Jen Allison | Contact Correspondent

In this instalment Contact Correspondent and Alumni Jen Allison takes in a public photo instillation:

Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art – “A Sign in the Northwest Passage” by Kevin Schmidt

Image by Jen Allison 

‘A Sign in the Northwest Passage’ is presented as a billboard on The Power Plant’s south façade. This sign documents the artist’s recent project in the Northwest Territories. As described in the Contact Festival guidebook:

“Aided by local guides and workers, the artist erected a large handcrafted cedar sign displaying an ominous text drawn from the Book of Revelations. Describing the decimation of the earth and humankind in vivid detail, it relays a warning that no one seems present to receive. This solitary sign–carrying an urgent message for the masses–references advertising culture and the city, yet is silenced by its surrounding barren landscape. Schmidt deliberately located this project on the ice above major oil reserves, where the potential for devastating exploitation is clearly implied. When the seasonal ice melted, this sign floated away to parts unknown, taking its cataclysmic message with it.”

Image by Jen Allison 

After I took my time to read the sign within the image and enjoy the immense print, I sat down and watched how people interacted with the image. It was interesting to see who actually stopped to read the sign. It seemed that those who walk the Harbourfront daily, during their lunch hour, noticed there was a change in the scenery, but didn’t stop to observe the installation. Although there was no indication that this installation was a part of the Contact Festival, it seemed that those who stopped to view the image, were either seeking out this image specifically or were visiting the harbourfront for the first time.

After a few minutes, I noticed a man on a platform drive over to the image. He proceeded to repair various areas on the installation where the paper and/or the plywood behind it were damaged.

Image by Jen Allison

 This installation existed behind groupings of small trees with the CN Tower hovering in the distance. This created an ironic backdrop for an apocalyptic message the artist created within the Canadian Arctic.

Presented in partnership with The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery

Curated By Gregory Burke & Jon Davies