Curator in Conversation - Confederation Centre of the Arts

The Confederation Centre Art Gallery’s Conservation & Display Technician sat down to answer some questions about her new curated show, Out of Hand.

1. What first interested you in the works that make up Out of Hand, and how did the idea for the exhibition come together?

Since Pan Wendt became Gallery Director in December, and we have not yet filled the curator position, the idea for this concourse exhibition was partly motivated by the short timeline available to me. I was asked if I could put something together with a relatively short runway, so I jotted down a few ideas with that in mind.

I have always loved the collections at Confederation Centre Art Gallery, and selecting pieces from a smaller sampling of what we have in the vault made the possibility of putting together a cohesive show much less daunting.

The craft collection from Expo 67 is varied, full of colour, texture, and warmth—something we always strive for during the colder months. I’m a big fan of the fabrics and textiles in this show. I love the warmth they bring to the space and the way they interact with the winter light.

Once I checked our database and realized that most of these objects hadn’t been on display in recent history, I felt we had a clear front-runner in Out of Hand.

2. Why do you think Out of Hand is an important exhibition to share with audiences today?

I think hand-made items have seen a massive uptick in interest over the last decade. Etsy launched 20 years ago and is still going strong (though not everything on there is hand-made anymore), and makers’ markets are held multiple times a year.

When people buy things that were made by hand, they often spend a little extra. The item is cherished more, given more care, and sometimes passed down through families.

This is in stark contrast to the things you can find at the dollar store—items that don’t last, aren’t as cherished, and are likely to end up in landfill within a short period of time.

For some people, there’s political expression wrapped up in supporting local artisans; for others, it’s purely aesthetic. Either way, it’s fascinating to see the connections to these same themes in the 1960s.

3. Was there anything that surprised you or challenged you while curating this exhibition?

I loved taking a deep dive into Expo 67. It must have been something to experience! It’s hard to imagine the scope of that project, especially as it was held at the same time as Canada’s Centennial celebrations.

I watched a bunch of old footage and read reviews of the designs and architecture. It was hard not to get sucked into the history of the Expo itself.

4. What do you hope visitors take away after seeing Out of Hand?

I hope people enjoy the scope of the work. It’s in remarkable condition for being nearly 60 years old. Many of the ceramics look as though they could have been made today.

I think it’s special to be able to look at the collection as one unit, representing the best of Canadian craft in 1967, the same way that people got to view it then.