Around Town

22 Feet Out The Door

ACAD Students

here is an exciting smell in the air for an anxious group of 2010 graduates from the Alberta College of Art and Design. Soon to be armed with Bachelor of Arts Degrees we are preparing for our venture into the vast world of art. To that end, the exhibition 22 Feet out the Door (aka Exodus), represents a departure from the well explored territory of ACAD and an arrival in a new world of art and an exposure to a broader context of thinking. This courageous act of emergence and embracement of a new and future domain is the basis of the exhibition. Twenty-two interdisciplinary artists of varying ages and backgrounds collectively contribute fresh thought and views depicting what art is now. The exhibition is a display of our recent activities, and reflects our individual creativity and cautious optimism at this specific moment in time - our time. As we flap our wings in preparation for a flight from the institutional nest, we realize our time is significant due to changes in the cultural landscape and the current social and economic situation. 22 Feet out the Door is a product of our fine arts education, and showcases a cross section of contemporary art production. Although our class boasts a wide range of artistic talent, we seek to show Calgary's art community the similarities of the group by creating a unified, contemporary portrait. As expected, the works are extremely personal, and because time is an underlying element, each artist explores the characteristics of the moment. It could be literal like How long does it take to create a work?, or figurative like What experience or transformation does an artist undergo? Moreover, the artist may try to slow the viewer's process of perception of a work, or time may even take a more cultural perspective considering the constant construction and deconstruction of our world leading to the question What now? Other works explore the artist's relationship with materials and the viewer's relationship with the art. There is an effort to stimulate senses, to evoke emotional responses from the viewers and ultimately to create a forum for conversation. We hope our individual views and expressions will foster a new awareness amongst the creative community of Calgary A curatorial statement by Kelsie Risling and Kali Urquhart

March 26 - April 16
Untitled Arts Society , 4th floor, 319 - 10 Avenue SW (back entrance)

Untitled Art Society is a thriving, not-for-profit artist-run studio cooperative of Calgary artists. It was founded in 1993 by graduating students of the Alberta College of Art & Design. Untitled's membership represents the full spectrum of the visual arts, from students through to emerging and established artists.

Our Mandate

Untitled Art Society supports the artistic practices of a community of local artists by providing and maintaining access to studios, a darkroom, and exhibition venues, as well as facilitating interaction and discourse both within the local arts community and the community-at-large.

History

Untitled Art Society (UAS) is a thriving, not-for-profit artist-run studio collective that was founded in 1993 by graduating students of the Alberta College of Art & Design. Since that time, UAS membership has grown considerably and now includes nearly a hundred artists of diverse disciplines in all stages of their careers, from students through emerging to established artists. Many have exhibited their work on local, national, and international levels.

UAS has been forced to relocate three times since we first opened, but as a self-supporting community of artists we have continued to survive Calgary's turbulent rental climate. In the summer of 1998, UAS moved to its current location, and with the assistance of Alberta Job Corps, we were able to renovate the space into sixteen studios, a gallery, office, and a fully-equipped darkroom.

UAS is now well established in our new space, and we are able to focus our energies on the further support and promotion of local artists. We have programmed exhibitions in the main space, as well as bi-monthly exhibitions in the Untitled Art Society +15 window. Every year we hold fundraising events, such as open houses and silent auctions, and actively seek corporate sponsorship to fund UAS activities. We have participated in the annual Artcity (formerly Artwalk/Artweek) festival every September, opening our doors to hundreds of visitors per year. Untitled Art Society continues to seek new ways to support our artists, from providing ever-increasing exhibition opportunities to the acquisition of professional quality graphics software, computer, and photo equipment.

We will continue to grow and thrive as a collective of artists, thanks to our dedicated groups of volunteers over the years, our members, and the generous support of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, and private and corporate sponsors.

2009-10 Board