A group of local artists gathered June 11, to listen to the words of one of the most important figures of the Western Canadian art scene.
In town because of his exhibit at the Chapel Gallery, Terry Fenton spoke about the relevance of staying connected to the rest of the world in order to grow as an artist.
"Really good art very seldom happens in an isolated situation," he says.
"Very often, it happens in clusters - where artists are looking at each other's work, making suggestions, sharing ideas. That's the key."
The event took place at the City Hall Art Studio in North Battleford and was hosted by the Chapel Gallery.
During his speech, Fenton said he began to realize the importance of staying in touch with other artists as an art student, back in 1958. His school, at that time, organized a workshop with New York artist Barnett Newman - one of the major figures in abstract expressionism.
Fenton wasn't able to attend the workshop because of a summer job. "but, when I came back, I could see that everybody - classmates and teachers - were transformed. Newman had impacted them either in their ambition and in their work. They were not doing Barnett Newman work, but a better version of their own, under a new perspective."
For close to two decades (1972-1988) Fenton directed the Edmonton Art Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Alberta). Until 1993 he was the director of the Leighton Foundation in Calgary and from 1993-97 he was director of the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon. He is a curator, has written many essays, monographs and books on art and he is also an artist in his own right. As he says, his trajectory taught him how to use his "eyes in a very open way."
He also told the local artists that big names don't always mean good paint.
"A lot of paints made by amateurs or semi-amateurs are better than a lot of pros' works," he said.
According to Fenton "listening to anyone who sees your work regularly" is a very important part of the creative process. "Sometimes the artist has a very clear idea of what he wants to do. However if that idea is not accomplished, the piece is deemed 'not good' and a great work of art can go to waste."
"Theory," Fenton says, "don't make good art. You can only judge after it's done. Many times your best work could be in your reject pile."
He advises everyone to "sit back and look at their own work as someone else would see your art."
Not being isolated is important for art to flourish, he says. Fenton talks about the geographical position of the Battlefords as an advantage.
"You are not very far from Edmonton and not far at all from Saskatoon. Go out, travel as much as you can and see things for yourself."
He also deems as positive the fact many of the Saskatchewan communities have their own galleries.
Fenton said he is glad to be able to deliver such speeches to local artists. "Anything that helps opening someone's eyes," he says.
In line with the guest speaker, Marcus Miller - the director of galleries in North Battleford - says, "art is a social thing, that's why it's important to organize this kind of activities in our region."
After the speech, Fenton was taken into the next room in order to share his opinion on some of the local artists' work.
