The holiday break was great as I did absolutely nothing except read novels, play video games and hang out with family and friends (there was also a Boxing Day “incident,” but I don’t want to talk about it). But it has also meant it’s been super difficult to get back into work mode and be a productive, contributing member of society.

I did, however, get the chance to talk to artist and curator Micah Lexier recently for a story on the Canadian Art website about the outdoor exhibition “Here Now or Nowhere” which he’s curating in the streets and storefronts of Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Jan Peacock, Bystander, 2008, [performance still]

The inspiration for the exhibition was last year’s ARTery festival, organized by local artist Ed Bader after the roof of the Prairie Gallery collapsed because of snow. A lot of the pieces in the show were commissioned specifically for the exhibition, and several are world premieres. Makes me wish I lived somewhere closer to the prairies, just for a little while.

The interview with Lexier, along with images from the show, can be found here.