CO-ORDINATING PLOTS Tradition is, perhaps, a central exactly that: a game that triggers Co-ordinating Plots features new work by element to the "myth" of the the wildest instincts that such a British artist Dick Averns s k Canadian wilderness. Whereas the form of play might induce. (www.averns.com). The show is streets of London were once "paved mounted as a joint project with the c n with gold," today, the avenues of Co-ordinating Plots revisits the Glenbow Museum's Connections to i r this newer home and native land are nature and feel of apparent Collections program. This initiative cover image: Dick Averns and Laura Barron, increasingly riven with the trappings wilderness spaces: places that have enables invited artists to probe the Co-ordinating Plots II, 1999, black and white e D photograph, dimensions vary. of luxury. presented seemingly limitless Glenbow's diverse collection of art and romantic opportunities for artists cultural artefacts to create new work v inside left image: Carl Rungius, Saddled Brown Or that is how it might appear. and visitors alike. The artwork based on their own explorations. Averns' Horse, 1899, oil on board, 21.5” x 14.61”. Rather, I suggest it would be closer considers the human as animal and work makes a connection to A Brush A Collection of the Glenbow Museum. to say that one person's luxury is landscape as habitat, whereby the With the Wild, examining the genre of Photography courtesy of the Glenbow Museum. another's destiny. Habitat human form is evaluated through wildlife art and in particular, the work of dislocation caused by human human performance within our Carl Rungius: sportsman, hunter, artist relocation serves as a barometer for Pathfinder Trail Blazer habitat, promoting debate as to and notably one of the most important This is a Stride Gallery brochure written by Dick trends in human habitation; driven how various plots co-ordinate within big game painters in 20th century North Averns. These publications provide regular g by a climate of population growth and fueled by to say he did not recognise some imbalances, as our lives. America. opportunities for diverse writers to publish work that classic human tradition: conquering the exampled by domesticated cats ravaging bird that furthers critical discourse about n land. populations. Indeed, Rungius' father, a Photographs, text and sculpture are augmented contemporary art. i clergyman, "waged constant warfare on skulking with original Rungius artefacts to probe biography: director: Robin Arseneault t Co-ordinating Plots, as an exhibition, responds to felines with the aid of a .22 rifle which he carried tendencies that consider landscape as a mere Dick Averns was born in London, England publication design: MN Hutchinson and Diana the above issues and also to the work of hunter under his long house coat during morning walks backdrop for human imposition; what often in 1964. He was part of the Landscape 4 a and wildlife painter Carl Rungius. Born in in his garden. Thus law and order were becomes a super imposition. We find that R.V.s , residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts Germany in 1869, Rungius spent fifty years from maintained, along with the dignity befitting one instead of connecting their occupants to earth, in 1999 and has recently had solo shows n the late 1800's to the mid-twentieth century, of his profession."2 In short, although death was tend to deliver a removal service. The energies at Third Avenue Gallery, Vancouver; 911 i hunting and painting big game in Maine, delivered by an assumed divine intervention, that Rungius expended in both locating seductive Media Arts Centre, Seattle; Prince Wyoming, New Brunswick, The Yukon and then, Rungius did recognise the cull as a form of habitats and then physically hauling huge beasts George Art Gallery, Prince George; and Stride Gallery is funded in part by the Alberta d The Rockies. His work is spirited, both in form conservation. Not to mention discovering a for work, food and play, are tangible forms of the at the Visual Arts Burnaby Gallery at Foundation for the Arts, the Canada Council for r and in the context of the time and manner in handy source for cadavers to serve as "still" life energy that are today absent from many peoples' Ceperley House, Burnaby. Dick Averns the Arts Program and Operations Assistance for which he undertook the work. Rungius was able subjects.3 experience. Co-ordinating Plots counters this by maintains his practice in Vancouver, BC. Artist-Run Centres, the Calgary Region Arts o to ruggedly pursue the pleasures and spoils of - nature at a time when back country But man cannot live on death alone, Rungius' 1 “an area that, together with its natural flora and fauna, has been expeditioning had not yet been reduced to the practice of strapping young bucks into jigs and essentially undisturbed by human activity.” Longman Dictionary of acknowledgements: © Stride Gallery and contributors o the English Language, p. 1853, Longman, 1991. base level of a package holiday. poses for painting, served as an accepted 2 The artist would like to acknowledge the Schaldach, William J., Carl Rungius, Big Game Painter – Fifty Years 1004 MacLeod Trail S.E., Calgary, AB, construct to draw life from an otherwise dead with Brush and Rifle, p. 21, the Countryman Press, 1943. support of Robin Arseneault, Diane Canada T2G 2M7 3 C The exhibition at the Stride Gallery presupposes form of fauna. Some may prefer to attribute such Rungius acknowledges this in Schaldach’s Fifty Years with Brush Colwell, the Board and volunteers of the telephone: 403 262 8507 that the twenty-first century has confirmed the actions to a testosterone driven appetite for and Rifle, p. 23, A number of these anatomical sketches are held in Stride Gallery, Luanne Martineau and the the Glenbow Museum’s collection. fax: 403 269 5220 1 definition "wilderness," for this world at least, as domination. And certainly, language suggests 4 R.V. Abbreviation for Recreational Vehicle: North American term for staff of the Glenbow Museum. Production email: [email protected] an oxymoron. Yet when Rungius was first that the act of pursuing the wildest game is a (generally large) motorised camper home. assitance thanks go to Josh Lewis, URL: www.vanitygallery.com/stride/ 5 S.U.V. Abbreviation for Sport Utility Vehicle: North American term practising, much of the New World was still very Stephen J. Robinson and Jeremy gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am much undisturbed by human activity. This is not Grootendorst. Brochure editing services – 5 pm.