UNews - Jeffrey Spalding

Smith and SAAG give boost to community arts

trevor.kenney — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:58:25 +0000

Growing up in Whitehorse, Marilyn Smith, executive director for the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG), was surrounded by some of the most beautiful artwork that nature could provide – but it was the artwork created by humanity that truly captured her heart.

"The arts have always interested me. The Yukon is an adventurous, creative place and I'm attracted to that same spirit in the arts; a place where people aren't afraid to push boundaries," says Smith, winner of the 2011 Rozsa Award for Excellence in Arts Management.

Drawn by its size and reputation for Native American and education programs, Smith became a student at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in the mid-1970s.

"I originally thought about going into art education. I started taking art classes and art history. I realized that was the area I was most interested in, and that I didn't want to teach in a formal school system. Simultaneously, I got a job working at SAAG as part of the gallery's first extension program led by Victoria Baster (now an instructor in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Faculty of Fine Arts). It was this experience that shifted my concentration to the administrative side of the arts," says Smith.

SAAG executive director Marilyn Smith, middle, is flanked by fellow U of L alumni and SAAG employees Tyler Stewart (far left), David Farstad, Jenn Prosser, Christina Cuthbertson and Ryan Doherty.

After her third year at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Smith went home for the summer where she stayed until 1995 as co-owner and producer of a musical theatre company: Frantic Follies Vaudeville Revue. Ready for a change, she returned to Lethbridge to complete the final year of her multi-disciplinary bachelor's degree in Fine Arts.

"In my first go-round, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was so small; it was almost like a large high school. Art classes were in the dark, dank basement of the physical education building. When I returned in 1995, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was much bigger, more sophisticated. There was a wider range of opportunities and a state of the art Fine Arts building. It was quite a big change," says Smith, who is quick to point out that the constant over the years was the quality of the professors and the educational experience.

"The professors are top-notch. My drama professor, David Spinks, was inspirational to me in my first experience at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. He created opportunities to go into local and First Nations communities to perform that really expanded my understanding of this area and the different people who live here. Jeffrey Spalding, the director of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Art Gallery, was amazing. He made the collection accessible on so many levels; he had such an inspiring, boundless vision," remembers Smith. "The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ introduced me to contemporary art through their exhibitions, speaker series, visiting lectures and art history classes. I have brought that knowledge with me in my career."

In 1996, Smith graduated with distinction and began her career at the SAAG as an education co-ordinator and curator until 1999 when she was promoted to her current position. During her tenure, gallery proceeds have increased 200 per cent.

Recently, Smith oversaw renovations at the SAAG that included an addition of 6,000 square feet of space with a library and new instructional area. Since re-opening in 2010, the gallery has tripled its membership, while programming and sponsorship has increased.

"The focus of SAAG, from the founding board until now, has always been that the gallery would bring the kind of quality programming to Lethbridge that is available in larger centres. It is my privilege to work with amazing colleagues, board and community members. It has been a group effort that brought us to the point where we have an excellent reputation locally, nationally and internationally," says Smith. "I am honoured to have been a part of that."

Smith also believes that the gallery's success is greatly supported by the close connection it has with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the SAAG have had a symbiotic relationship over the years. We exhibit artists who teach at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ; many of our artists speak at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's lecture series and we are actively involved in student internships from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Smith. "Currently all our staff are ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ graduates; there is a shared understanding and experience because of that. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has made a huge difference in our quality of life and the fact that we have such a tremendously well-educated group of people to draw upon to fill the expertise needed to run the gallery has significantly influenced the growth of our institution."

This story first appeared in the November issue of the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Events Calendar - September

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:43:48 +0000

Pronghorn Athletics

Sept. 25 | Canada West Soccer
Women – Regina vs. Horns, noon
Men – Trinity Western vs. Horns, 2 p.m.
Community Sports Stadium

Sept. 26 | Canada West Soccer
Women – Manitoba vs. Horns, noon
Men – UBC vs. Horns, 2 p.m.
Community Sports Stadium

Oct. 2 | Canada West Soccer
Calgary vs. Horns | Women at noon, men at 2 p.m. | Community Sports Stadium

Lectures

Sept. 15 | Art Now: Sculptor, Faye HeavyShield | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Sept. 17 | Art Now: Jamelie Hassan
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Sept. 20 | Art Now: Caitlin Jones (Western Front executive director)
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Sept. 20 | Architecture & Design Now: John Savil and Dan Westwood
Discussing the Southern Alberta Art Gallery renovation and addition
6 p.m., C610

Sept. 22 | Art Now: Artist, writer and curator, Jeffrey Spalding | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Sept. 23 | Owen G. Holmes Lectures: Michael Shermer | Why People Believe Weird Things | 7 p.m., PE250

Sept. 24 | Prentice Institute Brown Bag Series: Dr. Raphael Lencucha
International Trade and Chronic Disease: Making the Link | Noon, Prentice Boardroom (L1102)

Sept. 27 | Art Now: Catherine Crowston (Art Gallery of Alberta)
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Sept. 27 | Architecture & Design Now: Catherine Crowston (Art Gallery of Alberta) | 6 p.m., C610

Sept. 27 | Georgina Beyer, New Zealand Member of Parliament
Overcoming Barrier: A Discussion with the World's First Trans MP | 7 to 9 p.m., Ballroom B, Students' Union

Sept. 29, Oct. 1 | Art Now: Michael Morris & Vincent Trasov | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Sept. 30 | Discovery Lecture Series: You Can't Spin Mother Nature
James Hoggan discusses the energy sector and the scientific debate on climate change | 7 p.m., PE 250
Free admission

Oct. 4 | Dutch installation artist, Susanne Bruynzeel | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Oct. 4 | Architecture & Design Now: Robert Steven | 6 p.m., C610

Oct. 6 | Art Now: Animator & Illustrator, James Brathwaite
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Oct. 6 | CRDC Presents: Doug Phillips | An Introduction to WestGrid
12:30 to 1:30 p.m., CRDC L1126

Oct. 8 | Art Now: Painter, Alexander Irving | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Oct. 8 | Women Scholars Speaker Series: Helen Kelly | The Clinical Impact of eHealth on the Self-Management of Diabetes | 3 to 5 p.m., AH100

Oct. 13 | Art Now: Writer, Simon Houpt | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Performances

Sept. 21 | Music at Noon: Dale Ketcheson (guitar) | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Sept. 28 | Music at Noon: Margaret Mezei (clarinet); Thomas Staples (horn); Glen Montgomery (piano)
12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Oct. 5 | Music at Noon: Piotr Grella-Mozejko (ensemble) | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Oct. 12 | Music at Noon: Glen Montgomery (piano) | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Sept. 30-Oct. 2 | TheatreXtra presents Muse Control | A struggling writer's life begins to fall apart when he takes in a muse | 8 p.m. nightly, David Spinks Theatre. Matinee, 2 p.m., Oct. 2

Oct. 5 | Ensemble Extravaganza!
U of L Singers, Wind Orchestra, Global Drums, Opera Workshop, Jazz Ensemble, Vox Musica, Collaborative Ensemble, Trumpet Ensemble and Women's Chorus | 8 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre

Oct. 8 | Homecoming
Musaeus String Quartet premiere's Passacaglia for Oboe and String Quartet | 8 p.m., Southminster United Church

Miscellaneous

Sept. 12 to Oct. 24 | Shifting Myths
Helen Christou Gallery

Sept. 23 | Women Scholars Speaker Series: Fall Reception | Wine and cheese reception to introduce speaker series lineup | 3 to 5 p.m., AH100

Sept. 23-24 | Auditions for Spring Awakening | Open call auditions for play to be presented Nov. 24-28,
6 to 10 p.m. each day, W425

Sept. 25 | Get to Know You 5K Fun Run/Walk | Meet President Mike Mahon and benefit KidSport Alberta
Registration at www.uleth.ca/sportrec | 10 a.m., 1st Choice Savings Centre

Sept. 29 | Career Fair
Employers visit the U of L campus
All day, 1st Choice Savings Centre track

Cardiff earns Hnatyshyn Arts Award

trevor.kenney — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:26:12 +0000

Internationally recognized artist Janet Cardiff, an adjunct member of the Faculty of Fine Arts, and her collaborator and partner George Bures Miller are among the recipients of the 2008 Hnatyshyn Foundation Visual Arts Awards.
Cardiff and Bures Miller received a $25,000 prize for outstanding achievement by a Canadian artist in early December.
A jury of arts professionals from across Canada selected the award recipients, including former U of L Art Gallery curator Jeffrey Spalding, now President
and C.E.O. of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary.
Cardiff, born in 1957 in Brussels, Ont., and Bures Miller, born in 1960 in Vegreville, Alta., have been practising artists, singly and in tandem, since the 1980s.
Cardiff taught in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Fine Arts from 1989 to 2000 and has returned as a visiting artist to lecture. She has a continuing relationship with the U of L as an adjunct professor in the Art Department.
In 2001, Cardiff and Miller became the first Canadian artists to win the prestigious Venice Biennale Special Award for their installation, The Paradise Institute. In the same year Cardiff's solo work, Forty-Part Motet, was awarded the Millennium Prize by the National Gallery of Canada.
They divide their time between Germany and Vancouver Island.

UNews - Jeffrey Spalding

Smith and SAAG give boost to community arts

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Events Calendar - September

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Cardiff earns Hnatyshyn Arts Award

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