The Government of Yukon is proud to announce the opening of Abundance, the new art exhibition featuring the 14 most recent works added to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection. The exhibition is now open to the public in the Yukon Energy Community Gallery at the Yukon Arts Centre.
Abundance features a wide range of media, including beadwork, painting, sculpture, textile and traditional hunting tools. These are the works of Yukon artists Kaylyn Baker, Elizabeth Blair, Alice Buyck, Eldria Christiansen, Ava P Christl, Ernest Chua, Heather Dickson, Koshon Fred Edzerza, Anick Fernandez, Dorothy Profeit, Phoebe Gonzales Rohrbacher, Leslie Leong, Ed Smarch, Jean Taylor and Shadunjen van Kampen.
Abundance is being co-exhibited with Kwändü Nùchù N-Zhà (Early September Stories), the 20th anniversary retrospective for the Northern Cultural Expressions Society. The public is welcome to attend the opening reception for both exhibitions on September 12 at 5 pm at the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse.
The exhibitions will be on display until November 15, 2024. Yukoners and visitors are encouraged to see the latest additions to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection, which reflect the territory’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant creativity. Works from the exhibition can also be viewed online at foypac.ca.
The Government of Yukon congratulates all these talented artists. Their unique perspectives and styles further enrich our growing Yukon collection, showcasing the incredible artistic talent thriving in our territory. Thank you to the Friends of the Yukon Permanent Art Collection for all their work in making this exhibition possible. I encourage all Yukoners and visitors to come explore the Yukon Arts Centre and enjoy the outstanding talent our territory has to offer.
Minister of Tourism and Culture John Streicker
Friends of the Yukon Permanent Art Collection thanks the Yukon government for the increase to our acquisitions budget this year, Yukoners for entrusting us with the special task of selecting artwork for the collection and the artists who are integral to this process and the vibrancy of our communities. Pride is abundant in these pieces and showcased in them are intricate knowledges passed down and across generations, uniquely captured via artistry and a deep care for place, tradition and kin – both human and non-human. We hope you join us to discover and celebrate these new acquisitions and their creators.
Friends of the Yukon Permanent Art Collection President Geneviève Gagnon
This year’s call for submissions to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection was welcomed by me, as it was an opportunity to create a partner piece to Working With Grandmothers. For many years I was drawn to creating something that would balance the feminine and cross-generational theme of Working With Grandmothers and Learning From Grandfather is the resulting creation. I am very delighted that it was selected to join the permanent collection and hope that it will be enjoyed for years to come.
Artist Jean Taylor
The Government of Yukon announced in October 2023 that the budget for the annual Call for Submissions to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection had been permanently doubled from $30,000 to $60,000. This increase in funding supports the goals and actions of Creative Potential: Advancing the Yukon’s Creative and Cultural Industries, the Government of Yukon's 10-year strategy to support the growth and development of the creative and cultural industries in the Yukon.
There are currently nearly 550 works by over 290 artists in the Yukon Permanent Art Collection. Works from the collection are displayed in public areas of over 30 government buildings throughout the Yukon, as well as special curated exhibitions and loans to other institutions.
Each year, the Government of Yukon acquires new art for the Yukon Permanent Art Collection through a Call for Submissions open to Yukon, Canadian and international artists working in a wide variety of disciplines and at varying career stages. Artwork submissions should reflect high quality works with relevance to Yukon or the North and are required to be suitable for display in public buildings.
Acquisitions are selected by the Friends of Yukon Permanent Art Collection (FOYPAC) through an arm's-length adjudication process. FOYPAC is a non-profit society made up of artists, art professionals and community members dedicated to the continued growth of the collection. This year’s selections were made from 183 works submitted by 86 artists.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
[email protected]
Cameron Webber
Communications, Tourism and Culture
867-332-0400
[email protected]