FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ARENA: Road Game
September 10 – November 1, 2009
Roderick Buchanan, James Carl, Scott Conarroe, Michael Davey, Thierry Delva, Greg Forrest, Jean-Pierre Gauthier, Chris Hanson and Hendrika Sonnenberg, Wanda Koop, Tim Lee, Craig Le Blanc,
Jason McLean, Leah Modigliani, Charles Pachter, Graeme Patterson, Ron Terada, Diana Thorneycroft and Colleen Wolstenholme.
Organized and circulated by the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Opening reception: Thursday, September 10, 7 – 10 p.m.
Darryl Sittler will be present during the opening reception.
Toronto, August 26, 2009 – The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) is pleased to present ARENA: Road Game, a travelling exhibition organized and circulated by the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. ARENA examines Canada’s fascination with the game of hockey. Using the game as a starting point, the exhibition explores hockey within the wider context of ideas and issues related to contemporary culture.
The exhibition includes works in diverse media such as video projection, sculpture, installation, painting, printmaking and photography and features some of Canada’s leading contemporary artists: Sobey Art Award winners Jean-Pierre Gauthier and Tim Lee, established artists such as Wanda Koop and James Carl, and others at varying stages of practice such as Greg Forrest and Graeme Patterson, and international artists Hanson+ Sonnenberg, and Roderick Buchanan.
The works in ARENA investigate the construction of such concepts as hero-worship, desire, sacrifice, and the sublimation of violence in the creation of group identity through sport. Sub-themes include the culture of spectacle in Western society, the role of sport in the creation of male identity, and the role of athletes as screens for the projection of desire and aspiration. Pathos, humour, reverence, irreverence, competitiveness and team spirit are all elements of the works that will be on display.
Thanks to the generous support of the Hal Jackman Foundation, visitors can view ARENA: Road Game until 9 p.m. every Thursday and Friday evening for the duration of the exhibition.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Museum Assistance Program).
All programs and activities of the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art are supported by Toronto Culture, Ontario Arts Council, BMO Financial Group, individual memberships and private donations.