Notice Board

Opening Reception: The Everyday Future
Thursday, September 20, 4 - 6 pm
Hess Gallery, Level 6, Centre for the Arts

Artist: José Luis Torres
Curated by Josephine Mills

The Everyday Future: an exhibition and outdoor project by artist José Luis Torres
Presented by the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery

How does it feel to be displaced? What does it do to your sense of identity, and your sense of who you are, when you lose your home? How can we talk about these issues if we don’t share the same language?

According to the United Nations, 16.2 million people were newly displaced last year and there is currently a total of 65.3 million displaced people in the world. These are people forced to leave their homes because of violence, persecution, and conflict. In addition, there are also people forced to live in a temporary shelter because of disasters caused by climate change.

Trying to grasp the scope of displacement, let alone trying to help make a difference, can be overwhelming. The discussion about immigration can feel like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic: talking about this dire situation seems futile when so many lives are in peril. Paralyzed by the details, one is left feeling unable to make much-needed change. The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery hopes that we can start somewhere, we can start here. The Art Gallery has invited artist José Luis Torres to create an exhibition that will spark the imagination and open up new perspectives about immigration, refugees, and displacement; about making temporary shelter into a home.

Originally from Argentina, now living in Québec City, Torres creates epic exhibitions from ordinary materials — things from construction sites, offices, and other parts of our regular environment. By taking these items out of their usual locations or away from their intended use, by turning them upside down and inside out, Torres encourages people to pay attention to the stuff that makes up our lives. From there, it becomes easier to see things we take for granted, to question assumptions, and perhaps to find paths to address the big issues of our times.

Admission is free, all are welcome. No art making experience needed.

The exhibition is located in the Hess Gallery, on level 6 of the Centre for the Arts, University of Lethbridge.
September 20 – October 27, 2018. Gallery open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and open until 8:30 pm on Thursdays.

The outdoor project (a 1973 camper trailer) will be located in “the Grove” – a small field behind Markin Hall on the University of Lethbridge campus.
Drop by the outdoor trailer to draw or knit and chat with art gallery staff.
September 26 – October 4, 2018. Open Monday to Friday, 11 am to 4 pm.

Walking tour in Spanish on Thursday, September 27, 2018. Begins at 7:00 pm at the Grove.
Further walking tours in English and Spanish to be confirmed.

Saturday, September 29, exhibition and outdoor project open, 11 am to 4 pm, for Culture Days.