Curated by Jill McRae

Out of Hand presented within the Gallery’s concourse is an exhibition of Canadian fine crafts and paintings originally assembled for the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 67 which was a influential moment when the nation’s arts and crafts movement was distilled into a showcase of skill, material knowledge, and regional identity.

This collection was originally assembled by Confederation Centre Art Gallery’s first Director, Moncrieff Williamson, and it offers a timely reflection on the enduring desire for hand-made objects. In a world shaped by ready-made goods and mass production, we continue to seek connection through objects that proudly display their makers’ marks—objects that carry the evidence of touch, time, and technique. “Hand-made objects hold a wealth of information about the places they come from. They tell the story of a region’s natural resources, the people that live there, and show us the rhythms of everyday life,” says Jill McRae, the Art Gallery’s Conservator.

Leo Gervais Musk-ox, 1967 Wood, 17.7 x 15.3 x 30.6 cm, Purchased, 1967, CM 67.1.20.