Rita McKeough - Artist Talk & Exhibition

Rita McKeough • 2024 Queen’s University VPR Artist-in-Residence

Artist Talk & Exhibition • Nov 13 2024 • Isabel Bader Centre, Kingston

Free and Public Events! Further information below.

Acclaimed artist Rita McKeough will present an artist talk and exhibition as 2024 Queen’s University Vice-Principal Research Artist-in-Residence. Since the 1970s, Rita has worked from feminist, queer, and ecological concerns in artworks that incorporate audio, performance, electronics, and kinetic objects.

🦊 Artist Talk • Nov 13, 5 pm • Isabel Bader Room 222

Rita will give an artist talk, reflecting on her extensive career spanning more than five decades as an artist, performer, and educator. Her art is distinguished by its political engagement, collaborative approach, and interdisciplinary focus, addressing issues such as violence against women, human-animal-plant relations, and ecological collapse.

Exhibition • Wave over Wave • Nov 7–14 • 10–16:00 • Art + Media Lab • Closing reception Nov 13, 6:30pm

As part of her VPR Residency, Rita showcases the restored version of her 2000 artwork, Wave over Wave. The installation consists of two dozen motorized drumsticks that play a rhythmic accompaniment to a video projection and audio recordings of three vocalists. This work was originally developed for a specific site on the harbour in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The artwork explores themes of grief and loss within social histories of coastal communities, serving as a memorial to those who have lost their lives working on the ocean and migrating by sea.

This exhibition is the result of conservation efforts supported by the Vulnerable Media Lab, with technical development and production by Peter Flemming. It is made possible through the Postdoc Initiative Fund and the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.

A closing reception will be held on the evening of November 13, following Rita’s artist talk.

The exhibition is open Nov 11–14, and by appointment Nov 7–11.

 Partners: @vulnerablemedialab @aeartcentre @queens_film @queensu_arthistory @queensuisabel @queensuniversity @quartsci @queensevents

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