A new exhibition entitled Jazz Influences: Rhythm, Movement and Improv is set to be offered at the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie starting Thursday.
Curator of Exhibitions and Collections Manar Abo Touk says this is a concept that she’s been working on for some time now.
“I first had thoughts of offering something like this in 2020. I was trying to think of a way to incorporate music and arts together. I also wanted to touch on how jazz as a historical movement and history genre has been influenced by its own history. A lot of that started in New Orleans.”
The exhibition features different artists from across Canada, with multiple forms of mediums that show how they’ve been influenced by jazz.
“It includes an animation film that was created by musicians and artists in Calgary, plus local artists from Grande Prairie who have worked on film and a few different forms of art,” says Touk. “We also have work from an artist from Toronto who was originally a jazz musician. She’s working on paintings and portraits of musicians she loves and has been inspired by.”
The new feature is of special significance to Touk, who is quite a jazz music fan herself.
“In my previous life, I spent a lot of time in jazz bars. Most of my previous experiences included jazz music and dance and different types of festivals. I think it’s important to think about the origins of jazz and how it got started. We really hope this new exhibition will serve as both a fun and educational experience for everyone,” she says.
The exhibit will be on display at the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie from July 21st to November 6th, 2022.