Joni Mitchell and Impressionists attract Saskatchewan gallery-goers

by Joanne Skidmore
CBC Radio
January 3, 2001

REGINA - Blockbuster art exhibitions often draw large numbers of people. Some critics say the big shows are used only to boost attendance numbers and don't encourage visitors to look carefully at the art.

But in Saskatchewan, two public galleries say their blockbusters have caught the imagination of gallery-goers.

The Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon nearly doubled its attendance last summer with Voices: The Art of Joni Mitchell.

The internationally known singer and songwriter grew up Saskatoon. This was the first exhibition of her visual art in Canada.

Gilles Hebert is director of the Mendel. He says people were attracted to the show because Mitchell is a homegrown celebrity who writes, sings and paints:

"A lot of people came and said, 'At least now I understand how somebody who can write a song like Both Sides Now when she's 21 years old can continue also to be drawing.' They can see how these activities are linked."

The MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina is also finding that star power attracts. During November, attendance was up 80 per cent over a year ago.

Director Kate Davis says that's due to the current exhibition of Impressionist Masterworks from the National Gallery of Canada.

She adds that people's reaction to the show has caused her to lose all cynicism about the word "blockbuster":

"They're really engaging in conversation with the gallery facilitators about who these painters were, about what life was like then and about what relevance these paintings possibly have to current life and contemporary issues."

Both Davis and Hebert say their blockbuster shows in Saskatchewan have touched people.

The gallery directors are looking for new ways to continue making connections between their exhibitions and people in the community.