The Flood at Furnace Cove

Angela Antle’s and Reed Weir’s two-person exhibition, The Flood at Furnace Cove, is not one story, but two, which reflect on community and change, and specifically, rural Newfoundland and Labrador communities and change. First, is the actual narrative of the exhibition, the story of the flood; then, just as important, is the story of the two artists’ unique collaboration. While the first story discusses the elements that make up a strong community and the pressures that eventually may cause a community to disappear or reinvent itself, the second story speaks to the essence of a vital community – one which is built on collaboration and the understanding and appreciation of individual strengths.

Charlotte Jones, Acting Director Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. Exhibition Catalogue Article

The exhibition was curated by the Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Art Gallery where it was displayed in 2008. The exhibition travelled to The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John’s Newfoundland & Labrador.

The exhibition comprised of 19 of Reed’s stoneware figurative sculptures creating the community of Furnace Cove. Eight monumental encaustics by Angela Antle created the environment that contained the community. A poetic response to the exhibition on the exhibition and the power and mystery of water by Dr. Shauna McCabe is included in the catalogue published and available from the Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Art Gallery.

In an unprecedented move, The Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery of London, Ontario, celebrated Craft Year 2007 by pre-purchasing the stoneware sculptures of this series. Collectors put their confidence into and supported this project.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and the Craft Industry Development Program provided generous assistance instrumental in the creation of the publication of the exhibition catalogue.

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Gallery installation photo credit: J Haney

Sculpture photo credit: David Morrish

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