Maureen's Opening Address on March 2 at the Art Gallery of Calgary.









Ewa Sniatycka (Curator) and Maureen.






Katherine Duncan from CBC Radio Arts Report interviewing Ewa and Don about Maureen's Sound Drawing artwork.

(Click on any Image to see a higher resolution version)

ART GALLERY OF CALGARY OPENS WITH

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE BEAR

TRAVELLING SHOW MOVES TO LJUBLJANA SLOVENIJA AND ON TO MARNAY, FRANCE

Hours before the doors opened at the new Art Gallery of Calgary, formerly the Muttart Public Art Gallery, workman started up the malfunctioning elevator. Last bits of dust and dirt lingered on the floor and exhaustion prevailed. Paula Oswald, Kari McQueen , Dave AuCoin and Ewa Sniatycka (all gallery staff) worked as cleaners and laborers and made it happen. I personally extend to all of them a heart-felt word of appreciation for all their dedication and extremely hard work. I also thank the Art Gallery of Calgary for opening their new facility with my exhibition. Yeah! The show opened on schedule.

Opening night was March 2,2000 record attendance was set for an opening. Over 450 people attended, flowers arrived in huge buckets (to my incredible delight) and the media helped us celebrate. The opening was on all regional TV and radio channels. The Calgary Herald newspaper chose the exhibition its "Critic's Choice". Charlie and I were excited and pleased to see so many people enjoying our bears and thinking about our main concern about grizzlies: that they can like and be trusted by humans and remain very safe bears!

With only a few hours to go before we board the plane for Ljubljana, Slovenija, I am sending this message. The next entry from us: Slovenia. The travelling component of my exhibition, which is a digital version of the Calgary one, opened at the Krka Gallery March 21 and closes March 29.

In Slovenia, Charlie will deliver several presentations to government officials about co-existence and we will both write entries from Slovenija, which can be viewed on this site. My show will then travel with me on the plane to Paris to the Centre d'Art de Marnay and will be shown at the "camac" Gallery from March 31 to April 9,2000. (See web site entry describing that exhibition.) Charlie will return to Canada on March 31 and I on the 11th for the closing of my Calgary exhibition.

-Maureen