Critical Writing Index

"arrives asking, demanding something of us"

by Janice Hladki

Fierce: Women's Hot Blooded Film/Video, Mar. 2010, pp. 8-23

Hamilton: McMaster Museum of Art, 2010

Janice Hladki's curatorial essay for Fierce, features Maureen Bradley, Dana Claxton, Allyson Mitchell and b.h.yael, leading Canadian video and installation artists. The exhibition addresses the contribution of Canadian women artists to contemporary video culture, responding to the need for new image spaces and the consideration of ethical spectatorship. The exhibition, with it's range of stylistic and technical approaches, provides an arena for issues of embodiments and identities, public life, social justice, history and memory, the environment and species diversity, war, and peace. Much of the work is autobiographical, exploring the politics of self-representation.

Hladki addresses each of the artists work within the essay, addressing common threads within the artists practices, settling on a sense of hopefulness. The exhibition was on display from Januray 28 - March 10, 2010 at the McMaster Museum of Art.

ITEM 2010.002 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

StrandedMaureen Bradley

Menstrual Hut Sweet Menstrual HutAllyson Mitchell

Buffalo Bone China

(of)fencesDana Claxton

Afghanimationb.h.yael

My life in 5 MinutesAllyson Mitchell

blah bah blah: (re) viewing Quebec

Trading the FutureAllyson Mitchell

Hope

precious little tiny loveb.h.yael

What I Rememberb.h.yael

Birthday Suit Management: a 21c Homage to Lisa SteeleDana Claxton

I want to Know WhyAllyson Mitchell

Anwolek Regatta City

a hot sand-filled windMaureen Bradley

SisyphusMaureen Bradley

Dana Claxton

Dana Claxton

b.h.yael

Maureen Bradley