The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery Table of Contents
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Annual Report 2012- 2013 The Power Plant exhibitions Contemporary Art Gallery 1 The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery Table of Contents “Carved out of an old red-brick building that originally housed generating equipment ... 4 President’s Report The Power Plant has instantly 5 Director’s Report 7 Exhibitions become one of Toronto’s most 14 Publications exciting and best designed 15 Education & Public Programs 29 Events art-display spaces.” 34 Members & Supporters 36 Statement of Operations - Christopher Hume, Toronto Star, 1 May 1987 “Unquestionably, The Power Plant is a valuable addition to Toronto and to Harbourfront, of which it is a kind of genius loci.” - Adele Freedman, The Globe and Mail, 2 May 1987 Photo of the construction of The Power Plant, 1987. annual report 2012-2013 3 audiences for those exhibitions, positions Throughout its 25 year history, The the public in 1987. As a result, The Power other, forming a strong community of President’s The Power Plant well for continued success. Power Plant has enjoyed the continuous Director’s Plant is enjoying increasing numbers of dedicated art enthusiasts. Report support of Harbourfront Centre. I thank Report people through its doors, and 77% of The members of the Board of Directors William Boyle and the staff of Harbour- those who visit are first-time visitors. This special year brought many changes were very proud to be engaged in the front Centre for their dedication, which is Thanks to our supporters, the gallery is to our organization. In order to meet celebrations of our 25th anniversary year, felt in many ways. now positioned to build on this success our future challenges and find new ways which brought extraordinary exhibitions, and open its doors to ensure access to as to engage audiences, we created two new events and programs to The Power Plant 2012–2013 was a period of reflection and many people as possible. positions and welcomed Kristine Bowen, that would not have been possible renewal for the strategic leadership team the Curator of Education & Public without the financial support of key at The Power Plant, which brought several The gallery presented a year of outstand- Programs, and Seowon Bang, the corporations, individuals, private sector changes to the organization at the Board ing exhibitions that represented the best Website and Communications Assistant. supporters, and programming partners. level. We bid farewell to a number of of contemporary art production and a We thank those who left the organization For example, the support of the Hal members of our Board of Directors: diversity of art practices based in Toronto, for new opportunities: Linda Chalmers, Jackman Foundation enabled The Power Paul Butler, Michael Cooper, Ted Geatros, Canada and around the world. As such, all Tiffany Cox, Jon Davies, Edward Kanerva, Plant to open its doors to visitors without Shanitha Kachan, Ken Lum, Dr. Paul Marks, shows required significant resources, and Melanie O’Brian, Christy Thompson, charging admission fees, resulting in an and Elisa Nuyten. On behalf of the entire we were once again fortunate to garner and Ann Whittall, for all of their hard increased number of visitors all year long. Board and the staff of The Power Plant, support from private and public funders work. Know that your efforts will not be From September to November, through I would like to thank these individuals for to present these projects to Toronto forgotten. We also welcomed many new an important collaboration with the their commitment to The Power Plant, audiences, such as the 24-hour screenings staff members such as Mary-Kathleen National Gallery of Canada, and with the their vision, their time, and their generous of Christian Marclay’s The Clock. The Dunn, Ahlia Moussa, Julia Paoli, and support of President’s Council member financial support. In particular, I would exhibition program also proved to be Mark Teeple, who have picked up the Jay Smith, Laura Rapp and Carol and like to thank Shanitha Kachan, our former in touch with recent social and political reigns and pushed forward with our new Morton Rapp, The Power Plant brought Board President, who completed her term issues in our collective contemporary projects and programs. I wish to thank Christian Marclay’s The Clock to Toronto. in June 2012. Shanitha worked tirelessly lives, such as the Beat Nation: Art, Hip all staff members of The Power Plant, More than 17,000 visitors were fascinated for The Power Plant and helped shape its Hop and Aboriginal Culture exhibition who are a highly creative and dedicated by this contemporary masterpiece, vision. As well, we are very grateful to from the Vancouver Art Gallery. As a team, who I am proud to lead and work which was supported by RBC Wealth Shanitha and her husband Gerry Sheff for Photo courtesy Conseil des arts de Montréal result, both exhibitions, as well as the rest with all through the year. I would also Management and other generous donors. their very generous financial support of of our 2012-2013 programs, engaged a like to extend my deepest thanks to During the 2012-2013 year, The Power With the generous support of TD Bank, the gallery. I was so honoured and proud to celebrate record number of visitors in the fall and President of the Board of Directors Plant celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Power Plant was able to present Beat the 25th anniversary of The Power Plant winter seasons. Margaret McNee and Chief Executive This milestone caused us to look back Nation: Art, Hip Hop and Aboriginal Cul- The Power Plant welcomed Jeremy Laing with its invaluable community of support- Officer of Harbourfront Centre William on how The Power Plant has earned its ture, a thought-provoking assemblage of and David Lavin as new members of ers this year. Not only did this milestone The Power Plant celebrates a year that Boyle, as well as the members of the international reputation as Canada’s work by 23 Canadian and North American the Board and I look forward to working year provide an opportunity for reflection sustained a high level of corporate Board of Directors of The Power Plant, leading public art gallery devoted to Aboriginal artists, which was circulated by together with all directors to enable The on the gallery’s prestigious history, but it and public funding for public programs, for their ongoing leadership and contemporary art, and to look forward the Vancouver Art Gallery. Beat Nation Power Plant to achieve its primary goal also set a foundation for future growth in too. For example, CIBC returned as our unwavering support. to maintaining this leadership position in attracted diverse audiences and set the of bringing the best of contemporary many different areas of our multi-level Primary Education Sponsor and thanks to the years to come. stage for The Power Plant to participate in art to audiences in Toronto, Canada and operations. the support of BMO Financial Group, we The Power Plant is incessantly working new collaborative projects with other the world. expanded upon the Power Kids program to strengthen its position in the arts Instrumental to the future of any art organizations outside the world of art. The Power Plant began the year by by doubling its offerings and providing community at large. We strive to be a gallery is its leader. In 2012–2013, The I would like to thank all members of the announcing funding from the Hal Jackman all workshops to children free of charge. thought provoking and accessible Power Plant welcomed Gaëtane Verna Power Ball is the largest annual fundraiser Board of Directors and all staff members of Foundation to offer free admission for the We also created a new program of public gathering place for artists and for our as Director. Gaëtane brings a wealth of for the gallery and in June 2012, the party The Power Plant for everything they have entire anniversary year. This generous conversations between artists and various audiences at the same time, experience earned at other public paid tribute to the 25th anniversary with done and will do to contribute to the past contribution from the Foundation was a curators that reflected on our history and whether we host visitors on site or galleries in Canada, most recently as the the theme Quarter-Life Crisis. A sold-out and future success of The Power Plant. continuation of a long history of their expanded upon the ideas presented by online from all points on the globe. Executive Director and Chief Curator of crowd enjoyed the event, which could not support, which provided free admission the work in the gallery’s exhibitions – a This anniversary year celebrates a legacy the Musée d’art de Joliette in Landaudière, have succeeded without the dedicated Margaret C. McNee to the gallery throughout the summer program that continues today. in the presentation of contemporary art Quebec. Gaëtane is a recognized leader work of its committee and Co-Chairs: President, Board of Directors, months. In the years ahead, The Power here in Canada, and more than ever, in the Canadian visual arts community, Rui Amaral, Amanda Blakely, Ashleigh The Power Plant Plant is pleased to announce the continua- Celebrating our 25th anniversary with we are committed to building on this having participated in a number of Dempster and Michael Liebrock. tion of the ALL YEAR, ALL FREE program our Members was extra special. Members successful history by creating a gallery committees and juries of national due to the generous support of BMO are key ambassadors and patrons of that constantly strives to be an environ- importance while organizing and On behalf of The Power Plant, I thank our Financial Group.