Library Presents New Travelling Art Exhibit

[travis]

The Fantastical World of Jeff de Boer

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program, southeast
Alberta region, announced today the opening of a new travelling art exhibition at the Medicine Hat
Public Library, 414 First Street SE. The Fantastical World of Jeff de Boer will be on display at the
library until Feb. 24, 2010.

The Fantastical World of Jeff de Boer is populated by intrepid explorers, armoured warriors,
robots, flying machines and mysterious ‘exoforms.’ He has spent a lifetime imagining the hero’s
transformative journey through his art. The metal sculptures and schematic drawings presented in
this travelling exhibition reflect the sculptor’s keen awareness of tradition and potential of technology
to shape the future.

The son of a tinsmith, Jeff de Boer began working with metal at the age of five. He built his first
complete set of armour before finishing high school. As a graduate of the Alberta College of Art and
Design in 1988, de Boer garnered much early critical attention with his unique armour for cats and
mice. There are wonderful and intricate examples of cat, mice and rat armour in this exhibition that
humorously explore the relationship between predator and prey, as well as the relationship of
opposites in nature. De Boer also reveals his interest in Asian philosophy and culture with a major
sculpture from the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts entitled, The Buddha in You.

The conception of de Boer’s highly refined sculptures often begins and develops through schematic
drawings. This travelling exhibition presents work drawings related to his major commissions such
as the RoboFamily at the Vancouver Science World.

“These drawings are very rare and have never been displayed until now,” says Dean Reeves,
Manager of the southeastern region of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition
Program. “De Boer provided the drawings to the program because he believes in their ability to
inspire others, especially if people have a chance to see the real sculpture when it is complete. It
shows both the beginning and the end of the process.”

The drawings describe the concept of kinetic sculptures animated by various types of energy. There
are other sculptural projects described through photographs and related drawings that reflect de
Boer’s interest in science fiction and aviation.

The Fantastical World of Jeff de Boer is a touring exhibition developed by the Alberta Society of
Artists for the Alberta Foundation for the arts Travelling Exhibition Program. It is currently circulating
throughout southeastern Alberta under the guidance of the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre.
The AFA Travelling Exhibition Program is financially supported by the Alberta Foundation for the
Arts.

Full, official press release available at: http://www.medicinehat.ca/Public%20Noti ... xhibit.pdf