Art Gallery of Alberta welcomes 3 new Adjunct Curators

(Edmonton, AB) – The Art Gallery of Alberta is thrilled to announce the appointment of three Adjunct Curators: Franchesca Hebert-Spence, Adjunct Curator, Indigenous Art; Jessie Ray Short, Adjunct Curator, Indigenous Art and Amery Calvelli, Adjunct Curator, Poole Centre of Design.

The AGA has a long and ongoing commitment to supporting and presenting the the work of Indigenous artists through its exhibitions, collections and public programming. To further these endeavors and build relationships with Indigenous artists, curators and communities across the country, we have appointed 2 Adjunct Curators of Indigenous Arts: Franchesca Hebert-Spence and Jessie Ray Short who will work with the AGA team to develop exhibitions, public programs and guide collection acquisitions.
 
Franchesca Hebert-Spence is a MFA candidate at the University of Winnipeg, in the Masters of Arts in Cultural Studies stream with a BFA in ceramics from Ishkabatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg, Brandon University Visual and Aboriginal Arts program. Hebert-Spence’s grandmother was from Sagkeeng First Nation, Manitoba and her research focuses on identity both as an indigenous woman as well as a feminist. Hebert-Spence began her art journey as a maker which has created an empathetic lens within her curatorial praxis. Kinship is a common theme within her projects and those responsibilities direct the engagement she maintains within her community. Hebert-Spence is currently Programme Coordinator at Manitoba Craft Council.
 
Jessie Ray Short is an artist, filmmaker and independent curator whose cross disciplinary practice involves memory, visual culture and Métis history. In the past 10 years she has exhibited work nationally and internationally. As a curator she has had the opportunity to work on various projects most notably Jade Carpenter: Mourn at City of Calgary Open Spaces Gallery and Mixed Berries: Amanda Strong and Bracken Hanuse Corlett at Gallery 2, Grand Forks, BC, as well as being a co-curator of Li Salay, currently on exhibit at the AGA. She has worked for the Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective and currently works as a program coordinator for TRUCK Contemporary Art in Calgary. Short holds an MA from Brock University with a focus on contemporary Métis visual culture.
 
Poole Centre of Design
 
The Poole Centre of Design at the AGA was established in 2015 to generate new ideas and discussion about contemporary issues in design. Poole Centre of Design exhibitions and programs encourage visitors to examine the daily design decisions–both large and small—that are made by and impact everyone. As the new Adjunct Curator of the Poole Centre of Design, Amery Calvelli will work with the AGA team to provide opportunities for people of all ages to explore design ideas.
 
Amery Calvelli works to advance the public connection with architecture and design. She is a co-founder and Executive Director of the non-profit Design Talks Institute in Calgary (dtalks.org); co-editor of the online design publication FOLD (thisisthefold.org); and teaches Design History at the University of Calgary’s Continuing Education Program. She hosted the CJSW radio program “Space and Place” for four years and has served on the Boards of the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art and the SFMOMA’s Contemporary Extension as well as has worked for designers such as Comme des Garçons, Giorgio Armani and Agnès b.

About the Art Gallery of Alberta

The Art Gallery of Alberta is  centre of excellence for the visual arts in Western Canada, connecting people, art and ideas. The AGA is focused on the development and presentation of original exhibitions of contemporary and historical art from Alberta, Canada and around the world. The AGA also offers a full-range of contemporary and historical art from Alberta, Canada and around the world. Founded in 1924, the AGA maintains a collection of over 6,000 objects and is the oldest cultural institution in Alberta and the only museum in the province solely dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of art and visual culture. www.youraga.ca

1 Comment on "Art Gallery of Alberta welcomes 3 new Adjunct Curators"

  1. I have acquired an interesting piece of what we believe might be walrus tusk art what I think and I’d like to know what the significance is and what the value is can I send you a picture of it?

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