53.2033° N, 105.7531° W

curated by Mikaela LeBlanc and Tekla Mattila

Mann Art Gallery

June 22 – October 28, 2023

Opening Reception: June 22, 7pm

This exhibition on Prince Albert / Kistahpinanihk (Cree – “the gathering place”), represents key sites of work, leisure, education, respite and reverence. The arrangement of artworks follows their geographical location in relation to the North Saskatchewan River. The works were all donated to the Mann Art Gallery by the artists themselves, their children or members of the community. The exhibition tells stories of a city that has always been the subject of artistic inspiration and a home to many remarkable artists.

The artworks are more than representations of landmarks; they are memories that contribute to the navigation and remembrance of communal and regional histories. Different historical and imaginative perspectives are depicted in the works of J.S. Base and William Gordon Griffiths in the 1930s, Frances Hanson in the 1950s, and Alex Mullie and Ken Lyons in the 2010s.

As 53.2033° N, 105.7531° W provides a glimpse into Prince Albert’s past, it aspires to ground us in the present and inspire us. Whether a person is new to Prince Albert or has lived here their whole life, 53° N tells stories that go well beyond the information given on a map.

– Mikaela LeBlanc and Tekla Mattila

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