July 02 - July 31, 2010

Karen Hibbard
The Bold and the Baffling

Opening Reception:
Friday, July 2, 2010, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Website: http://karenhibbard.com/
E-mail: karen.hibbard[at]sympatico.ca
Phone: +1-204-219-4621

Artist Statement

The "Bold and Baffling" series is inspired by the soap opera of a similar name and deals with the cycles of addiction (emotional) and it's biological underpinnings. I am fascinated by these cyclical patterns. Like sexual pornography, emotional pornography stimulates just enough to keep the addict interested but not enough to be satiated. Soap operas use emotion as their raw material just as porn uses the body. The defining quality of the soap opera form is its seriality.

I am intrigued by cyclical patterns and during the making of this work, found a connection to patterns of weather, recycling, plumbing, and human behaviour - it functions ad infinitum.

In this show, the people and gorillas are coded. The 'models' are the unattainable and unfeeling. And the gorillas are the love addicts, pining for their love objects. The landscape refers to Iceland but is the stage where the drama unfolds.

While as an artist in residency (Iceland), I discovered the yuletide lads of Icelandic culture. They are tricksters and children are warned to watch out for them especially at Christmas. In this work these trolls are re-enacting addictive or anti-social behaviours. This series continues an engagement with psychological states.

My work comments upon and reinterprets society's views. I have an interest in issues of aging, addiction, gender roles and community. Often work is delivered with my trademark sense of humor. Looking for discrepancies within the work is a key to understanding its meaning.

"Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of the pattern."

Alfred North Whitehead, "Dialogues" (1954), English mathematician and philosopher

C.V.

Education:
2000: M.F.A. ( Studio Arts ), Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1997: Diploma in Arts Media, Digital Media Studios ,Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1987: Diploma in Commercial Art, George Brown College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1984: B.F.A. ( Studio Arts ), Guelph University, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Special Awards and Artist Residencies:
2008: Grafisk Vaerksted, Naestved, printmakers’ cooperative, Denmark
2007: Gil-society, Akureyri, Iceland
2007: Atelier Circulaire, printmakers' cooperative, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2006: Galerie d'art Jean-Claude Bergeron, prix d'excellence , Print Biennial, Ottawa, Ontario
2002: Banff Centre for the arts, Banff, Alberta, Canada
2002: Pouch Cove, Cornerbrook, Newfoundland, Canada
2000: Est-nord-est, St. Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec, Canada
1997: Concordia University, Studies Grant, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1996: Engramme, printmakers' cooperative, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
1980: University of Guelph, Studies Grant, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Selected Solo exhibitions:
2010: IMA Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA
2010: Semai Gallery, Winnipeg, Canada
2009: Maison de la Culture-Montreal-Nord, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2009: Martha Street Studio, "Ephemeras", Winnipeg, MB, Canada
2009: Harcourt House, The Bold & Baffling, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
2007: Centre d'exposition de Val David , Val David, Quebec, Canada
2006: Wilder & Davis, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2002: Studio Open House, "La Cocotte", Banff, Alberta, Canada
2000: Est-nord-est, La Cabane, St. Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec, Canada
1997: Red Head Gallery Showcase, "Lips are Lips", Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1992: Open Studio, "Un cercle de fleurs", Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Selected Group Exhibitions:
2009: Sommerudstillingen, Masnedøfortet, Denmark
2008: Gallery 111-"Revolver Uptown" - University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
2008: Galerie Ste. Ambroise, "Le Mois de l'art imprime", Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2008: IMA Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA
2007: A.R.P.R.I.M., Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2006: Galerie d'art Jean-Claude Bergeron, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2006: Galerie Graff, "Le Mois de l'art imprime", Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2006: Stewart Hall, "Le Mois de l'art imprime", Pointe Claire, Quebec, Canada
2005: Maison de la Culture Parc-X , Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2005: Studio XX, "Femmes Branchees", Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2002: Mercer Union, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2002: Eyesaw Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1992: John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1991: Cold City Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1990: Power Plant, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Grants:
2008, 2009: Manitoba Arts Council, Travel Grant
2008, 2009: Winnipeg Arts Council, Travel Grant
2001, 2005: Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quebec, A Grant
2002, 2001: Canada Council, B Grant & Travel Grant
1995, 1996: Conseil des arts d'Ontario, Artist Exchange Grant

Art Teaching Experience:
2007-2010: University of Manitoba - Drawing Fundamentals, Drawing 1 Advanced, Drawing 2 & 3 Advanced, New Media Design, Basic Design- Winnipeg, Manitoba,
2002-2006: Dawson College, Printmaking, Media art, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2000-2001: Visual Arts Centre, Youth Programming-sculpture, printmaking, painting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1999-2001: Cegep de Lanaudiere a Joliette, E.S.L. Monitrice, Joliette, Quebec, Canada
1999-2003: Camp Weredale, Director of Arts & Crafts programming, St. Hippolyte, Quebec, Canada
1997-2000: Concordia University. Teaching Assistant- Intro. Lithography-Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Art Community and Teaching Services:
Current member of Professional Artist Associations: aceartinc., Martha Street Studio, A.R.P.R.I.M., C.A.N.S.C.A.I.P.
2009 & 2010: M.A.W.A.- Benefit Auction, Winnipeg, MB
2009 & 2010: aceartinc.-Winter Warmer Show and Sale
2009 & 2010: Atelier Circulaire- Pret-A-Emporter 1V Fundraiser
2009 & 2010: ArtsJunction Auction
2008-2009: Thesis Review Committee (3 students), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg
2008-2009: Martha Street Studio, fundraiser & Christmas Sale
2007: Co-curator, "Blue Thought", Student Show, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
2006: ARPRIM, Volunteer, "Le Mois de l'art imprime", Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2006: Atelier Graff, Drypoint Workshop, "Le Mois de l'art imprime", Montreal, Quebec
2006: Studio XX , Artist Board Member, (2004-2006), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2002: Volunteer, HTMELLES Festival "Maid in Cyberspace", Studio XX Montreal, QC
2000: Volunteer print technician- lithography area - University of Concordia, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1986-1996: Artist Board Member, Open Studio, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1986-1996: Technician - relief and screen printing area - Open Studio, Toronto
1986-1996: Volunteer - "100 Prints", Open Studio, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1986-1996: Silkscreen Artist Mentor, Doug Guildford, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1986-1996: Head of Gallery Committee, Open Studio, Toronto, Ontario, Canada