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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - OCTOBER 2014
How will visitors be able to ex-
perience it?
Tautology will remain on perma-
nent public display at the MacLaren
Art Centre. The piece has a particular
resonance in Barrie: it draws a strong
parallel to Ron Baird’s Spirit Catch-
er (1986), a prominent landmark on
Barrie’s waterfront, which also depicts
a thunderbird, and is the first work
accessioned into the MacLaren’s col-
lection. Whereas Baird’s sculpture
is made of steel, Duane’s is neon—a
contemporary, commercial material.
The materiality of Duane’s piece re-
animates this traditional Aboriginal
icon and reinserts it into contemporary
discourse. I don’t doubt that Tautology
will be a great source for dialogue in
our community.
The prize presentation takes
place on the occasion of Barrie’s
Carnegie Days and Culture Days –
and the MacLaren Art Centre is at the
hub of the celebrations! What role
does the Centre play in Barrie? How
has the community embraced the
Centre?
The MacLaren is the regional
public gallery serving the residents of
Barrie and the surrounding communi-
ties. The building is an architectural
landmark in downtown Barrie that
combines a renovated 1917 Carnegie li-
brary with an award-winning contem-
porary addition by Siamak Hariri of
Hariri Pontarini Architects. It’s truly a
hub of creative activity for Barrie resi-
dents. In fact, each year close to 50,000
people (including 20,000 children and
youth) interact with us – whether
through programmes at the gallery, or
in the schools and community. We’re
committed to building a vibrant,
healthy and creative community for
Barrie, and we do so by working with
many local businesses and organiza-
tions.
This weekend we’re excited to be
a central spot for Carnegie Days and
Culture Days events. We’ve planned
a full slate of activities – at the gallery
and at other downtown venues – for
people of all ages, including special
exhibitions, performances, talks, read-
ings, film screenings and workshops.
About the Author: Renee van der Avoird
Renée van der Avoird is the Assistant Cura-
tor, Contemporary Visual Art/Registrar at the
MacLaren Art Centre. She holds a Masters in
Museum Studies from the University of Toronto
(2012).
Recent curatorial projects include Amy
Brener: Recliners at the MacLaren (2014), Sim-
ple Present, Future Anterior at Susan Hobbs
Gallery (2013) and Just As You Are: Portraits
by Robert Giard at the University of Toronto
Art Centre (2012). Renée is a member of the
Toronto-based collective Aisle 4, who co-curated
the 2014 Art of the Danforth festival. Originally
from Huttonville, Ontario, Renée is now based
in Barrie.
