CMA Outstanding Achievement
Exhibitions
This award recognizes temporary, permanent, or traveling exhibitions that effectively and distinctively contribute to increase public understanding.
Winners
Honourable mentions
Art Gallery of Alberta
Scents of Movement, Scents of Place
A scent can magically transport a person to a place in time and evoke sight, sound and memory. This exhibition did that to remarkable effect, with installations that considered the place of capitalism, for example, or a “phenomenological Indigenous worldview” through sacred medicines — cedar, tobacco, sweetgrass and sage. “Smell — among other intangible things — holds culture, place, and can create belonging,” Curator Lindsey Sharman says. “This exhibition proves there are many ways to know and many concrete and ephemeral ways to share and promote culture.”
Lindsey led a half-dozen artists and collaborators who packaged real and manufactured scents in various ways — a route by scent through a tourist experience to consider care, travel and leisure, or an obstructionist row of live cedar trees, with their natural fragrance and history of “making public lands unreachable.” Hand sanitizers were imbued with scents that reminded refugees of the homes they’ve lost.
“I am so thrilled to receive this award and am appreciative of the recognition! I hope that this will encourage more people to embrace the possibilities of scent and to explore art through smell. I am grateful to the artists in this exhibition and would like to thank them for trusting me and the AGA with their work.– Lindsey Sharman
Individuals affiliated to the project
Abbas Akhavan, Rolande Souliere, Millie Chen and Evelyn von Michalofski, Brian Goeltzenleuchter, Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik, and Sans façon.
Musée de la Gaspésie
Where Worlds Meet
À la confluence des mondes — Where Worlds Meet — Ta’n Ugs’tqamu’l Etlmawita’qal is the permanent exhibition inaugurated in 2022 at Musée de la Gaspésie. By delving into the very heart of Gaspé’s history, from 380 million years ago until contemporary society, the exhibition provides a global view of Gaspé’s history to a vast audience.
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Produced in close collaboration with MASSIVart, the firm that managed and provided the artistic direction for the project’s 2D — 3D design, the exhibition uses technology such as immersive environments, video mapping, and the projection of original animations. History buffs will also find more than 250 artifacts and archival documents. The purpose of this immersive exhibition is to offer visitors an atmospheric journey through the incredible history and maritime world of Gaspé.
“I went over the confirmation letter three times to make sure I had correctly read that the Musée de la Gaspésie was the recipient of the Award of Outstanding Achievement/Exhibitions,” Martin Roussy, Executive Director. “My first reaction was a burst of joy!” Vicky Boulay, Curator. Our entire team is proud to be honoured by the CMA, and we thank the jury for selecting “Where Worlds Meet.” This national award, for a regional museum, is a recognition that inspires us to pursue our mission with passion.
Honourable mentions
Canadian Museum of Nature and Avataq Cultural Institute
ᓄᓇᑦᑎᓂ ᑕᑯᒥᓇᕐᑐᖁᑎᕗᑦ / Our Land, Our Art / Notre territoire, notre art
Nunavik artists created installations inspired by the Avataq Cultural Institute’s collections, to illustrate the connection artists maintain with nature, territory and community. Accompanying texts were in English, French and Inuktitut, as were web pages. Drawings, beading, video, photography and throat singing told histories of family, tradition and nature. The collaboration offered another step towards reconciliation.
“We are thrilled and honoured to be the recipient of this award. Our Land, Our Art is the result of an enriching collaboration between our two institutions rooted in the creativity of the Nunavik artists who created these wonderful works of art that embody their deep connection with the land.”– Carole Lanthier, Project Manager/Senior content developer
Individuals affiliated to the project
Avataq Cultural Institute
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- Candide Harvey – Coordinator, Museum reserve and collections
- Andrée Anne Vien – Coordinator, Aumaaggiivik : Nunavik Arts Secretariat
- Isabelle Avingaq Choquette – Museum Technician
Canadian Museum of Nature
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- Caroline Lanthier – Project Manager
- Lindsay Sinopoli – Designer
- Luci Cipera – Conservator
Artists
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- Qumaq M. Iyaituk and Passa Mangiuk
- Lucasi Kiatainaq
- Taqralik Partridge
- Tupiq A.C.T
- Evie Mark and Akinisie Sivuarapik
Ontario Science Centre
Behind Racism: Challenging The Way We Think
This highly interactive traveling exhibition shows visitors how processes and systems can lead to dangerous biases against people different from us. Developed with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, the exhibition uses the lens of science to help us challenge prejudice and racism, work together and celebrate our differences
“When the Canadian Race Relations Foundation approached the Ontario Science Centre to work together on an exhibition exploring racism, we welcomed the opportunity. It is an acknowledgement of the critical role that science centres play in our community. As Behind Racism continues its national tour, we are proud it will encourage personal introspection, raise awareness about racial bias and spark conversations to recognize and challenge racism in our society. Thank you to the CMA for this honorary mention.“– Paul Kortenaar, CEO, Ontario Science Centre
Individuals affiliated to the project
- Ontario Science Centre
- Canadian Race Relations Foundation
Publicity
