I think I might be a little late on this one, but I thought I’d give it a shot anyways. I resisted for a while, since Jon Davies‘ list is pretty much my list, but with a few alterations.
Anyways, here are my top 10 fun, awe-inspiring arty things from 2007 (in no particular order):
1. Liss Platt, Doug Paisley and Shary Boyle at Pleasure Dome
I loved all three of these artists, but it was my first time seeing Shary Boyle live so it’s her mesmerizing projections that I think of first when I think back on all my art dates from last year. My favourite part was her traveling ghost figure that swept through the room.
2. Rightfully Yours, at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery
Not only was the work fantastic, but the panel discussion blew my mind and inspired me to want to do more public programming for the first time in ages.
3. Dead! Dead! Dead! at The Ydessa Hendeles Art Foundation
I saw Predators and Prey for the first time this year and liked it even more than Dead! Dead! Dead! (especially the amazing mini catalogue that references Sex and the City, BDSM, Nazism and The Wizard of Oz all in one entry), but it technically opened in 2006 so I don’t think it’s eligible. The Punch and Judy Survivors were still incredible, as were Joan Crawford’s charm bracelets and Marcel Dzama’s beautiful but creepy pendants.
4. Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno’s Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait and BGL‘s The Discourse of Elements at the National Gallery
I had to be physically removed from the Zidane screening room, I was so engrossed in the film and BGL’s interactive garage installation at the NGC won me over more than their solo show at Diaz this year.
5. Projections at the Justina M. Barnicke gallery
Another example of an exhibition I liked with programming I liked even more. The Projections Performance Night/End of Year Party at the Hart House featuring Stephanie Comilang, Jeremy Bailey & Zeesy Powers was magical.
6. David Altmejd: Metamorphosis at Oakville Galleries
I’m sure it wasn’t nearly as incredible as his Venice Biennale installation, but his messy, decadent, bejeweled werewolves saved my winter shifts out at Oakville. Plus, kids who came in to see his work loved it (though they had questions about those “black playdough shapes”)
7. Fastwürms: DONKY/NINJA/WITCH at the agYU
This one seems obvious. I think I saw it at least four times and it sucked me in every time. I also loved the postcards and buttons with their cats on it that were available at the show. I’m interested to see how Vancouverites will react to it when it goes to the CAG later this month.
8. SAW‘s Video Arcade Fundraiser
Again, an event rather than an exhibition. I missed Nuit Blanche because I was in Ottawa visiting friends who were in town, but instead we got to go to the coolest arts fundraiser I’ve ever participated in. The gallery was taken over by video game systems of every kind – old arcade games, every version of Nintendo imaginable, Atari and Guitar Hero on a huge screen out in the courtyard out front. The most fun I had all fall.
9. Kristan Horton‘s Dr. Strangelove Dr. Strangelove at the Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver
I saw this show at the agYU first, but it somehow looked better and made more sense in the CAG space when I was home in the summer.
10. Steph Comilang and Jamie Shannon’s video for Final Fantasy’s “This Lamb Sells Condos”
Not an exhibition at all, but one of my favourite videos. I can’t listen to this song without imagining the little floppy-legged lamb climbing the CN Tower.
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