AFTER SIX YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMMING, EVANS CONTEMPORARY IS SAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT WILL BE SHUTTING ITS DOORS ON ITS PHYSICAL GALLERY SPACE
After much consideration, we have come to a difficult decision that Evans Contemporary will be closing its physical gallery space effective January 1st. The institute’s sister galleries - Star X, and Coeur Nouveau will also be closing and moving out of the Commerce Building in downtown Peterborough. Along with this news, we announce that Evans Contemporary and the Ad Hoc Arts Committee will cease to organize and present the First Friday Art Crawl.
The success of the gallery, which includes an overwhelming response to its exhibitions, openings, art crawls, and performances have shown the value, and importance of such an institute. With this growth, and the enthusiastic interest in the Evans Contemporary group of galleries, it has become increasingly difficult to continue to provide the level of programming, and presentation that is required without continuous support, and is not sustainable in its current configuration. The cultural growth in the community that was central to this cluster of galleries has shown that there is a need for an affordable, autonomous arts centre, which is not tied to the complexities of development, and gentrification in the city of Peterborough.
It has been extremely gratifying to see diverse groups of people coming to the downtown core every month to appreciate art. The collection of three galleries – Evans Contemporary, Star X and Coeur Nouveau – alongside other studios in the Commerce building which have opened their doors, have provided opportunities for local artists to exhibit and have brought an array of international artists to Peterborough. The businesses that embraced the First Friday Art Crawl indicated that it increased their business and created a positive brand for our downtown, and our city. It has generated an interest and awareness of Peterborough’s cultural community and has shown the benefit, and the importance of these spaces in our community.
Unfortunately, we believe that continuing to operate galleries in the Commerce Building and mounting the First Friday Art Crawl presents an ethical dilemma - by staying in place we are in a sense enabling the gentrification of Peterborough through the use, and abuse of the arts. We fear the potential damage which First Fridays could cause, and are aware of its conceivable move in the direction of the art crawl of Hamilton, that is to say, the exploitation of art in order to focus on commerce.
By closing our physical space, and taking a hiatus from the First Friday Art Crawl, we aim to develop new approaches to creating a sustainable, artist-driven focus on contemporary art presentation for this region. In order to strengthen the art scene in Peterborough, Evans Contemporary and the Ad Hoc Art Committee will continue to lobby for an affordable, autonomous space for artistic creation and presentation for visual artists, and a dedicated performance space for musicians. We will build upon the gallery’s reputation as an agent of social change, and a cultural community leader. We will continue to advocate for the arts in Peterborough through the mandate of the Ad Hoc manifesto. We will continue to resist the abuse, and neglect of cultural capital, and the sensitive, and alarming trend of gentrification through the use, and at the expense of the arts.
In conclusion, we would like to thank our public for their love and attention to the arts over the past six years. We hope to see you at future openings and events.
We urge you to write to your town councillors in order to raise any concerns about these closures, and the importance, and need for the arts in the downtown core.
Paolo Fortin
Director
Evans Contemporary would like to thank all the artists, writers, and musicians who have exhibited and performed at the gallery over the past six years. The sharing of your talents, and work with us has been a truly momentous, and generous gift.
Thank you.
VISUAL ARTISTS
JENINE MARSH
JOHN ABRAMS
TASHA DOREMUS
ANDREAS RUTKAUSKAS
JESSICA AUER
ISAK APPLIN
STEPHANIE ROZENE
CHRISTOPHER PATCH
SANNE DE WILDE
KIM NEUDORF
JANINE MIEDZIK
JEANIE RIDDLE
RICK LEONG
LAURA MADERA
THERESA GANZ
JEN AITKEN
WENDY TRUSLER
TARA AZZOPARDI
SARA JANE GORLITZ
WILLIAM JOEL DAVENPORT
MACKENZIE KELLY-FRÈRE
KATIE LYLE
ANN JAEGER
BRIAN RIDEOUT
SOFT TURNS
JANNE LAINE
WILLIAM CARROLL
SHELLEY ADLER
MAMORU TSUKADA
JUDE GRIEBEL
PETER BARRON
CATHERINE TELFORD-KEOGH
LAURA FINDLAY
OPEN CLUSTER CR-50
DAVID MILLER
NICOLAS FLEMING
SIMON BENEDICT
MICHAEL GREEN
JAMIE MACAULAY
MUSICIANS/BANDS
JOYFUL JOYFUL
THE ODESSA
POLY TRAP SUPER SIX
HYMNS 57
THE LONELY PARADE
PRIORS
STACEY GREEN JUMPS
GET OFF THE COP
FLESH RAG
BEEF BOYS
OLIAS
OBLIQUE
COLD EYE
STILLNESS AND STARS
WALRUS
MARY KATE EDWARDS
BLIZZARD BABIES
NO ALOHA
TEN BOY SUMMER
BELLY FLOP
CROSS DOG
GARBAGEFACE
ELMS
{AN} EeL
HAYLEY RAYGUN
MONOBLOCK & SUNN
FLEETWOOD MAC SAUCE
JACK MOVES
GRAY AREA
PERSONAL BEST
ROCK CAMP FOR GIRLS*
PEACHYKINE
CREEPING JENNY
PANTAYO
SLUTMOTHER
LIGHT ORGAN
PERFECT HEALTH
STILLNESS AND STARS
PEOPLE YOU MEET OUTSIDE OF BARS
SUE NEWBERRY
TAI TIMBERS
NIALL
MILTON ALICE
PATRICK NININGER
BENETT BEDOUKIAN
ERIKA NININGER
DOPEWOLF
WAX MANNEQUIN
HELLENICA
RENDERS
CLAIRE DE LA LOPA
DEATH BY ART SCHOOL
STEELBURNER
EARLYBIRD
PAPER SHAKERS
STANDPARTNERS
TIGER BOMB
RHYS CLIMENHAGE
LUNA LI
SPARKLESAURUS
DOESN’TMATTERITSOK
EYEDA SOPHIA & MAXHOLE
LAL
MIKE MURLEY
JAZZMANIA
PUPPET
PAULABULUS
REIGN BOI
ELENA KAPELERIS
TELEVISION RD.
THE WATCHED POTS
ROB HAILMAN
CODY
NICK PROCYSHYN AND THE BAD MILK
CAM MACLEAN
BRIDGET FOLEY
LAUREN PINEO
BODYHORRORGENRE
ALL GIRL BAND
Evans Contemporary would like to thank the following people who helped to develop the Evans Contemporary Music series, and help turn the gallery into such an important space for musical performance.
KAROL ORZECHOWSKI
ERIK CULP
EM MINTHORN
SARA O. SHAHSAVARI
B.P. HUGHES
Evans Contemporary would like to thank the numerous volunteers whose hard work and dedication have helped to keep the gallery operational over the past six years.
ANN JAGER
SARAH GIBEAULT
LAURIE WESTAWAY
LAUREN TRAGENZA
KATE LIGHTIZER
JUSTIN MILLION
Evans Contemporary would like to thank all of its benefactors, patrons, donors, and supporters, who have contributed to the creation, and functioning of the gallery over the past six years.
DR. BRIAN LINDSAY
GENERATION SOLAR
THE PUBLICAN HOUSE BREWERY
CM CONSULTING
LE PETIT BAR
ST. VERONUS
WHATLEY TECHNICAL SUPPLIES INC.
YELLOW DATA CLARITY
KAREN PAGE & DON SKUCE
KIERAN ANDREWS & DEE HUTCHISON
DIMITRI PAPATHEODOROU
PURELY GREAT
RIVER CURRENT STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
MARCEL FORTIN
CAROL JACKSON MASONRY RESTORATION
PETER LAFLEUR
BERNICE FORTIN
DIERDRE CHISHOLM
SIMON BOONE