New Gallery
A question that staff and volunteers at
The New
Gallery, sometimes referred to as TNG, must sometimes hear people ask is
why it is called new' when it has been an active part of Calgary's, and
in fact Alberta's, arts scene for decades. It is actually one of the first
and oldest artist-run centres in Canada.
Founded in 1975, TNG was originally called the Clouds
and Water Gallery and Visual Production Society. A mouth-full of a name,
it evokes chuckles and references to die-hard hippie culture from current
staff.
The organization when through several name changes
prompted by various location changes. When it moved to downtown Calgary,
just off Centre Street, it became the OFF CENTRE CENTRE. Eventually moving
back to the original Clouds and Water Space, it became The New Gallery.
As the inaugural names states, the society functions as
more than a tangible space for showing art. TNG functions as a hotbed for
burgeoning activities such as Artist Trading Card sessions, and the
biennial citywide performance art festival Mountain Standard Time.
For a long time now, it has provided a place were time
based and/or performance art can be played around with and shared. TNG has
supported the development of such currently well-known entities as EMMedia
film and video centre, and the independent broadcaster RADIO/RADIO. Other
credits to TNG include fostering the growth of the One Yellow Rabbit
theatre company and the Association of National Non-Profit Artists's Centres.
In terms of juried exhibitions in its gallery space,
TNG primarily shows installations and time-based work. Other activities
for the organization include The New Gallery Press, which focuses on
publishing arts catalogues.
A pivotal contributor to more avante garde work, TNG
continues to maintain its established role as an innovator of artist-run
centre possibilities and roles in Alberta.
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