OPEN SPACE-OPEN FRAME

Artist: Miles Hunter

Date: June 15 to July 7, 2007

Visual artist Miles Hunter engages the Canadian landscape tradition from diverse points of view. His painterly assemblage OPEN SPACE-OPEN FRAME was shaped by the history of landscape and by the changing elements of the architectural and urban environment. The installation had two parts, Subdivision and Truss, and “use[d] the organic and utilitarian aspects of timber as a catalyst and subject matter.” Hunter's project compressed construction, painting and site, and drew attention to an ever-changing urban landscape.

Hunter brought his work as a back framer in the construction industry to his art practice. Part of OPEN SPACE-OPEN FRAME referred to the timber framing materials used in construction. In another component of this work, Hunter reenacted industrial casting processes to re-create the unexpected surfaces revealed after plywood forms are removed from solidified concrete. Hunter's intervention animated the interior of Open Space and captured a sensibility shaped by a materials-based approach to painting through assemblage.

Miles Hunter studied at the Banff Centre, St Martin's and Wimbeldon Schools of Art and received his MFA in 1981 from the Chelsea School of Art, London, England. He has taught in post secondary art institutions in Canada and abroad. He has shown his work in many group exhibitions, however, primarily Miles Hunter has focused his career work and exhibitions through site specific and assemblage installation, both solo and collaborative.

Subdivision  (detail) - 48" x 36" x 4" oil paint on plywood

Adit - digital photo from laser photocopy from instamatic photo 

Burl - 36" x 48" x 4" pencil, charcoal, ink and coal pigment on paper under glass