Human Ecology Gallery

PIONEER LADIES [of the evening]: A commemorative landscape for women on the margins in Western Canada, 1878-1916 September 13 to November 4, 2012 Dr. Laurie K. Bertram, Guest Curator and Grant Notley Memorial Postdoctoral Fellow Contact: lbertram@ualberta.ca Opening reception: 13 September 4-6 p.m. A new exhibition opening this month at the University of Albertas Human Ecology Gallery uses a blend of mug shots and textile artifacts to explore the contributions of women on the margins to Western Canadian history from 1878 to 1916. As part of a larger response to the deaths and disappearances of thousands of impoverished and criminalized women in Western Canada over the past 100 years, guest curator Dr. Laurie K. Bertram argues we inherit a vibrant and challenging heritage when women on the margins occupy the centre of our historical attention. Edmontons version of this conceptual exhibition features historic garments and quilts from the University of Albertas comprehensive collection to commemorate the lives of several women arrested for a variety of offenses in Western Canada, including making obscene images, assisting fugitives, and the keeping of a bawdy house (see Edna Floyd, 1904, Winnipeg Police Museum Archives). Also included in the exhibition is one of Edmontons earliest and most infamous madams, Big Nelly Webb, who was acquitted in the shooting of a Mountie in self-defense in 1888. Other mug shots reveal similarly fascinating historical chapters that challenge our perceptions of women and Canadian pioneer iconography. This exhibition is made possible by the Department of Human Ecologys Material Culture Institute with initial support from PLATFORM Gallery (Winnipeg) and Nnanow Iceland Canada Art Convergence *** The Human Ecology Gallery is located on the first floor (south entrance) of the Human Ecology building on the corner of 116 Street and 89 Avenue in Edmonton, Alberta. Access to the Gallery is free and open to the public: Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturdays: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sundays: 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m. Holidays: please call 780-492-3824 for this information as it varies For more information see http://www.hecol.museums.ualberta.ca
For general University of Alberta Museums information please contact: Museums and Collections Services Ring House 1 University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T: 780.492.5834 F: 780.492.6185 E: museums@ualberta.ca W: www.museums.ualberta.ca T6G 2E1