A Cast of Shadows presented by the Burnaby Art Gallery offers an insightful look into the art of Jude Griebel. The exhibition is comprised of 25 intaglio prints made in the last seven years and features Jude Griebel’s unique interpretations of the world of illusion, dreams and the imagination that are reminiscent of illustrations in children’s story books. An important emerging Vancouver based artist Griebel is becoming nationally recognised as a proficient visual storyteller.
“Half-human creatures stand on dimly-lit stages in darkened theatres” notes Rory Wallace, Associate Professor, Critical and Cultural Studies at Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design. “Some of the players wear outsize masks, others assume more transparent disguises, and still others transform themselves by transforming their relationship with the animal world around them. They all explore the ambiguous relations of humans to other animals.”
Jude Griebel completed his formal art education at the Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design in 2003. This is where he developed his own artistic vocabulary that melded his upbringing, experiences and interest in historic children’s literature and mythological allegories. In a 2003 artist statement, Griebel asserts that his work “can be seen as a re-transcribing and mythologizing of my personal history…a knit [ting] together [of] instances from my life with plots of fairy-tales from childhood literature, as well as folktales and family ghost stories rooted in the rural prairies.” His works are also inspired by Czechoslovakian puppet theatre productions, films by American Brothers Quay and literary works by J.K. Huysmans, Lewis Carroll and Maurice Sendak.
Viewed as a body of work, A Cast of Shadows records Jude Griebel’s investigations into the intaglio printmaking medium and as an effective means to relay personal and historical narratives – both real and imaginary.
The Burnaby Art Gallery will be holding an opening reception on Saturday, November 3 from 1-3 p.m. For more information about the exhibit, programs or tours call 604.205.7332 or visit burnabyartgallery.ca.
The Burnaby Art Gallery located at 6344 Deer Lake Avenue is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
