Concordia.ca   /   Library   /   About   /   Exhibitions   /   Webster Library   /   2019

2019 Webster Library Exhibitions

Zine Scene: Twenty Years of ARCMTL

Zine Scene: Twenty Years of ARCMTL
October 2 – December 17, 2019
Webster Library, second floor vitrines

busy purple drawing of people

Zine Scene: Twenty Years of ARCMTL is an exhibition of zines and artists’ books drawn from the extensive collections of ARCMTL (Archive Montreal) – the Montreal-based, non-profit organization that promotes and presents independent culture. Jenny Lin and Eloisa Aquino, curators of the exhibition, have organized an eclectic selection of works organized by theme that highlight “… a wide array of subjects, covering personal / autobiographical (perzines), health, subcultures (e.g. punk, vegan), politics (e.g. antifascist, feminist, queer) and often using a variety of languages and expressions, from poetry to visual art, photographs, comics, fiction and essays.”

The exhibition coincides with two annual events: the artists’ book fair VOLUME 2 MTL (Oct. 1-6, 2019) and the zine and alternative press fair Expozine 2019 (Nov. 16-17, 2019).

The Webster Library is pleased to hold a related event in conjunction with Zine Scene: Twenty Years of ARCMTL:

Curators’ & artists’ talk
by Jenny Lin and Eloisa Aquino with legendary Canadian visual and correspondence artist Anna Banana
October 3, 2019
3 – 5 p.m.
Webster Library, LB-362

Back to top

Selections from the Blumer Collection of Rare Books and Manuscripts

Selections from the Blumer Collection of Rare Books and Manuscripts
September 27 – October 10, 2019
Webster Library, second floor display cases (LB-285)
Curated by Alexandra Mills

old drawing of woman

Joseph Blumer, collector, honed his interest in rare books and manuscripts over many years. His interest and keen eye has resulted in the development of an extensive collection composed of over 270 items, which he generously donated to Concordia University Library’s Special Collections in 2017 and 2018.

Comprising a diverse array of literary and historical materials dating from the late 15th century to the early 20th century, the Blumer Collection of Rare Books and Manuscripts contains items of interest to researchers and readers across the disciplines.

The Library is proud to present an exhibition of selections from the Blumer Collection of Rare Books and Manuscripts Blumer Collection of Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Materials from the collection are available for consultation in the Special Collections Reading Room, located in the Vanier Library on the Loyola Campus (VL-121).

Back to top

Convergence

The Convergence exhibition presents a selection of artworks resulting from the course “Convergence: Arts, Neuroscience, and Society.” This two-semester interdisciplinary, inter-university course teamed up twelve graduate neuroscience students from the McGill University Integrated Program in Neuroscience (IPN), the Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program (BRaIN) from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), and fourteen undergraduate fine art students from Concordia University’s Faculty of Fine Arts to work together to create collaborative sci-art projects. The students produced twelve collaborative artworks which artistically interpreted and reflected on contemporary neuroscience research. These art projects included interactive installations, an immersive performance, a participatory public art piece, sculptures, silk screen prints, an educational board game, and animation. Throughout the course, the students also produced zines, logos, posters, and data visualization projects.

This exhibition in the Webster Library vitrines is a small sample of the students’ final projects, as well as work produced during workshops and class assignments.

We invite you to browse the 2019 Convergence course exhibition catalogue which features the final projects of all students at www.convergenceinitiative.org.

Back to top

Waterways: Asian Indigenous Relations in Contemporary Art

Waterways: Asian Indigenous Relations in Contemporary Art
June 11 – September 11, 2019
Webster Library second floor vitrines, Discovery counter and display cases and at various other locations on the Sir George Williams Campus

postcards and books over image of mountainous landscape sunset

Waterways: Asian Indigenous Relations in Contemporary Art is a series of exhibitions at Concordia University that brings together Indigenous, Asian Indigenous and Asian diaspora artists to the island of Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) to exchange knowledge on Asian Indigenous Relations in contemporary art.

On display are works by Beatrice Glow, Stephanie Cheung, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, Kari Noe, and Henry Tsang. The grouping explores themes of sovereignty, queer relationalities, wayfinding, and climate change.

These central themes, among others, are also explored by three artists whose work are shown in other venues: Jane Chang Mi (FOFA gallery courtyard), Léuli Eshrāghi (EV Junction) and Jason Sikoak (Department of Art History vitrine).

This exhibition is curated by the Ethnocultural Art Histories Research Group (EAHR) and the Indigenous Art Research Group (IARG). The exhibition series is part of “GAX 2019 Asian Indigenous Relations in Contemporary Art,” co-presented by the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University, and Concordia University, Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal), June 10-16.

Text excepted from EAHR and IARG curatorial statement
Image: Jane Chang Mi

Back to top

Activating the NCC Archives

logo de l'exposition

Activating the NCC Archives
May 14 – 31, 2019
Webster Library, second floor vitrines

Curated by Quinn Archer, Autumn Beals, Daphné Beauregard, Jamie Burdon, Jasmin Anisa Cardillo, Javier Gavidia, Eugenia Cukier, and Arturo Tablan, and facilitated by Steven High and Alexandra Mills.

In 2013, the archive of the Negro Community Centre (NCC) was donated to Concordia University Library. The archive consists of over 30 linear meters of unpublished textual records, over 2000 photographs, 20 objects, and other material documenting the rich history of the NCC, the hub of Montreal’s English-speaking Black community from 1927 until it closed in 1992.

Students enrolled in the 2019 course, Telling Stories: Black Montreal, spent the winter semester working with the archive. They conducted substantial primary source research and found creative ways to return the stories they uncovered back to the community that created the records. An event, Remembering Black Montreal: Uncovering the NCC Archives, was held at Union United Church, the oldest black church in Canada located in Little Burgundy.

Students that took part in this public history course are proud to present the exhibition Activating the NCC Archives, a showcase of the Negro Community Centre/Charles H. Este Cultural Centre Fonds and their research into the archive and the history of Montreal’s English-speaking Black community.

In partnership with Concordia University Library, the Department of History, and Union United Church. Special thanks to Nancy Oliver Mackenzie.

Back to top

Société des calligraphes de Montréal exhibit Horizons azur

Horizons azur de la Société des calligraphes de Montréal
Du 16 mars au 28 avril 2019
Bibliothèque Webster, vitrines au deuxième étage

logo de l'exposition

Dans les années 1970, alors que l’étude poussée de la calligraphie disparaissait du programme des écoles d’art, plusieurs sociétés se sont formées à travers le monde pour prendre le relais, dont celle de Montréal. Au moyen d’ateliers, de conférences, de rencontres et d’expositions, ces sociétés s’efforcent de promouvoir l’art de la calligraphie auprès du public et de développer un plus haut niveau de compétence au sein de leurs membres.

La Société des calligraphes de Montréal organise régulièrement des expositions collectives de ses membres, et encourage les débutants à faire leurs armes aux côtés des calligraphes avancés. Cette exposition souligne les 40 ans de la société, et nous sommes honorés que Concordia nous prête cet espace pour l’occasion.

Le thème pour cette exposition, Horizons azur, évoque naturellement le bleu si profond du ciel, et suggère aussi le calme, la tranquillité, l’espoir. Plusieurs exposants ont exploré la 3e dimension avec une boîte, un livre, du texte qui flotte au-dessus de la page. Divers outils traditionnels et modernes sont aussi exposés : plumes et encres, bien sûr, mais aussi cola pens, tire lignes, cailloux et autres outils inusités qui auront servi à la création des œuvres exposées.

Un artiste fera une démonstration des divers outils et styles de calligraphie le jeudi 11 avril, de 18h à 19h30, dans la salle de séminaires de la bibliothèque Webster (LB-362).

Le logo de l’exposition a été créé par Lorna Mulligan. (Texte rédigé par la Société des calligraphes de Montréal.)


Blue Horizons by Société des calligraphes de Montréal
March 16 – April 28, 2019
Webster Library, second floor vitrines

In the 1970s, as most art schools dropped the advanced study of calligraphy from their programs, local groups were founded around the world to pursue the art. La Société des calligraphes de Montréal is one of many such groups. Through workshops, lectures and art exhibitions, these societies strive to expand public awareness towards calligraphy and develop a higher level of proficiency amongst their members.

La Société des calligraphes de Montréal regularly organizes collective exhibitions by its members, and encourages beginners to show their work alongside advanced calligraphers. This exhibition marks the 40th anniversary of the society, and we are honoured that Concordia is lending us this space for the occasion.

The theme, Horizons azur (Azure Horizons), naturally evokes the true blue of the sky, and also suggests calmness, tranquility, and hope. Several exhibitors took advantage of the shelves in this particular space to explore the 3rd dimension with a box, a book, or text floating above the page. Various traditional and contemporary tools are also on display: pens and inks, of course, but also cola pens, ruling pens, pebbles and other unusual tools that have served to create the artwork.

An artist will give a demonstration of various tools and styles of calligraphy on Thursday, April 11, from 6 pm to 7 :30 pm, in the seminar room of the Webster Library (LB-362). The logo of the exhibition was created by Lorna Mulligan. (Text authored by the Société des calligraphes de Montréal.)

Back to top

Booked6

Annotated photograph of a cheery Louis Armstrong posing with trumpet

Booked6
March 8 – 12, 2019
Webster Library, 2nd floor vitrines

Concordia Library is pleased to present Booked6, a pop-up exhibition that features a selection of artists' books designed and produced by students enrolled in this year's DART280 - Investigations in Typographic Design course taught by Pata Macedo in the Department of Design and Computation Art.

Artists' books are works of art that refer to the idea of a book in some way, shape, or form.

For Booked6, each student was asked to conceive, develop and produce an artist's book around the theme of winter; and to strike a balance between the book's typography, imagery and the container that holds it.

Through the use of poetry, storytelling, testimonials, and their unique combinations of materials, printing techniques and bookbinding approaches, the students of Booked6 demonstrate the meaningful relationships that are possible between the content and form of an artist's book.

Back to top

Waves of resistance

Annotated photograph of a cheery Louis Armstrong posing with trumpet

Waves of Resistance
January 29 – February 28, 2019
Webster Library entrance staircase and 2nd floor vitrines

Waves of Resistance presents a visual, auditory and historical timeline of key threads of Black resistance and achievement before, during and after the Sir George Williams Affair of 1969 – from the Haitian Revolution of 1804 to the Black Lives Matter movement beginning in 2013.

Organized by students enrolled in the Feminist University Seminar from the Simone de Beauvoir Institute, Waves of Resistance complemented the exhibition Protests & Pedagogy at Concordia University’s 4th Space. The Library exhibition includes a range of publications, images, music, soundscapes, poetry, and oral histories from various sources including the Library’s Media Collection and the Special Collections.

Students: Mitchell Rae Cousineau, Ellen Furey, Rebecca Gaëlle Joachim, Katherine Obeda, Giulia Alvarez Soto
Coordinator: Anthony Mclachlan
Faculty supervisor: Nalini Mohibar
Image credit: Louis Armstrong, Undated newspaper clipping, ca. 1920s, Myron Sutton fonds, P010-SB2-55A1, Concordia University Library, Special Collections

Waves of Resistance runs until the end of February, in recognition of Black History Month.

Back to top
Back to top arrow up, go to top of page