... the inability to imagine a world in which things are different is only evidence of a poor imagination, not of the impossibility of change. -- Rutger Bregman
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The Unstuck Collective aims to organize art events that address Climate Change and/or any of the intersecting societal issues that affect it. They seek to facilitate work by Ottawa artists that is collaborative, interventionist, community-based, and process-based. Although the Collective plans to work with and without the City’s institutions, it is not stuck on professionalism, hierarchy, or the traditional format of art exhibitions, which may stand in the way of art’s potential to fight Climate Change.
At this point, in September 2020, we have only a brief history. Kathy Bergquist (Ottawa artist who works in metal and found objects and is a founding member of Studio Space Ottawa) suggested to Petra Halkes (artist, writer, and organizer) that they apply to the Ottawa City Hall Art Gallery (OCHAG) for an exhibition in the form of a Bring Your Own Art (BYOA) show.
Petra and her husband, Rene Price who is a multi-media artist, organized five successful such shows at RIA (Research in Art) a home-based self-organized artists initiative. They ran RIA's program of salons, exhibitions, and discussion events from 2006 to 2020. From 2015 to 2019 RIA's line-up included a BYOA exhibition that opened each NewYear's day. Artists who had registered to participate brought in artwork that day, each year focused on a different, broad, existential topic that unleashed a wide variety of responses. Each event was followed by a month of viewing and intense discussion events.
The Unstuck Collective applied twice (2018 and 2019) to the City to organize a Bring Your Own Art exhibition; they proposed to invite all Ottawa artists to imagine a changed, better world. The proposals were rejected.
Not wanting to give up on the idea, the Unstuck Collective sent a letter to the City's Culture Department, respectfully suggesting that changes be made to the assessment criteria currently in use for the OCHAG competition. Changes that, they proposed, will create a better fit with the contemporary “turn” to collaboration in art reflecting the necessity of collective action in a world that is facing monumental changes that affect all of us.
Collectivity and collaboration are concepts that do not fit easily with society’s hierarchic structures and competitive systems that have brought our world to the brink of disaster. The artworld’s emphasis on excellence and professionalism is embedded in all its institutions, from auction houses to the very competition for exhibitions at OCHAG. We are not proposing that requirements for professional exhibitions should be abandoned altogether, but we would like to see at least one slot per year set aside for an alternative experimental exhibition for which collectivity and interaction are paramount.
We view such exhibitions as “art townhalls,” gatherings around art that spark serious discussions among artists and viewers about life and art. The architecture of Ottawa City Hall lends itself splendidly to form a meeting place for many people from all walks of life. We suggest that a special slot for a collective, interactive exhibition will encourage more social practice artists to apply.
While we are waiting for a reply, we decided to look around for other opportunities to show. We found Culture Days and met up with some artists who are as passionate about art's potential to imagine a better world as we are. An Unexpected Intersection: Soap Meets Poop .was the Unstuck Collective's first event. Nancy Baele (writer) and Karina Kraenzle (artist) helped out with this event. Nancy is currently a member of the Unstuck Collective.
Who we are
At this point, in September 2020, we have only a brief history. Kathy Bergquist (Ottawa artist who works in metal and found objects and is a founding member of Studio Space Ottawa) suggested to Petra Halkes (artist, writer, and organizer) that they apply to the Ottawa City Hall Art Gallery (OCHAG) for an exhibition in the form of a Bring Your Own Art (BYOA) show.Petra and her husband, Rene Price who is a multi-media artist, organized five successful such shows at RIA (Research in Art) a home-based self-organized artists initiative. They ran RIA's program of salons, exhibitions, and discussion events from 2006 to 2020. From 2015 to 2019 RIA's line-up included a BYOA exhibition that opened each NewYear's day. Artists who had registered to participate brought in artwork that day, each year focused on a different, broad, existential topic that unleashed a wide variety of responses. Each event was followed by a month of viewing and intense discussion events.
The Unstuck Collective applied twice (2018 and 2019) to the City to organize a Bring Your Own Art exhibition; they proposed to invite all Ottawa artists to imagine a changed, better world. The proposals were rejected.
Not wanting to give up on the idea, the Unstuck Collective sent a letter to the City's Culture Department, respectfully suggesting that changes be made to the assessment criteria currently in use for the OCHAG competition. Changes that, they proposed, will create a better fit with the contemporary “turn” to collaboration in art reflecting the necessity of collective action in a world that is facing monumental changes that affect all of us.
Collectivity and collaboration are concepts that do not fit easily with society’s hierarchic structures and competitive systems that have brought our world to the brink of disaster. The artworld’s emphasis on excellence and professionalism is embedded in all its institutions, from auction houses to the very competition for exhibitions at OCHAG. We are not proposing that requirements for professional exhibitions should be abandoned altogether, but we would like to see at least one slot per year set aside for an alternative experimental exhibition for which collectivity and interaction are paramount.
We view such exhibitions as “art townhalls,” gatherings around art that spark serious discussions among artists and viewers about life and art. The architecture of Ottawa City Hall lends itself splendidly to form a meeting place for many people from all walks of life. We suggest that a special slot for a collective, interactive exhibition will encourage more social practice artists to apply.
While we are waiting for a reply, we decided to look around for other opportunities to show. We found Culture Days and met up with some artists who are as passionate about art's potential to imagine a better world as we are. An Unexpected Intersection: Soap Meets Poop .was the Unstuck Collective's first event. Nancy Baele (writer) and Karina Kraenzle (artist) helped out with this event. Nancy is currently a member of the Unstuck Collective.
