Artist Talk with Ben Skinner

This Sunday, October 7 at 2:00 pm, the gallery will be hosting a discussion with artist Ben Skinner about his exhibition, SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE, on display at the gallery beginning October 5. The afternoon will also include a tour of Ben's installations.

Artist Ben Skinner

SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE, is an exhibition that occupies non-traditional spaces. Ben's playful installations run freely through the second floor of the new gallery, and some are easily viewed from street level.  The exhibition also includes public art pieces that circulate throughout the community on functional objects seen and used every day, including the "Ask Me About My First Time" coffee sleeves, and the "Hundreds and Thousands" sprinkle van, which can been seen on the streets of Lambton County.

Ben Skinner, Hundreds and Thousands van wrap. One of the transitory public art pieces in Ben's SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE exhibition.

By broadening the context and situations in which his art is encountered, Skinner invites the public to participate in the production of the work’s meanings—an activity that dynamically links the physically dispersed elements of his exhibition into a cohesive whole. 

In an interview with the Petrolia Topic, Ben comments "I often choose/write the phrases in my work so there are multiple interpretations or meanings depending of the viewer's background, or mind state. A work is successful if it gets an emotional reaction from people. It's not required to 'get it,' and I'm not out to shock people. I mostly just like to make people laugh or think about something they wouldn't have thought of, or see something in a new light."

So join us on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm, for Ben's talk. Admission is free and everyone is welcome! To register for the Artist Talk, click here. 

SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE, will be on view during our grand opening celebrations, taking place tomorrow, Friday, October 5 starting at 6:00 pm. 

The first 500 visitors to the gallery will receive a limited edition wristband designed by the artist.