HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-04-01; Arts Commission; ; William D Cannon Gallery Update
Meeting Date: Apr. 1, 2021
To: Carlsbad Arts Commission
From: Richard Schultz, Cultural Arts Manager
Staff Contact: Karen McGuire, Gallery Curator karen.mcguire@carlsbadca.gov
Subject: William D. Cannon Gallery Update
District: All
Recommended Action Receive an update on upcoming new exhibits in the William D. Cannon Gallery.
Executive Summary/Discussion
Gallery Curator Karen McGuire will provide an overview of two upcoming exhibits and the new
reservation system that will be implemented to meet standards for occupancy.
Material Pulses: Seven Viewpoints
The William D. Cannon Art Gallery’s newest exhibition, Material Pulses: Seven Viewpoints, is focused on
the art of quilt-making with seventeen works by seven fiber artists. The Cannon Gallery is the only
California venue to host this national traveling exhibition. Curated by internationally renowned artist and
teacher Nancy Crow, Material Pulses contributes to the dialogue of contemporary textile arts. The
exhibition features quilts, mixed media, and installation work. Quilts up to 101 inches high will be
featured by artists who are investigating color, pattern and size through traditional and experimental
quilt-making applications. The curator balances a focus on shapes with oversized works, exploring
excellence in machine quilting and surface design.
The exhibition artists are Denise L. Roberts, Albright, WV; Claire Benn, Surrey, England; Jayne Willoughby,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Mary Lou Alexander, Hubbard, OH; Christine Mauersberger, Cleveland, OH;
Barb Wills, Prescott, AZ; and Elizabeth Brandt, Holland, MI. Curator Nancy Crow has taught quilt-making
as an art form in the United States and internationally. She is the co-founder of Quilt Surface Design and
Quilt National. Material Pulses is organized by Mid-America Arts Alliance and ExhibitsUSA. The exhibition
runs April 6 through May 23, 2021 and will follow the library’s hours of operation.
A Virtual Family Open Studios will be presented on Saturday, May 8 with featured artist Barb Wills who
will be live from her studio in Prescott, AZ.
2021 Juried Biennial Call for Artists
The Cannon Gallery invites artists to enter the 2021 Juried Biennial which is an exhibition featuring
multiple media types including oil, acrylic, photography, sculpture and more. Over the past 20 years, the
Juried Biennial Exhibitions have become an important showcase for the work of both emerging and mid-
career artists in San Diego County. This year’s jurors are Sonya Sparks, owner and chief curator at Sparks
Gallery in San Diego, and Andrew Ütt, the director of the forthcoming Institute of Contemporary Art San
Diego who is the current director of the Lux Art Institute in Encinitas. The Carlsbad Friends of the Arts will
ARTS COMM I SSION
provide cash prizes based on the jurors’ decision. The application is currently available on the Cultural
Arts webpage. The exhibition runs June 13 through August 28, 2021. The deadline for applications is April
23, 2021. QLess: Queue Management System Gallery staff will be utilizing a new software to assist patrons in making a reservation to tour the Gallery. QLess software fosters social distancing, provides the Gallery staff with a tool to reduce lines for entry
and supports safety protocols when monitoring capacity. The Cannon Gallery is leading the way by
implementing this new tool.
Fiscal Analysis No additional city funding is being requested at this time. Next Steps
Arts commissioners are encouraged to tour the new exhibit and encourage others to attend.
Public Notification
This document was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (California Government Code
Section 54950 et. Seq.), published and distributed at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date and time.
Exhibits 1 – Juried Biennial Call for Artists Application Form