Video Art in Canada: Four Worlds
Studio International, May 1976, v. 191, no. 981, pp. 224-229
Peggy Gale provides an overview of four Canadian cities video activity: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax, which are autonomous yet related and nearly simultaneous (1971) video movements. Gale highlights the spaces and particular artists who are active in the city at the time, and discusses these artists works in detail. In Vancouver the emphasis is on information, cooperation, open access and general interest, in places like Video Inn and Western Front. Gale goes on to describe some of the more prolific artists working in Vancouver, such as Mr. Peanut, Al Razutis and Don Druick. In Toronto, with A-Space, artists are interested in self-investigation, self-revelation and intimacy. Lisa Steele, Colin Campbell, Bruce Emilson and General Idea are discussed. Contrasting with the personal in Toronto, artists in Montreal, with the space Videographe, are concerned with the dialogue of a broader-based cultural reality. Gale speaks specifically to the success of Videographe and it's expanding facility and audience, as well as its democratic approach to producing documentaries, fictional and experimental film and video. In Halifax, closely related to the NYC influx of guest artists and professors at NSCAD, video art thrives as a creative medium. David Askevold is discussed in detail. Gale acknowledges that four cities is not entirely representative of Canadian video, and recognizes work done in Alberta, London, Guelph and many other areas on Canada.
ITEM 1976.055 – available for viewing in the Research Centre
Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited
My Five Years in a Nutshell – Mr. Peanut
1974 Civic Election in Vancouver – Mr. Peanut
(A )E ONE – Don Druick
Waveform – Al Razutis
A Very personal Story – Lisa Steele
Internal Pornography – Lisa Steele
Birthday Suit - With Scars and Defects – Lisa Steele
Real Split – Colin Campbell
Janus – Colin Campbell
Hindsight – Colin Campbell
Going Thru the Motions – General Idea
Light On – General Idea
Double Mirror Video – General Idea
The Murdered Rancher and the Fifteen Million Dollar Insurance Policy – David Askevold
Green Willow for Delaware – David Askevold
Synapses – David Askevold