Léopold L. Foulem
Récupération
January 19 – May 3, 2009

Function? Phooey! Foulem’s irreverent, conceptual ceramics delight your eye and challenge your mind.

Campy playfulness meets historic traditions in this overview of recent works by celebrated contemporary ceramist, Léopold L. Foulem. The exhibition features six series of works from the past decade, gorgeous non-functional “representations” of original Chinese, European and pre-Columbian ceramics, among others. Foulem combines decals and cheap found materials with a virtuoso technique, bridging the space between popular culture and high art in a single dazzling leap.

Léopold L. Foulem received the Jean A. Chalmers National Crafts Award in 1999 and was the first Atlantic recipient of the Saidye Bronfman Award, in 2001. In 2003, he received the prestigious Acadian cultural award, the prix Éloizes. Among the first Canadian ceramists to have his work collected by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England, and at the Gardiner Museum. He divides his time between his hometown of Caraquet on New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula, a teaching practice in Montréal and a busy international exhibition schedule.

Teaching for many years in Montréal, at the CÉGEP du Vieux-Montréal and the CÉGEP de Saint-Laurent, Foulem single-handedly founded a distinct Canadian “school” of contemporary ceramics, often exploring themes of gay sexuality and identity. His mentorship, of the late Jeannot Blackburn, of Paul Mathieu (a Professor of ceramics at Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design in Vancouver, himself a recipient of the 2000 Chalmers Award) and of Montréal artist Richard Milette, has created a legacy beyond his own substantial body of work.

This exhibition is circulated by Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery, curated by Robin Metcalfe, and supported by a generous grant from the Culture Division, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage, and with funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Please note the commercial exhibition of Léopold L. Foulem’s work at the David Kaye Gallery (1092 Queen Street West, entrance on Dovercourt) entitled “Bouquets: recent sculpture”, from January 22 to February 22, 2009. For more information, visit www.davidkayegallery.com

Exhibition-Related Events

SPEAKING OF CERAMIC ART
Léopold L. Foulem and Robin Metcalfe in conversation
Sun January 25 at 4 pm
$8 for public / Free for members

Award-winning artist Léopold L. Foulem and exhibition curator and author Robin Metcalfe talk about the ideas explored in Récupération. $8/Gardiner Members free.

Program generously supported by Raphael Yu.