HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-07-28, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1999.
Cardiff’s art speaks for itself Brussels
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
When someone says that a work
of art speaks to them they might be
talking about something by Janet
Cardiff.
The former Brussels resident
now of Lethbridge, AB, the third
child of Jack and Audrey, is gain
ing international recognition for her
Sony-Discman guided walks. A
July 3 story in The National Post
stated, “(They) have made her
known from Denmark to Brazil.
The walks make some listeners cry
and some feel strangely refreshed.
They act as balms for loneliness or
make you feel like you’ve just
taken a holiday away from yourself
and all your problems.” .
The story explains that Cardiff’s
magic is created by the exploration
of a location, historical research
and uncovering local myths. She
writes a script, then records the
walk with a binaural audio on site.
Then using up to 32 tracks she and
her husband add music, more voic
es and sounds. The writer says they
are “one of the greatest break
throughs in conceptual art of this
decade.”
Cardiff's talent was nurtured as a
student at F.E. Madill Secondary
School. “There was a very good art
teacher there, Pat Wilson. I think
most students are a bit bored in
high schools so if they can find
something that intrigues them, a
mentor who helps them, it is very
important in realizing success,” she
explains of her relationship with
Wilson.
Following graduation, Cardiff
went on to Queen’s University
from which she graduated in 1980.
She then achieved her Masters of
Fine Arts at the University of
Alberta, where she met her future
husband, now collaborator George
Bures Miller.
While studying for her Masters,
Cardiff started
exhibiting her
prints mostly in
Canada. When she
returned to Toron
to in 1985 she
began to work
with an artist run
centre. These government support
ed galleries allow young artists to
get experience, particularly in alter
native art. “The gallery system I
came up in is designed for artists
not selling in commercial space.
Even though I was selling large
prints I was showing work that was
more exploratory.”
It was through this connection
she got a show at an established
gallery in Edmonton. The curator
commissioned her to do an installa
tion work called To Touch, a table
with hidden sensors which when
touched emitted various sounds and
voices. “It was an interactive sculp
ture,” says Cardiff. “Basically I
was creating a soundtrack.”
To Touch has been exhibited
extensively and is still showing in
Europe.
Though she had quite a bit of
work shown in Canada, it was in
1996 that she was invited to do an
audio walk at the Louisiana Muse
um in Denmark. “The curator was
keen to find something new. It
launched my international career.”
From there Cardiff was invited to
Germany and since, according to
The Post “major curators and pri
vate collectors alike were clamour
ing for one of her customized site
specific walks.”
And the interest continues. This
weekend Cardiff is going to enjoy a
brief visit home to Brussels for a
family wedding. Then it is off to
Pittsburgh where she is working on
a piece to open there in November.
Despite international success,
recognition has been slow building
in Canada. Vancouver Art
Gallery’s Senior Curator Bruce
Grenville was quoted, “Cardiff is
an extraordinarily successful artist.
It has been a failure on the part of
all of us in Canada who have
neglected to support these kinds of
pieces.”
The artist, however, is seeing a
change. “I think my work is start
ing to be noticed now in Canada.”
Oakville has commissioned a walk
for their gallery starting in May.
“It’s nice to get some permanent
pieces.” Talks are also underway
for a show in Kitchener.
“So things are coming up in the
area.”
Though not a ‘walk’ another
Cardiff soundtrack was on display
more recently fairly close to home.
On a field trip, a Madill art class
was intrigued by the Whispering
Room at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Students wandered through a room
of speakers from which came voic
es, unaware that the concept was
created by one who went before
them .
“It would have been great to have
known,” says student Tricia Teeft
of Brussels. “To see that someone
from Madill had achieved that level
of fame would have been an inspi
ration.”
COMING EVENTS
at the
BRUSSELS LEGION
Lawn furniture stolen from business
On July 2I, near 11 a.m. Mom’s
Pizza situated on Turnberry Street
in Brussels reported the theft of
lawn furniture. The owner advised
officers that sometime between
May 29 and July 20 someone
iX. Note from Betty
The Ontario blood supply is still very low. If you didn’t give in Brussels
in June, go to one of the permanent sites for the Canadian Blood Services
(last year ca'led the Canadian Red Cross), one in Kitchener and one in
London. It's a needed gift.
Bill Turnbull is checking out things at the Seaforth Hospital. Speedy
recovery Bill.
It’s official - Canada is the number one place to live so be sure to
remember that, when you start to complain about prices, taxes and the
weather. We’re in the number one spot.
Well, did Disney feel welcome in Goderich on Saturday! I certainly think
so: Huron County enthusiasm, excellent weather, lots of kids and, a parade
before a parade. Wow!
Jack McCutcheon had his old fire truck in tip-top shape flying the new
Brussels flags with brother George as navigator to show Brussels’ spirit and
to carry Reeve Watson, Neil McGavin and Betty Graber. There were lots of
area folk along the parade route enjoying the day.
There were classic cars, clowns, politicians, bands and then, the Disney
characters who always make you smile. The Culligan man gets the Good
Guy Award of the parade for handing out cold bottles of water to anyone.
Great idea!
Summer is sure the season to enjoy!
Bye now,
Betty G.
entered the basement of the store
and walked off with a quantity of
lawn furniture. Taken from the
basement were four round patio
tables, four patio umbrellas two
with stmflower patterns, one with
fish/water design and the other
pink/blue in colour. Also taken
were four bases for the umbrellas,
three wooden benches with cast
iron arms and a small meat slicer.
Anyone who has information that
can lead police to their recovery is
asked to notify the Huron OPP
Detachment or Crime Stoppers at
I-800-222-8477.
The Brampton Re/Max 40th
Intermediate Men’s masters slow-
pitch team recently won the
Etobicoke and Milton slow-pitch
national tournaments, thereby
qualifying for the Ontario
championships in September in
Niagara Falls and also the
Canadian SPN Championships in
Halifax in August of 2000.
Team members include Dave
Huether of Brampton, Doug
Wheeler of Waterloo and Mike
Thomas of Brussels.
Install
Smoke
Alarms
IT’S THE LAW.
SUNDAY, AUG. 8
Singles Dance from 7-11 p.m.
Admission $8.00 per person
Lunch provided.
Enjoy "Allister and The Gang"
SUNDAY, AUG. 14
Euchre Tournament at 1:30 p.m.
No Smoking Event
Bring your own partner
Admission $5. per person.
Cash Prizes $100.
Lunch Provided
SUNDAY, AUG. 22
Sunday Morning Breakfast
Come before or after church
Served from 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Adults $4.00
Children under 12 - $2.50
SUNDAY, AUG. 22
Singles Dance from 7-11 p.m.
Admission $8.00 per person
Lunch Provided
Enjoy "Country Ways"
Inquiries on events, use or rent of
Legion, please call 887-6562
after 4:00 p.m.
JUST A LITTLE BORED?
DONT BEU!
ITS A TEEN DANCE!
BRUSSELS' COUNTRY INN
THURSDAY JULY 29TH 8PM-11PM
AGES 13-17---------------------------------------------------
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY WITH DJ
STEVE SILCOCK
ADMISSION $5.00 BRIZES!!
REFRESHMENTS & MUNCHIES A VAILABLE
ADULT CHAPERONES NEEDED
CALL THE INN TO VOLUNTEER 887-9035
REMIND MOM AND DAD THAT KARAOKE IS
COMING SATURDAY JULY 31!!!!
1 CLOSED FOR C
4 HOLIDAYS >
4 July 24" to Aug. 3" r
J L
} ylcslhelics Electrolysis^
j bi/ Connie C
i f
56 King St., Brussels
519-887-6661
V^F'IF'^F'^F^F'IF^F^F
NORTH HURON
GARDENS
Fresh quality produce
available throughout
the summer
Potatoes <& Raspberries
are now available
2 1/2 miles north and 1 1/4 miles
east of Brussels
(519) 887-6870
rj J\teui ‘y.eai Q
< Stance Z
. £ |
A jl■'*U-iA- §
\* December 31, 1999
BMG Community Centre /
Brussels i
\ Dancing to D.J. T*
• 9:00 - 2:00 A
X Tickets Available A
Soon! o>
Age ot Majority Required
North
\ July 30 to Aug. 8
We’re closing
for holidays
There will be no paper
published on August 4.
The next paper will be
out as usual on
August 11.