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A Putting Down of Roots: 40 Years of CV2

September 17 – November 14, 2015

Exhibit opening reception at Gallery 1C03:
September 17, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.


Panel discussion in Room 2M70, The University of Winnipeg with Kegan McFadden, Hock E Aye VI Edgar Heap of Birds, Divya Mehra, and Erdem Taşdelen:
September 18, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Poetry readings in Gallery 1C03:
September 25, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. with Garry Thomas Morse & Lori Cayer (co-presented with Thin Air)
October 7, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. with Katherena Vermette & Rosanna Deerchild
October 21, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. with Hannah Green & Sharanpal Ruprai

Curator's tour in Gallery 1C03:
November 4, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. with Kegan McFadden

CV2 40th anniversary issue launch & poetry readings at McNally Robinson:
November 12, 7:00 p.m. with readings by Jonathan Ball, Michelle Elrick, Ray Hsu, Jennifer Still, and Chimwemwe Undi

Symposium in Room 2M70, The University of Winnipeg:
November 13, 2:30 – 5:15 p.m.
With Jonathan Ball, Dennis Cooley, Michelle Elrick, Clarise Foster, Ray Hsu, Maurice Mierau, Jennifer Still, Katherena Vermette


Conceived of by University of Winnipeg alumnus Kegan McFadden for Gallery 1C03 and CV2, A Putting Down of Roots will question mainstream notions of anniversaries, longevity in the arts, and cultural institutions in general through the embroilment of visual art that begs the question of ‘what does this have to do with a 40th anniversary?’ Indeed, McFadden’s tendency is not to illustrate but to complicate the (celebratory) narrative.

Working in partnership with Contemporary Verse2: The Canadian Journal of Poetry and Critical Writing, Gallery 1C03 will stage a multi-pronged project that includes an exhibition of contemporary visual art mingled with archival material related to the publication of poetry in Canada over the last forty years; a series of public readings connecting the past and present activity; discursive public presentations such as panel discussions; and a special publication of the journal in commemoration of CV2’s fortieth anniversary.

“A Putting Down of Roots” was the title of the first editorial authored by the late Dorothy Livesay for CV2 in 1975 and has been adopted as the title for this anniversary project. This exhibition comprises a selection of text-based works that, at their heart, grapple with the understanding of time in its multiplicity. Within the backdrop of CV2’s 40th anniversary, this grouping of artwork purposely overstates the literary affect used by contemporary artists. From the use of actual text and words to literary allusion, these works problematize issues related to larger understandings of how time passes, the placement of the artist in culture, and the relevance to celebratory misreading in particular. Intergenerational and cross-cultural, the artists included in this exhibition represent various starting points to the same end – that of literature and the use of text. Whether through reveries, reference, or repetition, these works are brought together to state an openness to the text. Each of the works are purposely selected to play double-duty in terms of incorporating language, but also some literary reference or underscoring of the history of publishing from the personal to the mechanical.

Gallery 1C03 wishes to acknowledge financial assistance for this programming from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Winnipeg Arts Council.

Gallery 1C03 hours: Monday - Friday: 12:00 - 4:00 p.m., Saturday: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Remembrance Day.

Admission is always free and everyone is welcome. Wheelchair accessible.

For more information contact:
Jennifer Gibson, Director/Curator, Gallery 1C03
1st floor, Centennial Hall, The University of Winnipeg
515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg MB R3B 2E9
204.786.9253 | j.gibson@uwinnipeg.ca