What is Art For? An exhibition and maker space

Curated by:
Natalie Olanick

What is art for?  More than 80 artworks created in the pandemic summer of 2020 by artists worldwide respond to this question, posed by Montreal artist and educator Kathleen Vaughan.  Employing her kits of special papers, textiles, and embroidery floss, collaborators created material and digital works revealing their fears and hopes for art and us all.  Now, almost 6 years later during our present moment of upheaval, strife, uncertainty, and fear, Vaughan’s display in the gallery re-asks the question, inviting visitors to take to the materials in the gallery’s maker space to offer their own answer to this question, however it resonates.

Kathleen Vaughan (MFA, PhD) is an artist, writer, and Professor of Art Education at Concordia University. Her own artwork uses multiple digital and analogue media with a strong textile inflection, complemented by storytelling, and is oriented to environmental and social justice. akaredhanded.com | re-imagine.ca

Curator for the Warren G. Flowers Art Gallery’s presentation of What is art for?, Natalie Olanick (MVS) is an artist, curator, and faculty member in Fine Arts at Dawson College.  She creates paintings that sometimes are accompanied by projections or small objects and bookworks, as well as writing and curatorial projects. natalieolanick.com