MADNESS by John Wasonga, Muthomi Ngeranwa & Caroline Ngorobi (Image: Submitted by artists)
The seventh annual THIRD SHIFT art festival, hosted by Third Space Gallery is inviting people to encounter and interact with art.
The festival is a free, four-day public festival of contemporary artwork where attendees can check out over 20 temporary public art installations scattered throughout uptown Saint John, along with artists talks and a mix of in-person and virtual art presentations.
Third Space Gallery Executive Director, Katie Buckley, who started her position just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, says she viewed her start with the festival to be a blessing in disguise.
“It was challenging, but I feel like it wasn’t as challenging as people might expect,” said Buckley. “It allowed me a bit more flexibility than if I’d done it in previous years to change everything.”
ART SHIFT artist-in-residence Indigo Komiwonuhke Poirier (Image: : Seamus Tobias Hayes Photography)
The festival’s theme of traverse was born from the artwork of THIRD SHIFT artist-in-residence Indigo Komiwonuhke Poirier, whose installation focuses on turning visuals into sounds and generating music from photos.
“It’s really relevant for our current times with our lack of being able to traverse from place to place, but we were also looking for a theme that was broad enough that artists who are applying could see their work in it, but specific enough that it could really hold everything together,” she said.
ART SHIFT has expanded its scope to embrace online art and welcomes artists who work in intangible art mediums, such as digital and animation, who would not have been eligible to in included in part festivals.
Lacey Decker Hawthorne sewing for “a labour of stitches” (Image: Submitted by artist)
“We’re trying to create a hybrid between the online experience and the physical experience,” said Buckley, adding one of their artists is from Kenya and will be giving a talk on their work via Zoom. “That’s very exciting because in past years we wouldn’t have even thought to do a video conference.”
Buckley wants people to be curious and excited about the art installations and hopes they will be encouraged to think about art and life differently.
“I hope that it makes people look at a park differently, a tree differently, a streetscape differently, because that’s what it’s all about – it’s all about helping people reimagine urban space and what it could be,” she said. “Art brings people together and it has been difficult for people to physically come together over art, I know that’s something that people are missing,”
The festival runs from August 19-22.
Those interested in learning more about ART SHIFT, its artists and schedule can check out its Facebook page and website.
