September 15, 2007

High Praises for Art Bank Staff

“The walls are positively singing with the clever artistic expressions of the many forms of Canadian visual artists represented on our walls and carefully chosen by Ms. Henry and her colleagues.  Canadians alike will take pride in this enhancement of their Embassy,”  Ambassador Michael Wilson wrote the above in a recent letter to the Director of the Canada Council for the Arts, Robert Sirman.

In August, Art Bank staff traveled to Washington, DC in a truck packed with a mixture of fun, colourful, and textured works by major Canadian artists.  The artworks were chosen to highlight significant pieces from the collection and to complement the existing collection from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade installed throughout the Canadian Embassy.  Works were specifically chosen based on a theme to give each floor a separate visual identity. 

Below are a few snapshots of the art work selections and the Art Bank team in action:

“Chest” (2004) woodcut on paper by Erik Edson
"Chest" shows a silhouette of a grizzly bear standing about eight feet tall, sniffing the air as if alerted to our entrance.

“VIII. Displaced Farmers Set Up Capuccino Bars and Fish Farmsin Lake of the Woods” (©1988, CARCC) oil on canvas by Eleanor Bond
Bond’s works and others in the Canada Room were installed from suspension wires in the ceiling to keep them visible in a space where many national and international guests gather for events.

“The Negotiator” (2005) wood mask by Yukon artist Eugene Alfred
“The Negotiator”, a birch wood mask with dimes as eyes, was selected to reflect one of the many roles of the Canadian Ambassador in Washington.

More photos of the Art Bank staff working hard to put just the right combination of works together…