Adam David Brown, Core Sample: The History of Art (detail), 2006, Janson's The History of Art (modified), video projection, table

Obsolete Concepts

Adam David Brown, Marco D’Andrea, Beth Howe, John Latour, Craig Leonard, Cindy Stelmackowich, Karen Trask

A Space Main Gallery

May 9 – June 13, 2008

Curated by: Melissa Bennett, Olivia Lam


This exhibition brings together seven artists whose works, through various interventionist strategies, present new challenges to the authoritative functions of the book. Through sculpture, audio, paper works, digital imagery and documentation of a conceptual art project, the artists question the relevance of published textual knowledge and the limitations of the book as a finite, bound object currently faced with potential dematerialization.

Biographies

Adam David Brown received his MFA from the University of Guelph. He earned a BFA at the Ontario College of Art and Design. Adam has exhibited video installations, films and sculpture projects in Canada, Europe and the United States.

Marco D’Andrea earned a Masters in Library and Information Science at the University of Western Ontario, and completed a BFA in Media Arts at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. His works have been exhibited across Canada including in the McCleave Gallery’s S.A.G.S.R.I. 2007-2008 Space Mission.

Beth Howe completed a MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute. Howe has taught at the Ontario College of Art and Design, and has exhibited her works throughout North America.

John Latour, a Montreal-based artist, earned a Master of Arts in Art History from Concordia University, and completed a Masters in Library and Information Studies at McGill University. His works have been exhibited in Toronto, Montreal and internationally.

Craig Leonard is currently a Lecturer at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. He completed a Masters of Visual Studies at the University of Toronto. He has exhibited his works across Canada and internationally.

Cindy Stelmackowich is currently undertaking a PhD in the History and Theory of Art at the State University of New York, Binghamton, and completed her MA at Carleton University. She has had numerous solo and group exhibitions across Canada and in New York State.

Karen Trask earned a Masters in Sculpture at Concordia University, and studied Fine Arts at the University of Waterloo. Currently based in Montreal, Trask has exhibited extensively in Canada, Mexico, Europe and the United States.

Melissa Bennett earned a MA in Art History with a diploma in Curatorial Studies from York University. She completed a BFA in Photography at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Melissa has worked at Stephen Bulger Gallery, OCAD, and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography.

Olivia Lam received an Honours BFA in Studio Arts and a MA in Art History with a diploma in Curatorial Studies from York University. Olivia has worked at the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, YYZ Artists’ Outlet, and on Nuit Blanche Toronto (2006).