Finding DH ARTWorld on Fort Road can be tough. It’s an old manufacturing/storage space, in a nondescript white block building.
But inside, you’ll find a workshop and gallery inhabited by artist Dana Holst. This month, Holst and co-curator Jill Davies-Shaw are hosting pARTy, an exhibition featuring the works of some of their friends, from local creators to artists based in the United States. And, if you can make it out to the opening event the afternoon of Sept. 7, the gallery will be a lot easier to spot from Fort Road thanks to a giant rubber duck that will be stationed outside.
The nine-foot tall rubber duck is an installation from Cindy Baker, a Leduc artist. It will sit in a wading pool that’s 16 feet in diameter.
“When you’re driving past this place on that Saturday, you’re going to be, like, ‘What?!’” says Holst.
The duck reflects the carefree spirit of the show. And that’s why the pARTy name is so apt.
“We were brainstorming together and were thinking about the spirit of the show,” says Davies-Shaw. “It’s just a celebratory event, for local artists and artists from afar — pARTy just felt right. We want to make it accessible and fun.”
The opening is meant have a backyard-barbecue feel. Instead of wine and cheese, think cheeseburgers and beer.
Yes, it’s open to those who aren’t old enough for alcoholic beverages — that’s why the opening goes from 2-5 p.m. rather than going well into the night.
But, once you find this space, you’ll be surprised. It’s part workshop, part gallery, and Holst hopes it can be part of a Fort Road artistic renaissance. With so many old industrial buildings in the area, she feels it’s a prime area to be converted into studios for artists and artisans.
“This is my studio, I do picture-framing here, and we built this alternative art gallery because I want to give back to Edmonton,” says Holst. “There was just too much space just for my studio, I don’t need quite this much space. When I lived in Toronto, I really loved curating shows at smaller, alternative spaces. So this was kind of a natural progression.
“We’re really trying to build community on Fort Road — 118th Avenue is already known as the Arts Avenue. But we’re trying to creep it along this way. There are some really cute buildings available over here.”
If you visit the show, you’ll see a series of multimedia works, from portraits to paintings that have little doors that can be opened, like the pop-up books you remember from childhood. There are ceramic works, knives (we’ll get to that in a bit) and bronze sculpture.
The bronze sculptures from Jon Pylypchuk are poignant reminders that COVID has a cost. He is an artist from Winnipeg who’s established himself in the United States; his works are his way of memorializing a dear friend who passed during the height of the COVID epidemic.
“They are Tony surrogates,” says Davies-Shaw.
Pylypchuk’s works are just some small examples of the weird and wonderful things that pARTy has to offer.
Edmonton’s Brianna Tosswill makes interactive prints that are anything but “do not touch.” You can open the flaps and find messages inside.
As well, Baker has engraved each of a set of knives with “Don’t open the knife drawer.” Is it an ominous warning about an accident waiting to happen, or does it remind you of your favourite slasher flick?
Jude Griebel’s works have been displayed around the world. He has a macabre fascination with death, decay and armageddon, and mixes it with a dark sense of humour. His sculpted bugs hold up signs with warnings for the human race. They made me laugh out loud, because armageddon is funny.
In all, 31 artists, including NorQuest College president Carolyn Campbell, are listed as being contributors to the show. That’s a lot to smush into a unique gallery space on Fort Road.
Just look for the duck.
pARTy
September 7 – 28
DH ARTWorld
12030 Fort Rd, Edmonton
