The first book to look extensively at conceptualism in Canada, published to accompany a touring exhibition.

 

The most transformative art movement of the late 20th century, conceptual art became a global phenomenon long before it was popularized by a new generation of artists and institutions in the early 21st century.

 

Its various manifestations in Canada, however, have remained a limited concern -- a whispered art history circulated among artists and writers primarily in alternative publications and artist-run centres. Traffic: Conceptual Art in Canada 1965–1980 is the first publication and exhibition to track the complex, rigorous and diverse manifestations of conceptual art in the country. Presenting work by more than 90 artists in a beautifully produced package, Traffic examines the particular local and geographic needs and interests enacted by individual artists, collectives and art communities from across the country.

Grant Arnold is Audain Curator of British Columbia Art at the Vancouver Art Gallery, where over the past 20 years he has organized more than 35 exhibitions of historical, modern and contemporary art. He has also contributed essays and articles to exhibition catalogues, books and journals, recent examples being Ken Lum, Mark Lewis: Cold Morning, and Roy Arden: Against the Day. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Grant Arnold's profile page

Karen Henry is a freelance curator, writer, editor and art consultant. She was formerly Director of the Western Front and the Burnaby Art Gallery, and Adjunct Curator at Presentation House Gallery. She has published articles and contributed essays to catalogues including Acting the Part: Photography as Theatre, National Gallery of Canada and Stan Douglas: Abbott & Cordova, 7 August 1971, Ciel Variable No. 85.

Karen Henry's profile page

Vincent Bonin is an author and independent curator. From 2000 to 2007, he worked as an archivist at the Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Science, and Technology (Montreal). As a curator, he notably organized the three-part project (consisting of two exhibitions and one publication) entitled Documentary Protocols (1967-1975) at Concordia University’s Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery (2007-2008).

Vincent Bonin's profile page

Catherine Crowston is Deputy Director / Chief Curator of the Art Gallery of Alberta. In 2002 Crowston served as the Canadian Commissioner for the Sydney Biennale of Contemporary Art and was awarded the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Visual Arts.

Catharine Crowston's profile page

Jayne Wark received her Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Toronto in 1997 and also holds a BFA (Studio) from NSCAD. She has published numerous articles and exhibition catalogue essays on performance, video and conceptual art and is the author of Radical Gestures: Feminist Performance Art in North America

Jayne Wark's profile page

William Wood is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia.

William Wood's profile page