The Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford opened its doors earlier tonight during a free public reception with the works of bill bissett, Simone Jones, Fraser Valley chapter of Canadian Federation of Artists and The Leonard Frank Studio.
“ ‘Textual vishyuns: image and text in the work of bill bissett is not only a coup for Abbotsford but for all of Canada, because it is only the second major exhibition of bissett’s work and the first major retrospective of his work,” says Dr. Carl Peters, guest curator of this exhibition and author of the first scholarly study of bill bissett.
Based on Carl Peters’ book textual vishyuns: image and text in the work of bill bissett, the exhibition will comprise bissett’s total art: assemblages, collages, paintings, drawings and the book lunaria.
bill bissett is a unique figure in the history of Canadian literature and art, and a humanist, a political thinker, a social activist and a painter. He is the author of over 80 books of poetry and the founder of blewointment press, which published the early work of many experimental poets, including Milton Acorn, Margaret Atwood, D. A. Levy and bpNichol.
Other exhibitions opening on April 17 and showing until June 29 include: All That is Solid by Simone Jones, 32-foot long animated projection onto four screens; selections from the Fraser Valley Chapter of Canadian Federation of Artists; and History Through the Lens: The Leonard Frank Studio, which explores Abbotsford’s industrial beginnings.
Free readings, dialogues and films in conjunction with textual vishyuns at The Reach:
Saturday, April 19, 1 p.m. – bill bissett reading
Thursdays, May 22 and June 5, 7 p.m. – Poetry and Cinema – screening and lecture with Dr. Carl Peters
Thursday, May 29, 6:30 p.m. – George Bowering reading
Saturday, June 21, 1 p.m. – Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Painting with curator Dr. Carl Peters
Saturday, June 28, 1 p.m. – Adeena Karasick reading