11 Artists for 11/11

Art Exhibition at Canada Place Commemorates Canadian Forces and Remembers Soldiers Lost in War

For the last year Canada Place has been showing off more than beautiful Canadian landscapes and cultural trivia on Canada's Storyboard (our huge HD LED screen). With Digital Canvas a series of visual are exhibitions, Canada Place is recognizing Canada's wealth of visual art and bringing the work of talented Canadian artists to our local and international visitors at Canada Place.

This summer Canada Place curated and presented CanadaGram: Canadian Images through the lens of Canadians on Instagram. This exhibition can also be seen here.The third instalment in the series was inspired by Remembrance Day observances planned for Canada Place on November 11th and the exhibition pays homage to the sacrifices of serving and retired members of the Canadian Forces and honours their contributions to missions at home and abroad.

On display for the public from Nov 1 to Nov 30, “11 Artists for 11/11” features artwork by artists from the Canadian Forces Artists Program that have documented Canadian Forces in theatre.

"We appreciate all that the Canadian Forces have done and continue to do. We know that our fellow Canadians are also grateful. We always try to do something extra around Remembrance Day and a Canadian Forces Artist Program inspired Digital Canvas exhibition was a perfect way to commemorate their contribution while sharing some Inspirationally Canadian artwork."

Since the First World War, Canada's war art programs have allowed hundreds of Canadian artists the opportunity to record Canada's presence in theatres of operation around the world. CFAP continues this important tradition by providing artists from across our nation the opportunity to capture the daily operations and personnel of the Canadian Forces in locations as far as Afghanistan to Europe, and as near as bases across Canada, including the high arctic.  CFAP welcomes painters, sculptors and photographers as well as other professional artists such as musicians, actors and writers. More information about the CFAP can be found at forces.canadaplace.ca.

“What makes these works so unique and important to Canadian military history is that they depict images from the front lines as seen through the eyes of each individual artist,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence.  “These raw and stunning renditions bring home to Canadians the spirit of our soldiers, sailors and airmen and airwomen and the sacrifices they make every day.  These artworks provide Canadians with a truly special record of remembrance ― lest we forget.”

John Horton is a professional maritime military artists and a retired member of the Canadian Forces who participated in the Canadian Forces Artists Program. His work is featured in the exhibition. "It was a privilege to participate in CFAP and see the professionalism and dedication of Canadian servicemen and servicewomen. Today's Canadian military personnel and military artists are all walking in the shadows of those who went before them, brave men and women who protected our country and the artists that entered the line of fire to document war including artists from Canada’s famed Group of Seven." 

The artists featured in 11 Artists for 11/11 are:

11 artists for 11/11 will be in rotation on Canada’s Storyboard at Canada Place in Vancouver, BC daily from 5 am to 12 pm from November 1^st to November 30^th 2012. Those who can’t make it to Canada Place can see documentation of the exhibition at: www.canadaplace.ca.