Biscuit at Char Creek
by Maureen Enns.
New artwork produced
by Maureen in the field for the Moscow
exhibition.
Biscuit Looking for
Chico
Biscuit on the Run
Chico Looking at Beauty
(Click on any Image to see a higher resolution version)
Ten years ago, I was in Nairobi, Kenya finishing an art series titled "Game's End". It was about vanishing herds of elephant and their link to the vanishing wilderness in Africa. I have regretted ever since that, although exhausted emotionally and mentally at the end of the project, that I had not pursued exhibiting the results in Africa. Therefore, when I first came to Kamchatka, in 1994, I vowed that no matter how difficult, that I would bring my art produced here at Kambalnoe Lake, to exhibition in Moscow.
In June 1999, with our Russian associate and friend, Tatiana Gordienko, I flew to Moscow to meet Elena Gaisina, Cultural Relations, at the Canadian Embassy. Former Canadian Ambassador to Russia Anne Leahy had graciously given Elena full endorsement of the Embassy's support in assisting me to turn my goals into reality.When I returned from showing Through the Eyes of the Bear, in Marnay, at the Camac art center, outside of Paris, this past April, I seriously considered canceling the Moscow show. Two days after stepping off the plane I was closing the Calgary Premiere version. Additionally, I had accepted a very large sculpture commission dealing with my concrete bear tracks. To say I was overloaded was an understatement.
However, I could not forget the hours of committed hard work of Elena, at the Canadian Embassy, in Moscow, over the past year. It was she that recommended that I accept the offer to exhibit at the city's relatively new contemporary art center. She had personally photographed the site and sent digital photographs of the entire space last fall. Also, she gained the support of Rodney Irwin, the newly appointed Canadian Ambassador to Russia. As spring 2000, merged into summer, she gleaned escalating amounts of support from the Canadian Embassy. I felt very honored by all the enthusiasm and commitment from my Russian friends.
I had one big problem - this was shaping into a very expensive proposition. With a great deal of gratitude I accepted the offer of Maureen and Mike Heffring, who live in Calgary, Alberta, to provide a grant for the exhibition's costs which included travel. I simply could not back out because I was worn out. Fortunately, not long after returning to Kambalnoe Lake, my energy returned. Living so close to nature, away from telephones and other diversions, had been what I needed.
Charlie, Tatiana Gordienko, and I will fly to Moscow on the 10th of September. Through the Eyes of the Bear opens in Moscow on September 13, 2000 at the Moscow Contemporary Art Center, Neglinnaya 14, which is very centrally located. Director Marina Loshak, in consort with Elena, have a press conference scheduled for 4:00PM with the reception at 6:00PM following. Ambassador Rodney Irwin has planned to host a special reception at the Embassy following the opening at the Art Center. Gallery guests (about 400), diplomatic representatives of the Embassy, and various representatives of conservation organizations, based in Moscow (WWF, Greenpeace etc.) have been placed on the invitation list. Tatiana, representing the Kamchatka State Environmental Committee, sent in their list of officials and friends.
Our wonderful friend, Jennya Pitchina, whose family we live with in Petropavlovsk, is currently studying for her Doctorate in Moscow. She has assisted with an apartment and hired driver arrangements. Another friend, Olga Yefimova, of Petropavlovsk, has assisted with translation of the entire catalogue into Russian. We also produced a two-page information sheet about our co-existence study here and how my art production fits into the scheme of things - also in Russian - 500 copies. Nina Petrova, an associate of the Art Center, has been appointed exhibition coordinator. She has been the bridge between the gallery staff, the Embassy, Olga (translating in Petropavlovsk) and myself - all by E-mail over our satellite link!
The content of this exhibition has conformed to the one in Calgary. You can read about the various segments on this web site. The only difference is the addition of the digital photography, similar to the Paris version. (Compliments in part to DLS Imaging in Calgary, I add). I decided to include some drawings for the Anthropomorphism and for Another Dimension to give the Moscow exhibition greater immediacy than the other two travelling destinations.
I experienced artist's block for the first 3 weeks here, which definitely added tension to my life. I was imagining this wonderful opportunity for exhibition turning into a failure due to rotten new work! I thought I was beyond such insecurities, at this point in my career, but personal doubt has always hit at some unexpected point. I am fortunately no longer throwing away all I paint and draw. I feel positive again.
The Moscow Contemporary Art Center is running ads in several art magazines and the Canadian Embassy will be issuing an official press release. The Embassy is coordinating a slide lecture which Charlie and I will deliver at the Moscow University of Humanities. It will be about the art exhibition, of course, and our research. Elena Gaisina has also contacted the Consulate General in St. Petersburg who is considering assisting with another lecture in that city. A trip to St. Petersburg would be a lovely way to end this season's work in Russia. It is a spectacular city full of wonderful art and architecture.
-Maureen