In June of 2022, I was given my first opportunity to curate an art show. It was volunteer work, but I was happy to do it, as it was for an anniversary of a store I worked at for around 3 years. I was paid in thanks and with a thoughtful Carole King record. Dessart Sweets is an ice cream and candy store located in Regina, Saskatchewan, and in 2022, it celebrated 20 years of being opened.
The owner of the store, Shelley, was telling me one day at work that she wanted to have an art show. The store originally began as an artistic candy store, and evolved to become what it is today. I offered my help, as I was graduating that same June with a degree in Cultures of Display from the University of Regina. From there, I wrote a call for submissions and entry form, as well as designed promotion for the Dessart Sweets Instagram account.
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| The first slide of the Instagram post calling for artworks. |
We chose 12 artworks from the submissions to be included in the show and Shelley found a venue. It was to take place at the Artesian on 13th Avenue during the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. We measured the space, planned the layout and I wrote the labels and my first official curatorial statement.The process was quick and fulfilling. It truly set my goal of being a profession curator in stone. I will always be grateful for this opportunity. See below for archival photos from the exhibit!
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Front of the brochures made for the show
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Back of the brochures.
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The curatorial statement.
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Installation view of pieces by Ryan Arnott. Chocolate Paintbrush No. 4, 2022, Golden Revel, 2022, and Chocolate Paintbrush No. 5, 2022.
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| Installation view of pieces by Ryan Arnott (see caption above), Sweeter by the Hour, Madison Pascal, 2011, and The Hungry Raccoon, Jo Michealis, 2022. |
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Installation view of The Hungry Raccoon, Jo Michealis, 2022, Mr. Sweets, Tara Apperly, 2022, Sugar Rush, Tara Apperly, 2022, Sweet Tooth, Tara Apperly, 2022, SWEET!, Shelly Nicolle-Phillips, 2022, Ice-Cream Food Baby, Lily Langen, 2022, Sweet on the Corner, Haley Klassen, 2022, Love is Sweet, Haley Klassen, 2022, and Pride is Sweet, Haley Klassen, 2022.
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| Installation view of Mr. Sweets, Tara Apperly, 2022, Sugar Rush, Tara Apperly, 2022, Sweet Tooth, Tara Apperly, 2022, SWEET!, Shelly Nicolle-Phillips, 2022, Ice-Cream Food Baby, Lily Langen, 2022, Sweet on the Corner, Haley Klassen, 2022, Love is Sweet, Haley Klassen, 2022, and Pride is Sweet, Haley Klassen, 2022. |
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Installation view of Sundae Shoppers, Les Sneesby, 2022.
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Installation view of Macarons, Natalie Mitchell, 2022, Lollipop, Natalie Mitchell, 2022, Time Capsule, Jamie Bates, 2021, Candy Hearts (1), Mackenzy Vida, 2021, One Cent Candy Dispenser, Les Sneesby, Candy Hearts (2), Mackenzy Vida, 2021, Dessart Sweets, Erickka Patmore, 2022, I Dream of Ice Cream (1), Jaedyn Whittal, 2022, I Dream of Ice Cream (2), Jaedyn Whittal, 2022.
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| Installation view of Macarons, Natalie Mitchell, 2022, Lollipop, Natalie Mitchell, 2022, Time Capsule, Jamie Bates, 2021, Candy Hearts (1), Mackenzy Vida, 2021, One Cent Candy Dispenser, Les Sneesby, Candy Hearts (2), Mackenzy Vida, 2021, Dessart Sweets, Erickka Patmore, 2022, I Dream of Ice Cream (1), Jaedyn Whittal, 2022, I Dream of Ice Cream (2), Jaedyn Whittal, 2022. |
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