Arts is inviting applications for its one-year Indigenous Artist-in-Residence (IAiR) program, open to First Nations, Métis, or Inuk artists and collectives. The program supports the creation of new artistic work through research, production, and community engagement, with a focus on outreach activities such as workshops, artist talks, and exhibitions.
Members' Show & Sale | Forest City Gallery
November 22 - December 20 
In partnership with Embassy Cultural House, the FCG annual Members' Show & Sale features the work of Western undergraduate students Amythly, Genevieve Buchanan, Jadhen Pangilinan, Maggie Shook, Jade Williamson; graduate students Sebastian Evans, Jessica Irene Joyce, Moira Hayes; and faculty Ron Benner, Wyn Geleynse, Jamelie Hassan, Patrick Mahon, David Merritt. Other participating artists include a past Indigenous Artist in Residence and many Western alumni.
Remembering Patricia Deadman
We are saddened to share the news of the passing of Patricia Deadman, celebrated artist, writer, and Curator of the Woodland Cultural Centre. Patricia leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the world of Indigenous art, and many in the London arts community and beyond will remember her fondly and will mourn her loss.
Inspiring Minds: Ashar Mobeen
PhD candidate Ashar Mobeen is featured in Western's Inspiring Minds showcase. Inspiring Minds seeks to broaden awareness and impact of graduate student research, while enhancing transferable skills. Mobeen's research investigates the manifestation of comprehensive astronomical understanding in the art and architecture of ancient and Indigenous civilizations across the globe.
SustainableCities: A Collective Eclipsing | artLAB Gallery
November 14 - December 5, 2024 
Curated by Imogen Clendinning, "SustainableCities: A Collective Eclipsing" features work by artists Brigitta Zhao, Philip Gurrey, Michelle Wilson, Theo Jean Cuthand, Danielle Petti, and Jessica Joyce. Opening reception is Friday, November 22 from 5-7pm in the artLAB Gallery.
Parfumé | Cohen Commons
November 14 - December 5, 2024 
The current exhibition in the Cohen Commons, Parfumé, is co-curated by gallery interns Venus Nwaokoro and Maggie Shook. This show features the work of 11 artists: Arlen Griffiths, Dhra Patel, Dylan Evans, Emily Kings, Emma Mary Sked, Jadhen Pangilinan, Juliette Devos-Speers, Kate Murphy, Natasha Beaudoin, Parisa Lahooty, and Stephanie Davey. The exhibition runs from November 14 until December 5, 2024, with an opening reception on Friday, November 22 from 5-7PM.
John Hatch: Art and Math Seminar | Kansas State University
November 14, 2024 
John Hatch presented “Do Numbers Count in the Visual Arts: A look at some modern examples where they might” for the Art and Math seminar series hosted by the Department of Mathematics, Kansas State University, November 14, 2024
David Merritt: render | Christie Contemporary
October 19 - November 16, 2024 
David Merritt opens a new solo exhibition, "render" at Christie Contemporary in Toronto. This now work explores the act of rendering, which can be understood as both additive and reductive. It can refer to a version of something. It might imply a transformation. The exhibition runs from October 19 - November 16, 2024.
G’round Textile Waste Tour & Seminar
October 23-24, 2024 
G’round Textile Waste Tour & Seminar! Visit the Goodwill Commercial Solutions facility in London to get a behind the scenes look at how donated items and textiles are sorted, managed and recycled. Then the following day join artist Lois Klassen for an exploration of textile circularity at the personal level. Register to attend!
Open Studios | Graduate Program
October 24 from 8-9pm 
We are hosting our first Open Studios of the year on October 24th from 8-9pm in the John Labatt Visual Arts Centre here at Western. MFAs and PhDs are opening their studios, so come see the creative process, engage in relevant discussions, get inspired, and meet our cohort! This event is free and open to the public.
New publication by Prof. Cody Barteet
Cody Barteet publishes "Recovering the Lost Histories of the Meredith Family’s Tiffany Windows at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, Ontario" in "RACAR at 50" issue 49, no. 1 (Spring 2024).
UAAC-AAUC Conference
October 24-26, 2024 
The Department of Visual Arts will be hosting the UAAC conference October 24-26. Every fall, UAAC-AAUC hosts Canada's professional conference for visual arts-based research by art historians, professors, artists, curators, and cultural workers. The conference is held at a different location each year, generally at a Canadian university or college. The sessions and panels address issues and subjects in art history, theory, and practice from various methodological approaches.
Review | Recentring visual artist Sheila Butler
By
Jen Zoratti ,Winnipeg Free Press ,September 18, 2024 
Read the exhibition review "Recentring visual artist Sheila Butler and her female gaze" written by Jen Zoratti and published by the "Winnipeg Free Press". The show "Sheila Butler: Other Circumstances," offers a retrospective look at Butler's practice and is co-curated by Pamela Edmonds and Patrick Mahon. It is currently on view at the School of Art Gallery at the University of Manitoba.
Jaap Blonk | Brown & Dickson Bookstore
October 11, 2024 
On Friday, October 11 the internationally celebrated Dutch sound poet and performance artist Jaap Blonk will be stopping in London on his North American Tour. This must-see show will take place at Brown & Dickson Bookstore (1025 Elias Street, London) and starts at 7:00PM and tickets are $10 (or PWYC).
Maiz Barbacoa Corn Roast & Book Launch | Museum London
September 22, 2024 | 1:00 – 4:00pm 
Join us at Museum London to experience Adjunct Professor Ron Benner’s roving corn-roasting wagon, Maiz Barbacoa. At the same time celebrate the launch of "An Alternative Cultural History of London, Ontario: Art and Activism" published by Embassy Cultural House. Edited by Jamelie Hassan and Ron Benner, with design by Olivia Mossuto, this publication includes texts and images by 36 contributors, including alum: Christina Battle, Janice Gurney, Shelley Niro, Andy Patton, Olivia Mossuto, and Ruth Skinner.
GardenShip and State | Thames Art Gallery
August 23, 2024 - October 20, 2024 
This exhibition brings together 21 artists and writers who engage in decolonial critique, environmental activism, and twenty-first century artistic practices to address what is arguably the problem of our times: environmental catastrophe. Co-curated by Jeff Thomas and Patrick Mahon, the exhibition features a vast array of works, many produced over a two-year period and originally shown at Museum London in 2021-22. Featuring alum Paul Chartrand, Michael Farnan, Sharmistha Kar, Mark Kasumovic, Olivia Mossuto, Quinn Smallboy, Ashley Snook, Andres Villar, Michelle Wilson, Professor Jessica Karuhanga and Ron Benner an Adjunct Professor.
Closing Reception & Artist-led Tour of Lullaby at McIntosh Gallery
September 6 from 5:00 to 7:00pm 
Join us in celebrating Brittany/Andrew Forrest's MFA thesis exhibition "Lullaby" at McIntosh Gallery and the closing reception and artist-led tour. This event is free and open to the public, all are welcome to attend and no registration is required. Enjoy snacks and refreshments among friends and community members. Remarks and artist-led exhibition tour at 5:30p.m.
Hannah West: Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) | artLAB Gallery
September 5th - September 30th, 2024 
Congratulations to Hannah West whose MFA thesis exhibition is on view "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" in the artLAB Gallery September 5th - September 30th. Join us for an opening reception on Thursday, September 5 from 5-7pm!
Sky Glabush: The letters of this alphabet were trees
By
Stephen Friedman Gallery ,September 5 - October 17, 2024 
Stephen Friedman Gallery presents 'The letters of this alphabet were trees', an exhibition of new paintings by Canadian artist Sky Glabush, marking his New York debut. Based in the countryside near London, Ontario, Glabush is celebrated for his brilliantly colored landscapes depicting forests, fields, flowers, sea and sky. In these familiar yet stylized scenes, the exploration of color, light and form is mediated through the use of texture, resulting from mixing sand and oil paint.
An Opulence of Squander | The Belkin
September 3 – December 8, 2024 
Professor Kelly Wood artwork is included in the group exhibition "An Opulence of Squander" at the Belkin at the University of British Columbia. "The group exhibition features artworks from the Belkin’s collection and beyond that critique the imperative for growth at all costs, growth that has contributed to our collective ecological and social conundrum. The works – including those by Richard Ibghy & Marilou Lemmens, Mike MacDonald and Kelly Wood – critique and resist the growth imperative, recognizing both the limits to productivity and the contradictory ideological premises that foster and justify the continued exploitation of labour and nature."
R&Art: Silkscreening a Tote with Soft Flirt | McIntosh Gallery
Wednesday, September 11 from 12:00pm - 4:00pm 
Rest, restore, and reconnect with our community at McIntosh’s first R&Art event! Kick off the 2024-25 school year on campus with a hands-on printmaking activity at the gallery. The first 100 attendees will receive a free tote bag to personalize and silkscreen with a limited-edition design created by local artist Soft Flirt! All attendees are invited to bring their own item (an old t-shirt, a piece of fabric, bag, etc.) to print on and adorn. No registration is required. Find art in the heart of campus at the McIntosh! All events are FREE and open to students and the public.
Indigenous artist-in-residence uses film and video games to connect with students
By
Jo Jennings ,Western News ,August 19, 2024 
Theo Jean Cuthand, an experimental and narrative filmmaker and indie game developer, joins Western this fall as the new Indigenous artist-in-residence. Cuthand’s works have been shown in festivals and galleries internationally, including the Tribeca Film Festival, Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the National Gallery of Canada. “Theo is bringing an exciting expertise to Western with his experience in short experimental narrative videos and films about queer identity and love, sexuality, madness and Indigeneity,” said Alena Robin, chair of the department of visual arts. “These are timely topics that are of concern to our students, department, campus and London community.”
Welcome, Theo Jean Cuthand as the incoming Indigenous Artist-in-Residence
August 1, 2024 The Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Department of Visual Arts are excited to announce Theo Jean Cuthand has accepted the role as the 2024/2025 Indigenous Artist-in-Residence to start in August! Welcome, Theo Jean Cuthand - we are honoured to have you and look forward to engaging with the work you will pursue during your residency.
Brittany/Andrew Forrest: Lullaby | McIntosh Gallery
August 6 - September 6, 2024 
Congratulations to Brittany/Andrew Forrest whose MFA thesis exhibition titled "Lullaby" is on view in the McIntosh Gallery August 6 - September 6, 2024. Join us for the closing reception and artist-led tour at the McIntosh Gallery on Friday, September 6 from 5pm to 7pm. This event is free and open to the public, all are welcome to attend.
Jessica Irene Joyce: How can I be OK with the e/and of the world? | artLAB Gallery
Reception: Thursday, July 18 from 5-7PM 
Congratulations to Jessica Irene Joyce whose MFA thesis exhibition titled "How can I be OK with the e/and of the world?" opens tonight in the artLAB Gallery and is on view until August 1, 2024. Join Jessica Irene Joyce and Ashar Mobeen for an exhibition tour and discussion on Tuesday, July 30 from 12-1PM
Ecologies in Practice: Environmentally Engaged Arts in Canada
July 18, 2024 
Ecologies in Practice: Environmentally Engaged Arts in Canada, co-edited by Dr. Elysia French and CSC postdoctoral fellow Dr. Amanda White is available to purchase through any local bookstore or online via Wilfrid Laurie University Press (with a current discount). This collection includes contributions from Western University alumni and community members including Christina Battle and Tom Cull, as well as many other contributions by artists, scholars, and curators.
Visual Arts Faculty Members Named Canada Research Chairs
July 1, 2024 
Two faculty members from the Department of Visual Arts have been named Canada Research Chairs (CRC). The CRC program recognizes the country’s top scholars across disciplines. Dr. Kirsty Robertson has been named Canada Research Chair in Museums, Art, and Sustainability. Her research aims to develop a better balance between museums’ potential to work with the public on pressing issues and their overuse of resources. Jackson Leween, Two Bears (Tékeniyáhsen Ohkwá:ri) has been appointed Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Arts Research and Technology. His work focuses on researching and creating projects centered around Haudenosaunee land-based histories and embodied cultural knowledge in the context of our digital age.
Leading Canadian Scholar to Visit CEE in 2025
Centre News ,June 27, 2024 
Congratulations to Professor Kirsty Robertson as she has been awarded a Senior Global Fellowship at the University of St. Andrews, where she will be collaborating with the Centre for Energy Ethics.
Anahí González: used as a material in the production of another | Artcite Inc.
July 12 - August 17, 2024 
Anahí González's PhD thesis exhibition at Artcite Inc. in Windsor, Ontario explores migration, Mexican labour, and identity with questions relating to commerce, systems of power and the event of photography through the mediums of photography, installations, and participatory practices. In “used as a material in the production of another", González engages with different industries that connect today’s Mexico and Canada, such as the automotive industry, agriculture, and others, and highlights how systems of power perceive Mexican labour as mobile, multi-purpose, and temporary.
Study Trip to Oaxaca, Mexico
Info session July 24, 2024 
The Department of Visual Arts is pleased to offer a new course in winter 2025, "Study Trip to Oaxaca, Mexico" is an exciting adventure in learning that combines of Art History and Photography instruction with Professor Alena Robin and Professor Kelly Wood. Students will discover the rich cultural heritage of the city of Oaxaca, Mexico and its fascinating region. Join the online information session at 2pm on July 24. Registration required.
After devastating church fire in Toronto, experts warn hundreds more historic buildings lack proper protections
By
Mariya Postelnyak ,Globe and Mail ,July 1, 2024 
Professor Cody Barteet was interviewed by the Globe and Mail for this article regarding historic churches and the lack of proper protections.
Call for Applications: Liu Shiming Artist Grants
Applications due August 31, 2024 
The Liu Shiming Art Foundation is now accepting applications for a new round of Liu Shiming Artist Grants designed to support the work of visual artists during the first decade of their careers. Up to five grants of $5,000 each will support the creation or completion of new projects.
Ten summer reads by Western faculty and alumni
By
Keri Ferguson ,Western News ,June 20, 2024 
New books written by art history faculty members Sarah Bassnett and John Hatch have been included in Western News' top ten books to read this summer. Both books are available for download or in print; order yours today.
National Indigenous Peoples Day: ‘Collective learning and unlearning’
By
Megan Stacey ,Western News ,June 21, 2024 
Indigenous artist-in-residence Leith Mahkewa recent exhibition and work was featured in an article published by Western News which highlights the Office of Indigenous Initiatives Biindigen 30-day challenge, noting activities, reports, and helpful resources available for the Western community to engage and grow.
Tricia Johnson: Recent Things | Satellite Project Space
June 19 - July 13, 2024 
Professor Tricia Johnson's solo exhibition "Recent Things" is on view at Satellite Project Space June 19 - July 13. Join us June 20 from 5-7pm for the opening reception. Satellite will have altered hours during this exhibition. Please visit their website for more information.
New publication by Prof. Cody Barteet
June 24, 2024 
Barteet, “The Retablos of Mani: The Convergence of Maya and Spanish Art,” Polychrome Art in the Early Modern World: 1200-1800, edited by Ilene Colón Mendoza and Lisanda Estevez. New York and London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2024, 154-167.
Anahí González: used as a material in the production of another | Artcite Inc.
July 12 - August 17, 2024 
Save the date! Come celebrate the work of Anahí González, a current PhD candidate and MFA alum, at the opening of her PhD thesis exhibition, "used as a material in the production of another," at Artcite Inc. in Windsor, Ontario, on Friday, July 12. An artist talk and performance will follow on Saturday, July 13, at 2 p.m.
Body: Material, Performative, Absent | Cohen Commons
June 24 - July 11 
In continuation of DRAFTS 5: Diasporic Bodies research and exhibition, Body: Material, Performative, Absent focuses on Faseeh Saleem’s design research on alternative conceptions of the body from a postcolonial lens. Curated by Soheila Esfahani, in this exhibition Saleem explores conceptions of the body and challenges conventional design methods and design thinking in fashion design processes in order to open up for alternative bodies as a methodological foundation.
New Article Published by John Hatch
Prof. John Hatch's "Postcards from a Cosmic Traveller: Thomas Ruff’s Images of Space" has just been published in the most recent issue of Culture and Cosmos, which he also co-edited.
Church fire that consumed Group of Seven murals was ‘heart-wrenching’
Toronto Star ,June 10, 2024 
Following the devastating fire at Toronto's historic St. Anne’s Anglican Church, art history professor Sarah Bassnett highlights the significance of the lost Group of Seven murals created as part of an early 20th-century movement to integrate paintings into architecture.
Reilly Knowles: Magic Circle for Earth Communion | Museum London
June 8 - December 1, 2024 
Inspired by regional folk magic traditions and Museum London’s historical collection of log cabin quilts, London-based artist and BFA alum Reilly Knowles presents his quilt Magic Circle for Earth Communion. This quilt, of his own making, takes the form of a cryptic seal symbolizing living in relationship with and learning from the Earth. It also incorporates dyes created from local plants and has undergone material alteration through direct contact with our region’s soil. Magic Circle for Earth Communion was commissioned as part of Ontario Culture Days 2024 Creatives in Residence program. Image: Reilly Knowles, Magic Circle for Earth Communion, 2024, embroidery with plant-dyed textiles, Collection of the artist
Professor John Hatch Publishes New Book
Art Canada Institute ,June 7, 2024 
Professor John Hatch has published a new book, Doris McCarthy: Life & Work which explores the career of the Canadian painter, writer and educator. Published by Art Canada Institute, it is available now open access online.
like heirlooms | Latcham Art Centre
Friday May 31 – Saturday July 13, 2024 
Joy Wong a graduate of the MFA program, is featured in a three-person exhibition at Latcham Art Centre. In the exhibition "like heirlooms" the artists present work that uses food ingredients, preparation techniques, and vivid images of shopping plazas that are central to Chinese diaspora communities in Canada. Together, they work within an expanded idea of “heirloom” to consider how aspects of food culture help us understand authenticity, care, and belonging.
Sasha Opeiko: a movement of darkness on darkness | McIntosh Gallery
June 13 - July 20, 2024 
The McIntosh Gallery presents Sasha Opeiko's PhD thesis exhibition, titled "a movement of darkness on darkness". You're invited to the opening reception on Thursday, June 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.
Collecting Her Thoughts: Lightning Talks on Women Art Collectors Across Time
April 10, 2024 
PhD Candidate Ashar Mobeen delivered a lightning talk titled, “Mapping the Cosmos: Vera Rubin and the Art of Astronomy” at Boston University on Friday, June 14, 2024.
Retrospective Exhibition Showcases the Unique Works and Legacy of London Artist Philip Aziz
June 3 - 13, 2024 
An exhibition showcasing works by London artist Philip Aziz opens at Satellite Project Space on Monday, June 3rd. Painted By My Hand: Works from the Collection of Philip Aziz features a selection of paintings, lithographs, and photographs from the personal collection of Philip Aziz (1923 – 2009), a renowned London-based artist whose works have been shown in London, Toronto, Detroit, and New York. Curated by Prof. Cody Barteet and Natalie Scola a current PhD candidate in the Department of Visual Arts.
Christina Battle: Under Metallic Skies | Museum London
June 1 to October 20, 2024 
Christina Battle, who earned her PhD in Visual Art and Culture in the Department of Visual Arts has a solo exhibition upcoming at Museum London. "Under the Metallic Skies" will open to the public on June 1 and will run through October 20, 2024.
Tegan Moore: Condensations | Centre Clark
May 23 - June 22, 2024 
Congratulations to MFA alum Tegan Moore whose solo exhibition titled Condensations is on view now through June 22, 2024 at Centre Clark in Montreal. Tegan Moore works in sculpture and installation to interrogate the built environment and its relationship with the body through granular, intuitive, and research-based investigations.
Mike Pszczonak: Window Reflections | Michael Gibson Gallery
June 1 – 29, 2024 
Congratulations to MFA alum Mike Pszczonak whose third solo exhibition at Michael Gibson Gallery, titled ‘Window Reflections’ will be on view from June 1st until June 29th. Join Mike at Michael Gibson Gallery for the opening reception on Thursday, June 6th between 6pm – 8pm.
Department of Visual Arts at INSAP 2024
May 20-25, 2024 
At the INSAP 2024: Thirty Years of Astronomy, Art and Inspiration conference hosted by the Ionian University of Corfu, Professor John Hatch presented a paper titled "Touching the Universe: Backyard Science Projects in Contemporary Art" along with PhD candidate, Ashar Mobeen who presented a paper titled “Cosmic Echoes in the Art and Architecture of the Islamic Golden Age”.
Leith Mahkewa: Purpose and Intention: Exploration of Creativity | artLAB Gallery
May 30 - June 20, 2024 
Join us in celebrating the opening of "Purpose and Intention: Exploration of Creativity," an exhibition by Leith Mahkewa, Indigenous Artist-in-Residence. The exhibition will be open in the artLAB Gallery starting May 30th and will run through June 20th, 2024. Don't miss the opening reception on Thursday, May 30th at 5pm, where we'll celebrate the culmination of Leith Mahkewa's time as the 2024 IAiR.
Exhibition Review: Derek Liddington at Contemporary Calgary
By
Marsel Reddick ,Akimbo ,
"Derek Liddington’s the trees weep, the mountains still, the bodies rust covers Contemporary Calgary from floor to ceiling, every wall painted with pink, blue, purple, and white – but mostly green – amorphous forms just familiar enough to invite viewers to play with interpretation. At first abstract, the fluid contours generate the visual experience of running through a forest. There emerges a tree, then a stream, then a leg, dancing and jumping. Canvases hanging on the walls are mostly rectangular, with some in shapes that resemble hands and feet..."
Temporal Palimpsests: Curated by Amy Skodak | Cohen Commons
May 30 – June 20, 2024 
The exhibit showcases the work of artists from the Department of Visual Arts at Western University who address themes such as memory, the passage of time, the impacts of time, and the cataloging of time. Through repurposing material and in multi-media installation, these artists reimagine the palimpsest. This exhibition is curated by Amy Skodak, MA candidate and features artwork by: Jessica Joyce, Rylee Rumble, Chloe Serenko, SiHyun Kim, Anna Riberdy, Danielle Petti.
Sacred spaces: Indigenous Territory and Knowledge-sharing in the digital age
Canada Foundation for Innovation ,Cole Buhler 
Professor Jackson 2bears' creative practice has been funded and featured in an article published by Canada Foundation of Innovation.
A new art exhibit takes you deeper into the history and ecosystem of the Coves in London
CBC News ,May 5, 2024 
'Unclaim. Unsettle. Belong' exhibit is on display at Western University's McIntosh Gallery until June 1
Dong-Kyoon Nam: proce-ss-emblage|distanced-matters
Exhibition: April 25 – May 16, 2024 
The Artlab Gallery presents Dong-Kyoon Nam's PhD thesis exhibition, titled "proce-ss-emblage|distanced-matters". You're invited to the opening reception on Thursday, April 25 from 5pm to 7pm. Additionally, join us again on Wednesday, May 1 at 2pm to bring your questions, concerns, doubts, and inspirations related to your thoughts, observations, and experiences from the exhibition. Dong-Kyoon Nam will briefly discuss his ideas and practice with Steven Debruyn, an MFA candidate. Following this, we'll open up the floor for a community discussion on everyone's responses to the exhibition.
Annual Juried Exhibition 22: FCG Feature Award Winner
May 16 - June 1, 2024 
For many years, Forest City Gallery (FCG) has supported the Annual Juried Exhibition (AJE) through the contribution of the FCG Feature Award. The AJE 22 jury, which convened earlier this semester, awarded second-year student Alexai Wilson with this year’s FCG Feature Award because her AJE-exhibited work demonstrated a great deal of conceptual experimentation, technical accomplishment, and attention to the history of her medium. Join us for the opening reception on May 16, 7-9PM at FCG.
In Conversation: Matt Bahen & Matthew Ryan Smith | McIntosh Gallery
April 27 at 1pm 
Join the McIntosh Gallery on Saturday, April 27 at 1pm for a live discussion between exhibiting artist Matt Bahen & guest curator and PhD alum Matthew Ryan Smith. This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome, no registration required!
CSC mentioned in CBC Arts feature
By
Chris Hampton ,CBC Arts ,April 11, 2024 
The CBC Arts article titled "How do we make public art in a climate crisis?" features the Centre for Sustainable Curating among various Canadian artists and groups who are "dedicated to the exhibition of temporary public art to discuss how they can responsibly do their work — and how the nature of that work changes — in the midst of a climate emergency."
The Coves Collective: unclaim. unsettle. belong | McIntosh Gallery
April 1 - June 1, 2024 
unclaim. unsettle. belong is on view in the McIntosh Gallery until June 1. This exhibition brings together works by The Coves Collective members Kristin Bennett, Paul Chartrand (MFA '17), Reilly Knowles (BFA '20), Professor Sheri Osden Nault, and Michelle Wilson (PhD '22).
Could we ever know each other...? presented by Jamelie Hassan
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 
SASAH and The Faculty of Arts and Humanities welcome Jamelie Hassan to Western University on Tuesday, April 16. Jamelie Hassan's work involves interdisciplinary projects. Research in archives, both public and private, has been a significant aspect of her work. Curatorial, collective and collaborative projects based on archival materials as well as some of her artworks will be included in this presentation.
UAAC-AAUC Conference 2024: Call for Papers
Paper submissions due May 31st, 2024 
The UAAC-AAUC conference will be held in the Department of Visual Arts at Western University from October 24 to 26, 2024. We invite the submission of paper proposals until May 31st, 2024.
Professor Sarah Bassnett recently published an open-access article in Oxford Art Journal
“Rescue Politics: Richard Mosse’s Thermal Imaging and the Containment of Migration,” Oxford Art Journal 46, issue 3 (Dec. 2023): 471-492.
PhD candidate Blessy Augustine recently published an essay in the journal Photography and Culture
Blessy Augustine, “The Francis Effect and the Significance of Gestures and Images,” Photography and Culture, 16 no. 3 (2023): 253-256.
PhD candidate Anahí González recently published an essay in the journal Photography and Culture
Anahí González-Terán, “Exhibiting Migration Stories: An Exploration of Poetics in Moysés Zuñiga’s Photography,” Photography and Culture, 16 no. 3 (2023): 235-242.
Sydney McArthur: Subtitles Speak: Building Bridges Through Text and Image
Sydney McArthur, MA Candidate in Art History and Museum Studies presents her curatorial project titled “Subtitles Speak: Building Bridges Through Text and Image,” in the JLVAC, April 22-26, 2024. McArthur notes, "This project connects film stills with contemporary art on the use of subtitles to relay deeper meanings. The subtitle has its origins in film for the purpose of translation and accessibility. This mini exhibition uses subtitled film stills as a symbol of otherness, translation, and understanding between the viewer and art."
Studio Tour 2024 | Good Sport
April 27th to 28th 
Good Sport is delighted to bring you another edition of their highly anticipated Studio Tour this April 27th to 28th as part of Canadian art hop, a nation-wide studio tour event organized by Art Dealers Association of Canada (ADAC/AMAC)! Good Sport is a member-driven gallery and studio space that exists for the development and exhibition of emerging artists. Come hang out in our art gallery and studios, meet with our resident artists, and purchase art directly from the collective’s vast selection of paintings, prints, drawings, zines, apparel, and so much more!
Sur Gallery is Hiring
Applications due April 26, 2024 Reporting to the Director/Curator, the Collection and Database Coordinator (CDC) role will be involved in database enhancement, community programming, and research and documentation of ARCHIVO. Applications due April 26, 2024.
Western grad’s space-inspired artwork leads to 2024 Canada Space Fellowship
By
Emma Hyett ,April 04, 2024 
Tassneem Hamed, Visual Arts alum, BSc’22, recently received the prestigious Zenith Fellowship from the Zenith Canada Pathways Foundation (ZCPF), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in Canada’s space sector.
Derek Liddington: the trees weep, the mountain still, the bodies rust | Contemporary Calgary
April 10, 2024—August 25, 2024 The trees weep, the mountain still, the bodies rust features a recent body of work by Visual Arts PhD candidate and MFA alum, Derek Liddington in which the genre of landscape is the central focus. This exhibition is on view at Calgary Contemporary until August 25, 2024.
Kirsty Robertson Publishes Review in Momus
April 4, 2024 
Kirsty Robertson recently published a review of Caroline Monnet’s Uneasy Objects in Momus. "Pizandawatc / The One Who Listens / Celui qui écoute, a recent exhibition at the Art Museum at the University of Toronto (AMUT), draws its title from the traditional name of artist Caroline Monnet’s family, prior to the changing of surnames in her traditional territory of Kitigan Zibi by Christian missionaries..."
Grad Open Studios and Research Presentations
Saturday, April 13, 2024 
Important update - April 11, 2024: PSAC 610 is on strike, and in solidarity, the graduate students of the Visual Arts Department have indefinitely postponed this year's Open Studios and Research Presentations that were to be held on 13 April at the John Labatt Visual Arts Centre.
Study Trip to Oaxaca, Mexico
Winter Term 2025 The Department of Visual Arts is pleased to offer a new course in winter 2025, "Study Trip to Oaxaca, Mexico" is an exciting adventure in learning that combines of Art History and Photography instruction with Professor Alena Robin and Professor Kelly Wood. Students will discover the rich cultural heritage of the city of Oaxaca, Mexico and its fascinating region.
Philip Gurrey: Thresholds | Satellite Project Space
Opening Reception Thursday, March, 27 from 5-7pm 
Congratulations to Philip Gurrey whose PhD thesis exhibition "Thresholds" opens Thursday, March 28, 2024 at Satellite Project Space and is on view until April 6th 2024.
2024 UAAC-AAUC conference | Western University
Session submissions due March 31st, 2024 
The UAAC-AAUC conference will be held in the Department of Visual Arts at Western University from October 24 to 26, 2024. We invite the submission of session proposals until March 31st, 2024. We aim to offer a range of panels, roundtables, workshops and creative sessions that reflect UAACʼs diverse constituents, in terms of membership, scholarship, and research-creation practice. Panels, roundtables, workshops and creative sessions are invited that interrogate all time periods and cultural frames of art history, visual and material culture, studio practice, research-creation, design practice, theory and criticism, pedagogy, and museum and curatorial practice.
Prof. Sarah Bassnett and Blessy Augustine | Photography and Culture
Professor Sarah Bassnett and PhD candidate Blessy Augustine recently guest-edited a special issue of the journal Photography and Culture on 21st-century migration. We are pleased to share the following essays from the special issue...
Soheila Esfahani: Are You Buying These with Loonies or Toonies? | Tom Thomson Gallery
March 9 - May 25, 2024 
Prof. Soheila Esfahani's solo exhibition "Are You Buying These with Loonies or Toonies?" responds to the question of “where are you from?”, which many immigrants are often asked, by exploring Tom Thomson’s paintings from a diasporic lens. Esfahani explores the notion of being Canadian by commissioning another artist, MFA candidate, Jessica Joyce to create replicas of three Thomson’s paintings in order to destabilize the notion of original through the act of translation.
Ashar Mobeen at EnviroCon 2024
March 22, 2024 
PhD Candidate Ashar Mobeen presented his paper titled, “Planting New Worlds: How Astrobiology and Decolonial Theory Can Reshape Sustainable Farming” at EnviroCon 2024 on March 22.
SOGS 38th Annual Western Research Forum
March 15, 2024 PhD Candidate Ashar Mobeen presented a poster on his working thesis, “From Stars We Come, To Stars We Return: Exploring Ancient and Indigenous Cosmic Worldviews” at the SOGS 38th Annual Western Research Forum on Friday, March 15, 2024.
Tia Bates and Danielle Petti: Momentarily Unstuck | Satellite Project Space
March 13 - 23, 2024 
Congratulations to first-year MFA students, Danielle Petti and Tia Bates whose exhibition 'Momentarily Unstuck' is on view now at Satellite Project Space. Please join the artists in the gallery for the closing reception on March 22 from 5pm - 7pm.
Art inspired by advent (or not) of Anthropocene | Western News
By
Keri Ferguson ,Western News ,March 14, 2024 
"Anthropocene or no Anthropocene, that was the question. And last week, a group of international scientists responded, voting against a proposal to declare the Anthropocene as a new geological epoch to reflect how human activity has altered the planet. The possible naming of the time period was the launching point for visual arts professor Kirsty Robertson’s museum and curatorial students’ year-end project and exhibit meromictic..."
Satellite Project Space is Hiring
Applications due March 25, 2024 
Satellite Project Space seeks a Gallery Coordinator. The successful candidate will be an organized and personable individual with an understanding of gallery procedures and contemporary art. Working under the direction of the Satellite Steering Committee, this position works closely with faculty, students, alumni, promotional avenues, and the general public.
Sincerely, | Artlab Gallery
March 28 - April 11, 2024 
Western University’s 4th year Studio Arts Practicum course presents their final exhibition titled "Sincerely,". Please join us in the artLAB Gallery on Thursday, March 28 from 6-8PM for the opening reception. Featuring work by Bridget L Beardwood, Laila Bloomstone, Isabella Bruni, Susy Castillo, Kate Chaksfield, Jack Cocker, Kate Dunn, SiHyun Vision Kim, TK, Megan Muir, Bridget Puhacz, Michaela Purcell, Chloe Serenko, Marissa Slack, Emil Stoetzer, Amelie Swayze, Sacha Veillon, Elina Zhou.
Up With Art | Museum London
Saturday, May 4, 2024 
Join Museum London on Saturday, May 4, 2024 for the 14th annual arty-party and silent art auction! Featuring artwork by many alum and friends of the Department of Visual Arts! Enjoy London’s most impactful and fun-filled social event of the year while supporting Unity Project for Relief of Homelessness and Museum London.
Tahir Karl Karmali, Curatorial Tour and Talk | Artlab Gallery
March 14, 3-5:30 pm 
Tahir Carl Karmali is a Nairobi-born and Brooklyn-based artist who works across photography, installation, papermaking, sculpture, and sound and concentrates thematically on migration, landscape, geology, labor, and belonging. His series Strata (2017-2019) consists of eight textile sculptures. Each work takes on different forms and styles of sculpture all using dyed raffia stained with cobalt. To create the dye, Karmali performs a ‘reverse mining’ practice whereby old American cell phone batteries—bought one Bay—are dismantled to extract the copper, cobalt oxide, and aluminum. Stratais currently on view as a part of the exhibition Erratic Behaviour(2024) at Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, curated by Western PhD candidate Katie Lawson. As a part of programming for meromictic, Karmali will talk about his practice and the nearby exhibition Erratic Behaviour.
Call for Submissions from BIPOC Lens-Based Artists | Latcham Art Centre
Submissions due March 31st, 2024 
Latcham Art Centre welcomes submissions of lens-based artwork made by Black and Indigenous artists and artists of colour for a small group exhibition on the theme of belonging. The deadline for submissions is Sunday March 31st. All artists who are selected for this small group exhibition will be paid in accordance with CARFAC fees, and there is no fee to apply. Image Credit: Installation view of Jeff Thomas: The Indigenous Map Maker’s Room at Latcham Art Centre, 2021. Artwork by Jeff Thomas. Photo: Dennis Hristovski
Francine McCarthy, Curatorial Tour and Talk Defining the Anthropocene in Sediments from a Meromictic Lake
March 12, 3-5:30 pm Dr. Francine McCarthy is Professor of Earth Sciences also appointed to the Department of Biological Sciences and the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre at Brock University, Ontario. She is also Research Associate in Natural History at the Royal Ontario Museum and a voting member of the Anthropocene Working Group. She will talk about her work investigating the potential of the varved sequence in the hydrologically unique Crawford Lake to define the Anthropocene.
See You There | Forest City Gallery
March 7 - April 27 
Forest City Gallery announces its first FCG Pier Members’ exhibition for 2024. Featuring works by Shane Ackerly, Marla Botterill, Mary Donlan, Anne Hamilton, and SiHyun Vision Kim, See You There reflects the candid relationships artists have with the places they inhabit, or have experienced, and acknowledges the various ways in which locations and cultures affect our artwork. The exhibition engages with ideas of location, memory, home, people, community, and culture. The resulting works encompass a range of media and approaches. See You There is curated by Gallery Intern and BFA student Jack Cocker.
Museum London: Call for 2024 Scholarship Applications Honouring Colleagues Melanie A. Townsend & Steve Mavers
Application Deadline April 22, 2024 at 5pm 
Museum London is delighted to announce two prestigious scholarship opportunities for students at Western University: the Melanie A. Townsend Scholarship for Museum and Curatorial Studies and the Steve Mavers Scholarship for Arts Education. To apply for the Melanie A. Townsend Scholarship, eligible students must be enrolled in any Museum and Curatorial Studies module at Western University. To apply for the Steve Mavers Scholarship for Arts Education, eligible students must be enrolled in the Faculty of Education at Western University
Prof. Sarah Bassnett Publishes Article on Trevor Paglen
Spring 2024 
Professor Sarah Bassnett recently published an open-access article on how Trevor Paglen’s work offers insight into the age of machine vision. “Trevor Paglen’s Border Abstractions in the Age of Machine Vision,” photographies 17, no. 1-2 (spring 2024): 25-42.
2024 Western Sustainable Impact Fund Success
Congratulations to Katie Lawson and Ashar Mobeen, PhD candidates, along with post-doctoral fellow Amanda White from the Department of Visual Arts, in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Curating, for securing funding for their projects through the Western Sustainable Impact fund. For more details about each funded project, please visit the Western Sustainability website.
Anthropic | Cohen Commons
February 29 through March 14, 2024 
The group exhibition "Anthropic" is on view in the Cohen Commons Exhibition from February 29 through March 14, 2024. The artworks in Anthropic ask of viewers: What does it mean to be in relationship with the self, other, and environment in the Anthropocene? Organized by Professor Sheri Osden Nault and featuring artworks by undergraduate students: Payton Atkinson, Patricia Barwicz, Genevieve Buchanan, Mariah Cowan, Stephanie Davey, Anastasia Fedorova, Cheyne Ferguson, Arlen Griffiths, Hannah Khiavi, Megan Lee, Venus Nwaokoro, Niyati Sahdev, Maggie Shook, Natasha Tacconelli, Mady Teeter, Emma Whitehouse.
Professor Sarah Bassnett Co-Publishes Article on Retrieving Images From Tarnished Daguerreotypes
Professor Sarah Bassnett collaborated with Chemistry Professor T.K. Sham and colleagues on an open-access article about retrieving images from tarnished daguerreotypes titled “Retrieving Images from Tarnished Daguerreotypes using X-ray Fluorescence with an X-Ray Micro Beam with Tunable Energy,” in the Journal of Cultural Heritage, May – June 2024 issue.
tba journal, PLASTIC, volume launch
February 8, 2024 
The editorial team at tba journal is thrilled to launch the 5th peer reviewed volume, PLASTIC, that has been digitally published on their platform at tbajournal.ca
Rylee Rumble: Achy Awfulness | Ascent Gallery
February 28 – May 2, 2024 
In this solo exhibition by alum Rylee Rumble (MFA 23), colour is explored as a means of documenting the artist’s raw and vulnerable experiences with depression, anxiety and ADHD. 'Achy Awfulness' continues through May 2, 2024 at Ascent Gallery in Toronto.
Bruno Belli Crafts an Awesome Personal Project at the Art Gallery of Ontario
By
Lexi Taciak ,Architectural Photography Review ,February 9, 2024 
"Today we’re taking a little trip to Ontario with architectural photographer Bruno Belli! Bruno has sublimely photographed Frank Gehry’s expansion of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). “I shot these over the course of three days there, trying to get the right light and mood for each of the angles. Some of the interesting challenges were incorporating the vibrant life outside the gallery and having to shoot all of the interiors handheld,” Bruno starts off. Let’s jump on in and see his (very cool) images!"
Tracing Labor Territories | Sur Gallery
January 25 to March 30, 2024 
The artists in the exhibition deconstruct the politicized spaces that lie between territory and labor, outlining the imperial and colonial relationship of the North and the South. Four artists listen and interpret migratory flows between borders, they shift the margins and narratives with various artistic proposals and mediums. From photography to video installation to sound art, the artists Anahí González, María Hoyos, Martín Rodríguez, and Victor Vargas offer counter-narratives and a perspective of the migrant worker who is often marginal, silenced, and exploited, within a settler colonial state that profits of their labor force while making their presence invisible.
Pasts Refracted: Indigenous Histories on Film Beyond the Cinema by Prof. Christine Sprengler
December 18th, 2023 
Professor Christine Sprengler recently published a chapter titled "Pasts Refracted: Indigenous Histories on Film Beyond the Cinema" in "The Routledge Companion to History and the Moving Image". This volume addresses moving image history through a theoretical lens; modes and genres; representation, race, and identity; and evolving forms and formats.
Patrick Thibert | TAP Centre for Creativity
February 6th to February 17th, 2024 
Patrick Thibert will be showing a selection of works on paper at TAP Centre for Creativity covering a period from 1971 to 2023. The exhibition will continue until February 17th. There will be 41 framed drawings from various periods over the decades that were made in tandem with his sculptures
Prof. Mohammad Reza Moridi presents "Carpet as Cultural Text"
February 6, 2024 at 9:30 AM 
Join the upcoming talk by Western Visiting Scholar, Prof. Mohammad Reza Moridi titled "Carpet as Cultural Text". This talk is presented by the Department of Languages and Cultures, the Department of Visual Arts and Western International.
AJE 22 | Artlab Gallery
February 1 to 15, 2024 
Celebrating twenty-two years the "Annual Juried Exhibition" continues to be one of the Department of Visual Arts most highly anticipated undergraduate exhibitions. This diverse show supports the production of new work made in a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, print, video, and photography. Exhibited works were selected by a professional jury who consider creativity, concept, materiality and technique. This year’s show is indicative of the resilience and dedication our students continue to demonstrate. The AJE 22 is on view from February 1 to 15, 2024. Please join us for the opening reception, People's Choice voting and award announcements on February 1st from 6 - 8pm.
DRAFTS 5: DIASPORIC BODIES | Artlab Gallery
January 11 - 25, 2024 
Curated by Soheila Esfahani & Faseeh Saleem, this exhibition features work by: Anahí González, Anna Lidström, Erika Blomgren and Faseeh Saleem , Jessica Karuhanga, Karin Landahl & Stefanie, Malmgren de Oliveira, Leith Mahkewa, Racquel Rowe, Vidmina Stasiulyte. This exhibition brings together a group of artists from the Department of Visual Arts at Western University, London, Canada, and design researchers from the Body and Space Research Lab at the Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås, Sweden. Please join us for the closing reception of DRAFTS 5: DIASPORIC BODIES on Thursday, January 25 from 12-2PM in the Cohen Commons. Image: Jessica Karuhanga, Photo Credit: Toni Hafkenscheid, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
Paul Walde: Glacial Resonance | McIntosh Gallery
January 19 - March 16, 2024 
Join Victoria-based artist and alum Paul Walde (BFA '94) for a guided tour of his solo exhibition Glacial Resonance at Western University's McIntosh Gallery. This event is free and open to the public, although space is limited. Registration is required to attend. Event registrants and members of the public are invited to attend the opening reception of Glacial Resonance shortly following the artist's guided tour on Friday, January 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. at McIntosh Gallery. Find out more:
bread, butter, tea, soup | Artlab Gallery
January 11 - 25, 2024 
Presented by The Creative Food Research Collaboratory, 'bread, butter, tea, soup' is a gathering place and a series of food-based artistic interventions presented by the Creative Food Research Collaboratory. In the darkness of winter, before the light begins to return incrementally, we invite all to share in the warmth, comfort and complexity of food; to eat, learn, digest and imagine together. Please join us for a series of artistic activations throughout January. More information about these live events can be found through the link below.
Phillip Gurrey: Enclosures | Birch Contemporary
January 18 – February 24, 2024 
Enclosures is an immersive installation of paintings and wall and floor-based sculpture by PhD candidate Phillip Gurrey. This exhibitions opens with a private viewing at Birch Contemporary on January 18 from 6pm - 8pm.
Masha Kouznetsova: coordinates / sweeping | The End Project Space
January 5 – February 25, 2024 
'coordinates / sweeping' showcases new work by Masha Kouznetsova, current candidate of Western University’s PhD program in the Visual Arts department. Masha Kouznetsova’s multidisciplinary work and writing foreground sonic, visual, and imperceptible signals as modes of searching for grounding and interconnectedness.
External Now at Satellite Project Space
January 10 - 20, 2023 
Congratulations to MFA candidates Hannah West and Jessica Joyce whose exhibition 'Eternal Now' opens at Satellite Project Space on January 10 and runs through January 20. Please join us at the closing reception on January 20 from 3-5pm. Closing Reception: January 20, 3-5pm
Adi Berardini: Live Stream | Good Sport
January 12 - 27, 2023 
'Live Stream' an exhibition by alum Adi Berardini (MA '20) looks at love, loss, and disenfranchised grief and how time and distance affect the grieving process through a series of paintings. The exhibition addresses the interconnectedness of emotions, everyday life and spirituality, and how technology can both connect us and isolate us. The opening reception at Good Sport is on January 12 from 7pm to 9pm.
Practicum Bake Sale Fundraiser | JLVAC
February 14, 2024 from 12pm - 4pm 
Save the date for another epic bake sale!! On Valentine’s Day! Get something for you and someone special and support the Practicum class and their upcoming exhibition. Cash and e-transfers accepted. Tables will be set up in the main hallway of the John Labatt Visual Arts Centre.
tba journal: PLASTIC | volume launch
The editorial team at tba journal is thrilled to announce that our 5th peer reviewed volume, PLASTIC, has been digitally published on our platform at tbajournal.ca
