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The Art Gallery of Alberta respectfully acknowledges that we are located in Treaty 6 Territory and Region 4 of the Metis Nation of Alberta. We respect this as the traditional and contemporary  land of diverse Indigenous Peoples including the Plains Cree, Woodland Cree, Beaver Cree, Nitsitapi/Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Anishinaabe/Saulteaux/Ojibwe and Dene Peoples. We also acknowledge the many Indigenous, Inuit and Métis people who make Alberta their home today.

Lindsey Sharman

Lindsey

 

Hi Lindsey, tell us a bit about what you do at the AGA! What are the roles and responsibilities of someone in your position? 

Hi, my name is Lindsey Sharman and I am the curator at the AGA. I make exhibitions at the gallery. This involves researching artists and their ideas. Sometimes I am researching concepts or themes that grab my attention, other times I am working closely with artists to bring their ideas to fruition. I work both with contemporary and historic artists so the process of creating an exhibition can look very different from one show to the next depending on what you’re focusing on. 

With over 6,000 objects to choose from, can you narrow down your favourite AGA collection piece? 

That is a tough one! There are so many interesting things in the collection but probably right now one of my favorite works is a relatively new acquisition by Marigold Santos. I absolutely love her work, it’s beautiful and deep and complex. The colour in this one is really special, all of the works in this series are inspired by time spent at Joshua Tree. This work is called Moonlight Desires, Secret Fires. Many of Santos works borrow their titles from song titles or lyrics. Whenever I think of this work, I always get the Gowan song, Moonlight Desires stuck in my head and whenever I hear that song I always think of Marigold. Hopefully whoever is reading this will now be humming that song too.  

Marigold Santos, “Moonlight Desires, Secret Fires”, 2018. Art Gallery of Alberta Collection, purchased with funds from the Cheryl M. Sutton Endowment Fund. 

What is your favourite past AGA exhibition that you've seen or been involved in? 

Last year I worked with Marigold Santos to show some of her recent works in Surface Tether. I just love being around Marigold’s work, her drawings and paintings are so beautiful, and it was through these works that I became introduced to folk lore from the Philippines. Much of Marigold’s work is related to the Asuang, a vampire or witch figure. This show was one of the first that I did at the AGA and I was so happy to have been able to work closely with this artist whose work I’ve admired for a really long time. Santos also really loves horror movies, as do I, so that was something really fun for me to look at when I was researching this exhibition.  

“Surface Tether”, Marigold Santos, 2019, installation view, Art Gallery of Alberta. 

How can people get involved in the Edmonton arts scene? 

Because of COVID so many things have closed either temporarily or permanently or are facing uncertainty but there seems to always be creative people trying new things. Mile Zero Dance has been doing programming that you can enjoy from the street in front of their building on 95 Street. Recently I’ve been following Lowlands Project Space who are showing Edmonton artists’ work out of their yard in the north east. I think projects like that are super interesting and important. You can check out what they are doing and learn how to safely visit them on Instagram @lowlands.projects  

Visitors can currently see the exhibition Curtis Talwst Santiago: Liming, which you curated for the RBC New Works Gallery. Can you tell us a bit more about the work/the artist and what you’re excited for people to see? 

Image (right): Luis Mora

I am really excited about this exhibition. Liming is an homage to Curtis Santiago’s family and his upbringing in Sherwood Park and its really about joy and connections with other people. The exhibition includes a dancefloor; I see this like a gift offered by the artist and although we can’t all dance together, of course, we can still find joy in maybe unexpected places.   

Thanks, Lindsey! 

Hours

Monday: closed
Tuesday: closed
Wednesday: 11am-5pm
Thursday: 11am-7pm
Friday: 11am-5pm
Saturday: 11am-5pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm

Admission

* Restrictions apply. Please see our Hours and Admissions page.

AGA members
$Free
Youth 0-17
$Free
Alberta students 18+
$Free
Out-of-province students
$10
General admission
$14
Seniors 65+
$10

Location

2 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5J 2C1

780.422.6223
info@youraga.ca

Directions

The Art Gallery of Alberta respectfully acknowledges that we are located in Treaty 6 Territory and Region 4 of the Metis Nation of Alberta. We respect this as the traditional and contemporary  land of diverse Indigenous Peoples including the Plains Cree, Woodland Cree, Beaver Cree, Nitsitapi/Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Anishinaabe/Saulteaux/Ojibwe and Dene Peoples. We also acknowledge the many Indigenous, Inuit and Métis people who make Alberta their home today.