February 2 - May 26, 2012
Illingworth Kerr Gallery | ACAD
Opening Reception | February 2 2012 | 6:00 - 10:00 PM
The Candahar is a detailed recreation of a Belfast public house, named for a South Belfast Street. The installation is complete when staffed in collaboration with two Belfast bartenders Chris and Conor Roddy, who act as unscripted performers. The project fuses the authentic with fantasy, spectacle with stage, and at its heart acts as a catalyst for conversation, debate and dialogue – and a pint here and there.
Since its first presentation at the Alberta College of Art and Design in September 2006, The Candahar has been exhibited at the 2007 Biennale de Montréal, as well as exhibitions at PlugIn ICA, Winnipeg, and The Rooms, St. Johns. Its last installation was hosted by Presentation House Gallery as part of the Vancouver Winter Olympics Cultural Olympiad in 2010. The Candahar has also hosted performances, artworks, and interventions by Rebecca Belmore, the Rodney Graham Band, Stan Douglas, Kevin Schmidt, Jeremy Shaw, and Eli Boronowsky, among others.
Social interaction is at the heart of Sims’s The Candahar, a sculpture that invites our participation, and how we might consider the familiarity of a neighbourhood pub as a proposition for something more. Theo Sims has been an Artist in Residence at ACAD from early November 2011 rebuilding The Candahar in collaboration with the college’s faculty, students, and the local community.
During its four month exhibition at ACAD The Candahar will serve as a site for talks, performances, and events as part of the CreativeCommon initiated by ACAD faculty and guests. The Creative Common is a forum that brings together dynamic and creative individuals to discuss/debate issues informing perspectives on art & design practices. The Common is designed to extend opportunities for dialogue - toprovoke new understandings of the intersections of theory and practice, and to inform the processes of critique - in settings that support personal reflection and engagement.
Creative Common Series Events
The Candahar will be open during scheduled events as part of ACAD's Creative Common series.
Thursday February 2, 6-10pm
The Candahar Opening Reception with artist Theo Sims and Belfast bartendersChris & Conor Roddy
Friday February 3, 8:30-10:30pm
Exposure Festival and Photo Department "Art & Commerce Panel" After Party
Wednesday February 8, 6-8pm
J.R. Carpenter - In Conversation, Words and other assorted beverages, Hosted by Kurtis Lesick
Thursday February 9, Talk 7-8pm, Drinks 8-10pm
Keynote talk by Iceland's Best Party Manager Heida Helgadóttir in the Stanford Perrott Lecture Theatre
Friday February 10, Talk 7-8:30pm, Drinks 8:30-10:30pm
“Art & Activism Panel” in the Stanford Perrott Lecture Theatre moderated by Miereille Perron with panelists Heida Helgadóttir, Steve Loft, John Frosst, Shelley Ouellet, and Imre Szeman
Thursday February 16, Talk 7-8pm, Drinks 8-10pm
Art + Design Now Talk by Theo Sims
Friday February 17, 7-12pm
The Valentina Drag Ball, featuring Sleepy Panther, Clusterfox and the DJ stylings of J.Waddell
Friday March 2, 3:00-5:00pm
James Carl Artist Talk
Thursday March 8, 5:30-7:30pm
Fibre Department Panel Event
Thursday March 15, 5:00-7:00pm
All-Faculty Show Opening
Sunday March 25, 4:00-6:00pm
Reel Artists Film Festival Closing Reception
Image Credit: The Candahar (2006-2011), mixed media installation featuring Chris and Conor Roddy, variable dimensions. Photo: Guy L'Heureux.