Lisa Birke, Hy-pets: Man's Best Friend of the Future, 2003. Oil on canvas. Photo credit: David Wiebe.

Griffith Aaron Baker, Mike Yuhasz, Fern Helfand, Twyla Exner, Lisa Birke, Marianne Corless, Cara Sawka, Marc Siegner, Alison Petty and Ingrid Mary Percy

The Small City Art Museums collective (SCAM), put out a call for submissions of contemporary artwork from artists throughout western Canada. No particular theme was suggested because the curators wanted to investigate what artists are currently doing in their studios independent of influence from curators or collectors, or any imposed subject matter.

From over two hundred submissions, the six SCAM curators selected ten artists' work, which are all substantial, meaningful and compelling examples of what is happening in contemporary artwork in western Canada today.

The resulting exhibition presents unexpected, wonderful, diverse, and intriguing art forms addressing contemporary subjects of our culture. Three artists from Saskatchewan, two from Alberta, four from British Columbia, and one artist from Yukon are included in this show. This exhibition seems to demonstrate that contradictions of values, beliefs, and direction are challenges to contemporary culture. The contemporary artist serves as messengers expressing their concerns about what they observe in today?s world.

This is the final venue on its western Canadian tour. The show has traveled to each of the other SCAM member galleries including Art Gallery of Prince Albert, Estevan Museum & Art Gallery, Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery, Esplanade Art Gallery in Medicine Hat and Kelowna Art Gallery.