For Immediate Release
May 1, 2003

The Paradise Institute, a co-production by The Walter Phillips Gallery and Winnipeg’s Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, which represented Canada at the 49^th Venice Biennial in 2001, opens this weekend at The Banff Centre. Creators Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, received La Biennale di Benezia Special Award at Venice, which was presented to Canadian artists for the first time. The pair also won the Benesse prize, an award that recognizes an artist, or group, that tries to break new artistic ground with an experimental and pioneering spirit.

"We’re thrilled to be able to showcase this unique, experiential exhibition - a revolutionary new artistic form - that stimulates the mind and the senses and is sure to mesmerize Gallery guests," says Joanne Morrow, vice president, programming at The Banff Centre.

The Paradise Institute weaves together various art forms including installation, video projection, sculpture and performance artists function as movie directors, screenwriters, composers, and radio play producers.

Cardiff and Miller will talk about The Paradise Institute at an opening reception of the exhibition at The Banff Centre’s Walter Phillips Gallery on Saturday, May 3 at 7 p.m. Then Saturday, May 10 at 3 p.m., Wayne Baerwaldt talks about his role as co-commissioner and curator of The Paradise Institute. Baerwaldt is director of The Power Plant contemporary art gallery in Toronto.

Cardiff and Miller will also present other related works at the Walter Phillips Gallery during their exhibition including House Burning, which they produced together, and Forest Walk, audio art that Cardiff produced in Banff in 1991. Forest Walk literally takes visitors outside the gallery for an eight-minute guided walk in the woods near The Banff Centre.

The Paradise Institute runs until July 20 and will screen every half-hour. To reserve a seat please call the gallery at 403.762.6281 or e-mail requests to walter_phillipsgallery@banffcentre.ca .

The Walter Phillips Gallery is located in Glyde Hall at The Banff Centre, and is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 12 noon to 5 p.m., and Thursdays from 12 noon to 9 pm. Admission to the Gallery for this exhibition is by donation.

Click here to view images and to learn more about this exhibition.

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