Halifax - Megan Leslie has found a use for 10-per-centers that only a philistine could begrudge.
The Halifax NDP MP took advantage of the oft-slammed political perk – which has been used elsewhere to argue the Liberals don’t support Israel and accuse the Bloc of coddling pedophiles – to spread the word about an exhibit by local artists at her constituency office. The show runs for two months, with an official opening last weekend that drew 80 people and resulted in one-quarter of the pieces selling the same day.
“I had this idea when I got elected about what it meant to be an MP … how I could use my resources as a tool for community development,” Ms. Leslie said this week. “It does so much to highlight artists and does a lot to get people in the door of their MP’s office.”
Ms. Leslie said the costs to the taxpayer have been minimal: a hammer, some nails, a level and cheese and crackers for the opening at her North End office. She kicked in a few bottles of plonk.
The idea, which Ms. Leslie hopes will lead to four shows annually, is to showcase a diversity of media, artistic ability and culture within the riding. Within that broad mandate, she opted to hand off the difficult decisions on which art to display, avoiding the possibility of a divisive Judgement of Paris-type situation by using a volunteer curatorial committee
'Paradise Point,' a painting by Joseph MacDonald, is displayed with the work of other local artists at NDP MP Megan Leslie's Halifax constituency office on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009.
Within obvious constraints - it’s a working office so there cannot be sculptures or other installations - 20 artists from the local Veith Street Gallery were chosen to display one piece each. The works were drawn from a group called Creative Spirit East, a collective of people with disabilities. The artists get three-quarters of the price for their work, with the remainder going to cover costs at the not-for-profit gallery.
“We thought it’d be a great opportunity for the members … to show their art to a broader audience,” gallery curator Mike McCarty said. “There is kind of a disconnect between the public and art galleries, many people are a little anxious. And yet the artwork that’s made by the members is very direct work and I think it can speak to the general public.”
This is the second show at Ms. Leslie’s office. An earlier exhibition, a solo showing by Paul Maher, was featured on the local Go North and Nocturne studio tours. The current show is expected to be followed by a solo photography exhibition.
(Photos: Sandor Fizli for The Globe and Mail)
