A Terrible Beauty: The Seductive Lens of Edward Burtynsky

A Terrible Beauty: The Seductive Lens of Edward Burtynsky
and
Introducing FLOW a New Music Series

The UNB Art Centre invites you to immerse yourself in the large format photographs of celebrated Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky in the exhibition A Terrible Beauty: The Seductive Lens of Edward Burtynsky on view from March 2- April 6, 2018. The exhibit features 25 of the photographer’s digital chromogenic prints as well as a portfolio of smaller prints entitled Pentimento. These works produced between 1985 and 2016, include pieces from each of the artist’s major series. The University of New Brunswick gratefully acknowledges this gift to the UNB Permanent Collection by the artist.

Before satellite imagery and drones were commonplace, Edward Burtynsky’s aerial photography gave us a perspective on our world from above. Since his earliest days, he has pushed the limits of new technology and with his camera takes us to the most inaccessible locations and shows them to us with HD clarity. Shooting from 800 feet above the earth with a 60-megapixel camera, he chooses a viewpoint that reduces minutiae, flattens objects and focuses on composition, broader patterns and overarching themes of our man-made world.

Edward Burtynsky began showing us these images, at a time when we, as Canadians were still naive and in denial about climate change. He has shown us the indelible mark of tailing ponds, tar sands and urban sprawl—the effects of our insatiable need for more.

Exploiting the seductive techniques of saturated colour and large scale, used in commercial photography, he coaxes us with an industrial aesthetic and reveals the beauty inherent in our destruction of our planet.

This exhibition will open March 2 from 5-7 pm, along with a new music series called FLOW that will accompany UNB Art Centre openings. Exhibition openings provide a gathering place for people who are curious about art and ideas and who love to experience art in its many forms. This series features local musicians and brings together art and music in a unique and experimental way. FLOW is an opportunity for musicians to use the exhibits as a touchpoint for their own performances, creating mood and timbre.

The first musician profiled is cellist Danielle Bojczuk. Originally from British Columbia, she studied at the Langley Community Music School, Central Valley Academy and the Music Languages Institute. She has performed with the Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra, Mozart Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kelowna Pops Orchestra and Blind Faith Productions. I addition she was music director for the Mozart Ensemble, and the Choir Director of St. Joseph’s Parish in Mission, B.C. Now living in Fredericton, she is currently a member of the Fredericton Chamber Orchestra, and performs regularly with Theatre New Brunswick, and at the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival. She also teaches piano and strings at Long and McQuade and at UNB’s Summer Music Camp.

For Danielle, the cello presents the perfect combination of discipline, mechanics and technique with playfulness, imagination and dreams. Danielle believes music is a shared experience; “In this sound I hear echoed what I have poured into it: rage, sorrow, grief, wonder and awe, longing and hope. What was once loneliness becomes unity as we share in this mysterious musical language—ancient, timeless, eternal and fleeting.”

FLOW brings together two creative disciplines in a complementary pairing, providing an opportunity to showcase new musical artists, while exhibiting visual artists. The UNB Art Centre engages in projects like these to bring greater awareness of artists to the community and to foster an appreciation for their creative work.

The UNB Art Centre is located at Memorial Hall, 9 Bailey Drive, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton. The galleries are open 9 am – 4 pm weekdays and for special events. Admission is free to members of the public. Everyone welcome!