Press Releases — Archives
For immediate release
8 June 1999
A Passion for Wings, Big, Contemporary Art at the National Aviation Museum
Ottawa—The National Aviation Museum is pleased to announce the launch of A Passion For Wings, the first major contemporary art project of its kind ever on display in a Canadian aeronautical museum. This extraordinary exhibition will get underway the week of 14 June in the first of three stages and will be on public display until the end of the year.
During the week of June 14 to June 18, Regina Silveira, an internationally noted Brazilian artist, will travel to Ottawa to supervise the installation of Ex Orbis, a 55’ X 8’ computer generated image in which reflections of the history of aviation are overlaid and stretched along the exterior facade of the National Aviation Museum as a sign for what is housed inside. At the same time, well known Canadian artist Rick Pottruff will begin and complete a colossal 55’ X 8’ graphite, pencil and ink drawing interpreting the aircraft engine from his perch upon scaffolding inside the Museum. Also inside the Museum, four pin-hole camera works from the Ontario photographer, Diane Bos’s jet wing series have each been dramatically enlarged to 4’ X 6’ as the last installation for this stage of the project. The Public and the Media are invited to visit the National Aviation Museum during these installations to see the artists at work or our web site at .
Christopher J. Terry, Director General of the National Aviation Museum, notes, “As we approach the end of this century the National Aviation Museum recognizes that aviation is unarguably one of the defining achievements of this century. In its continuing efforts to examine aviation’s pervasive effects on 20th century culture, the National Aviation Museum is exploring every avenue. What better perspective than that of the artist?”
This project is more that an exhibition, but an interweaving of art and its history, the history of aviation, and this history of this century. By the final installation in August the visitor will move from one aviation moment to another and come across interjections of art throughout the Museum. It is not meant to be a complete story but a reflection and commentary, as suggested by the titles for the three stages of the installation of works: Shadows, Wings and the Improbable – Heavier-Than Air(June 14-18 installation), Plane Truths (mid-July installation), and In the Air (mid-August installation). The 10 artists that have been selected by guest curator Ihor Holubizky embrace a wide spectrum of disciplines of contemporary art, personal concerns, and interests.
NB: Interviews in Ottawa with the artists working on site, Rick Pottruff and Regina Silveira, can be arranged through the Communications Office of the National Aviation Museum. For a detailed overview of the artists and works selected for this project, please refer to the attached document.
The National Aviation Museum, Canada’s premier aeronautical collection deals with the complete sweep of Canada’s impressive aviation heritage. Visitors are invited to follow these adventures through the Walkway of Time that begins at the pioneer era and continues to the modern age. The Museum is located at the intersection of the Aviation and Rockcliffe Parkways. Daily hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and 9 a.m. till 9 p.m. on Thursdays.
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General information: 613 993-2010 or 1 800 463-2038
Christina Lucas
Communications Officer 613 993-4243 or