Artist Shannon Bool makes only Western Canada stop in Kelowna
After presentations at the Centre culturel Canadien in Paris, France, Braunschweig, Germany, and at public art galleries in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, a provocative exhibition touches down in Kelowna for its only stop in Western Canada.
The Shape of Obus presents artist Shannon Bool’s multi-faceted artworks that utilize textiles, sculptures, painting, collage, and photography. In this series of work, Bool reflects upon and challenges the work of Le Corbusier (18871965), a Swiss-French architect, artist, and urban planner, who is considered a pioneer of modern architecture.
The exhibition is organized by the Musée d’art de Joliette in Quebec and curated by Anne-Marie St-Jean Aubre. “In The Shape of Obus, Shannon Bool examines architectural designs by Le Corbusier while approaching Modernism through a feminist perspective,” says exhibition curator Anne-Marie St-Jean Aubre. “Instead of examining the exterior forms of buildings, Bool redirects focus to the interior, confronting misogynistic debates towards craft as a legitimate form of art.”
Visitors will be able to observe Bool’s contemplation through her choice of mediums – opting to utilize materials found in the domestic spaces such as silk, wool, steel, and mirrors – all of which are closely related to women, craft, and industry.
The exhibition features large-scale tapestries, paintings with embroidery on hand-dyed silk, and a series of photographs. Visitors will also see sculptures inspired by Modern furniture and a mural imagined by Bool that was realized by local artist Dylan Ranney.
“We are thrilled to present this exhibition to Okanagan audiences,” says
Christine May, Curator at the Kelowna Art Gallery. “The Shape of Obus asks viewers to consider the aesthetic influences and forces that are usually repressed or left out of historical narratives – most often involving women. This exhibition will challenge visitors on many levels, and we’re excited to see how visitors respond to the work and presented themes.”
Shannon Bool was born in Comox in 1972. She completed a B.A. in English Literature at the University of Victoria, before studying at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver. The following year, she went to New York City to study at The Cooper Union. She continued her fine art training at the Städelschule Frankfurt. Shannon Bool
has won many awards and grants, and her work has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions. She currently lives and works in Berlin, Germany.
The Shape of Obus runs from Feb. 25 to June 18. It is presented with support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Fondation du Musée d’art de Joliette.
For those who want to dig deeper, an Artist Talk with Shannon Bool has been organized on Thursday, March 9, at 5 p.m. via zoom.
Registration is through the Gallery’s website at kelownaartgallery.com.
The Kelowna Art Gallery is located at 1315 Water St., in downtown Kelowna.