Exhibition

‘Development and Desire’ an installation by
MICHAEL BANWELL
January 15 to February 12, 1994 Opening Saturday, 2 to 6pm Artist Talk: January 29, 2pm
Michael Banwell is building an administrative office within the Or Gallery. Banwell’s constructed space includes fabricated oak panel walls, an administrator’s chair and desk, a hand-made row boat, two windows with a view and brass coloured letters which read ‘Development and Desire’. Is this the office of a government agency, a forest company or an environmental organization?

Banwell carefully chose the words ‘development’ and ‘desire’ to accurately reflect two views of the way many Canadians value nature. There is the view that the value of nature is in its ‘development’ for industrial production and profit and the view that nature, due to our ‘desire’ for untouched landscape, can be ‘developed’ for its recreational and wilderness values. The ‘Words ‘development’ and ‘desire’ not only identify opposing positions but are also interchangeable. There exists the patriarchal ‘desire’ for dominion over nature. Also, increasingly there are shifts away from industrial models towards the ‘development’ of sustainable resource models.

Michael Banwell is a professional artist and art school instructor. He has been a community activist for some years, often making art projects that deal with neighbourhood issues. His current work investigates those areas where social constructs and culture intersect. The artist’s publication, which is free to visitors, has been created as a component of this installation.
Banwell will be giving an artist talk at the gallery on Saturday, January 29 at 2pm.