Les Manning: Common/Opposites, April 30 – June 19, 2011, Esplanade Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta

Review by Quentin Randall

Quentin Randall, Public Relations person for Medalta, has had his review of Les Manning’s Show in Medicine Hat published in the latest edition of Galleries West. Many of us have met Les on his frequent trips out to BC when he’s given workshops and lectures. Quentin explains that this new show introduces some entirely new work which is informed by his home of the last 11 years, Medicine Hat and Southern Alberta. I believe some of his previous work was included in the exhibit but unfortunately I did not get to see the show at the Esplanade. But from the two photos in the article it is surprisingly different from his highly recognizable work which celebrated his spectacular Banff environment.

Working from his studio in the Shaw Building at Medalta, senior resident artist Les brings a lifetime of expertise in clays and clay surfaces and a special interest in ceramic criticism and curating to his new explorations. As Quentin indicates, these sometimes really colourful, highly glazed sculptures are intended to start thoughts about the prairie landscape, not depict them. Much like Tam Irving’s completely new work shown at the Burnaby Art Gallery, made sometime after he’d retired from his Emily Carr teaching position, Les’ work shows he’s as focussed and inquisitive as ever and has made as surprizing a leap. It’ll be so interesting to observe the evolution of this new direction in his work, inspired by his home environment.

Read the review yourself:  http://www.gallerieswest.ca/Departments/ExhibitionReviews/6-108282.html

Nicely done Quentin.