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Charley Farrero
A Certain Detourcurated by Heather Benning and organized by the Art Gallery of Swift Current
June 22 – August 19, 2023
Opening Reception: June 22, 7pm
Charley Farrero never fails to be assertive and bold, to be true to himself, and to remain deeply expressive of his origins and his experience. In many ways his choices and his “terroir”, have defined him; immigration, rural life, career, commitment to his craft.
Charley has produced ceramic art works of the highest standard for more than four decades. He has received various awards, honours and foreign residencies and has contributed to the development of the ceramic arts regionally, nationally and internationally, generously sharing his knowledge and experience through teaching, advocacy and mentorship.
The works in this exhibition are a testament to Farrero’s pragmatic, honest and enduring intimacy with the transformational processes of artistic creation. Included are works of exceptional and challenging power, expressing Charley's passionate commitment to his ideals of social justice and struggles against inequality and colonial transgressions. Other pieces appear playful and whimsical though personal introspection may reveal more profound meanings, cultural contexts and interconnections.
Charley Farrero is a master of the fickle alchemy of the processes with which he creates these works. He has invested each work with his experience, his expertise and his passion.
About the Artist
Charley Farrero was born in Paris in 1946 and has worked as a ceramic artist since 1972. He studied Fine Arts in Regina and currently lives and works in Meacham, Saskatchewan. Charley is a former President of the Canadian Craft Council, Chair of the Saskatchewan Craft Council and served on the Saskatchewan Arts Board. He is the 2008 recipient of Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Award for Innovation in the arts and has been nominated for the Bronfman Award. Farrero has participated in international residencies and his work has been exhibited nationally and abroad including France, China, Chile, Mexico, Japan, and USA.
- Patrick Close (edited excerpt)
Betsy Rosenwald and Donna Rose
Journal of the Plague Years
June 22 – August 19, 2023
Opening Reception: June 22, 7pm
Journal of the Plague Year(s) is a series of collaborative installations and paintings on post-consumer cardboard begun in response to the pandemic and toxic politics of 2020. The project’s title pays homage to Daniel Defoe’s 1722 book, A Journal of the Plague Year, billed as “observations or memorials of the most remarkable occurrences [...] in London during the last Great Visitation in 1665 [the Great Plague].”1 It is especially appropriate, as the project begins with our own observations and memories during a most remarkable year—the year the entire world shut down.
- excerpt from Betsy Rosenwald's and Dawna Rose's catalogue, Journal of the Plague Year(s) (2020-2023)
About the Artists
Dawna Rose lives and works in Saskatoon, SK. She uses a wide variety of media and materials in her artwork and is currently concentrating on painting in oils and gouache. Dawna completed an MFA at the University of Saskatchewan.
Betsy Rosenwald lives and works in Saskatoon, SK. Her paintings incorporate a variety of media, including wax, oil, drawing media, and photography. They have been included in exhibitions across Canada and the US, as well as internationally in Japan, England, Italy, and Switzerland.
1 Daniel Defoe, A Journal of the Plague Year (London: E. Nutt, J. Roberts, A. Dodd, and J. Graves, 1722), title page.