Vera Frenkel

Cartographie d'une pratique / Mapping a Practice

Foreword

SBC Gallery of Contemporary Art is delighted to present the exhibition Vera Frenkel : cartographie d'une pratique / Vera Frenkel: Mapping a Practice. Vera Frenkel has enjoyed a longstanding and distinguished career in the visual arts and media. This unique exhibition brings together, for the very first time, three seminal new media works in conjunction with a selection of elements that include photos, designs, and sketches from the artist's personal collection and the Vera Frenkel fonds of the Queen's University Archives. The exhibition will treat visitors to a far-reaching look at the little-known side of the artist's creative process, which began in Montreal more than 40 years ago.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Sylvie Lacerte for curating this wonderful exhibition, which has come to the gallery through discussions with former director Jean Gagnon. In addition to being editor of the catalogue, Sylvie has written an essay informing and contextualizing her research and the artist's work. Sylvie Lacerte has been the driving force behind this project. Her long hours of research and dedication have brought us an inspiring exhibition long-awaited here in Montreal.

Many thanks go to Paul Banfield and Heather Home of Queen's University Archives for their collaboration in the project as well as their written contribution to the catalogue. I would also like to thank catalogue essayists Anne Bénichou and Stephen Schofield for their insightful contributions. My gratitude goes to Alain Depocas, Director of the Centre for Research and Documentation (CR+D) of the Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Science, and Technology, for providing us with space on the Foundation's Web site dedicated to the exhibition, allowing for a more in-depth look at the show and Vera Frenkel's work. His essay brings an interesting look at the complexities of working with an artist's archival fonds.

Above all, my indebtedness goes to Vera Frenkel for sharing with us her remarkable and captivating work and catalogue essay as well as for her generosity in spirit throughout the preparations for this exhibition. I consider it both a privilege and honour to work with Vera, whose artistic voice and strong sense of social justice make her an inspiring artist.

To conclude, I would like to thank our funders the ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, and the Phyllis Lambert Foundation. This exhibition would not have been possible without their financial assistance.

Katia Meir, Director
SBC Gallery of Contemporary Art