June 2007
The Lois Diaries – Fragments of a life unknown
A new exhibit by Meaghan Haughian
June 1- July 1, 2007 / Vernissage June 1 / 7-10pm. Tunes by DJ Christopher Jabbour
Artist Statement: “My grandmother was a stranger; I hardly knew her. She had schizophrenia and existed in the margins of my life. I remember her seated against a wall or in a corner of the living room. As a child, I didn’t know how to approach her; I responded to her distance by withdrawing. Others seemed to respond in the same way, as though acknowledging her presence might somehow threaten their own wellbeing or sense of security. Ignorance can be easier, safer.
This series is not a biography. How could I tell the story of a woman whose experiences were largely undocumented? The Lois Diaries began as an attempt to connect, to capture and understand fragments of a woman’s life. It evolved into a recognition of a life that was more than just an illness.
I have used wallpaper remnants as the surface for my mixed-media drawings and collages. They create fractured narratives that inhabit the gallery walls in non-linear groupings, at times fitting together like puzzle pieces. They explore real and imagined spaces, memories and experiences with intimacy and honesty. This series reflects my ongoing interest in recording personal history and collective human experience”. Meaghan Haughian, 2007
The artist gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council.
Proudly sponsored by by CKCU 93.1 FM.
Thank you,
Guy Berube, director / La Petite Mort Gallery