With Montreal as its hub, the art world of Quebec is characterized by a wide variety of practices, venues, and public funding sources for its creators. But despite these favorable conditions, young artists struggle to make their breakthrough and live from their art. Artist and director Bob McKenna has collected testimonies from 20 members of the Quebec art scene. The artists describe their practice and highlight their struggle to reconcile making art and making a living, as well as the challenges of approaching galleries and applying for funding. Meanwhile, gallerists, directors of distribution centres, and others involved in the art world discuss their vision of art, what they look for from new talent, and the keys to success for emerging artists. A mosaic of viewpoints on the Quebec art world and the efforts required of artists who are striving to carve out their place.
Also presented:
39th International Festival of Films on Art, Canada (2021)
39th International Festival of Films on Art, Canada (2021)
| Director | Bob Mc Kenna |
| Sound mixing | Bruno Martel |
| Cinematographer | Bob Mc Kenna |
| Music | Bruce Jackson |
Image tirée du film Les frontières de l’art // Image from the film Les frontières de l’art
Image tirée du film Les frontières de l’art // Image from the film Les frontières de l’art
Image tirée du film Les frontières de l’art // Image from the film Les frontières de l’art
Image tirée du film Les frontières de l’art // Image from the film Les frontières de l’art
Production
Bob Mc Kenna
Head Machinist since 1984 Bob Mc Kenna has worked on hundreds of productions, from music videos to commercials, independent features to American mega productions, art films to Imax films. He specialized in camera movement, animation and visual effects. In 1992, Bob produced his first feature documentary, Exit for Nomads, directed by Pierre Bastien. In 1993, he created The Adventures of Sunny 6, a 16mm animation for children. In 1995, he produced his second feature documentary, A Film of Filmmakers, directed by 18 different filmmakers. This film was the opening film of the Rendez-vous du Cinéma Québécois in 1996. In 2002, Bob produced and directed About the Corridart Affair, a feature-length documentary about the struggle of 12 artists against censorship. In 2005, Bob produced his fourth feature film, a 35mm fiction film directed by François Miron, La 4e vie.
Since then, Bob Mc Kenna has produced and directed Calligraffity in 2007, and Etiquette in 2009. Two short animations, one drawn directly on 16mm film, the other created and edited electronically. Both are accompanied by an original digital soundtrack of his making. Calligraffity has played at numerous festivals around the world, and Etiquette opened at the New York Food Film Festival. In 2010, Bob shot and completed Behind the Kodak which screened at the 2011 FFM and played at the Cinematheque in 2012.
Three short films, Rouville Station, 9 minutes color in 2013, halfway between an art film and a documentary about the aluminum recycling process, The Field of Winds and Hippopotamus’ Dream, both art films. In 2014, Bob produced three web capsules on international artists; Ralph Gibson, Leiko Ikemura, and a portrait of 5 young Parisian artists entitled Parisian Scene. In 2015, Bob directed the music video Ohio for Waves Song and two short art films, Tuesday’s Snow and Scratch one.
Bob Mc Kenna continues to stream his short films on his YouTube channel, where you can also find trailers for his feature documentaries. About the Corridart Affair was shown at the Canadian Centre for Architecture from November 2015 to April 2016, as part of the exhibition entitled The Other Architect. Then from June to September 2016, the film was presented at the Maison de la culture Maisonneuve in Montreal as part of the exhibition The Builders of the Olympic Games.
In 2018, his first fictional film was completed. Au Purgatoire is an allegory in a contemporary rural landscape and has in its main role Jacques Leduc. A new series of short films called Scratchs has been emerging since 2015.
Ice is another spontaneously made short art film inspired by the weird weather we had in 2019. Calligraffity was shown at Orange Hall Gallery, Orange county Community College, Middletown, New York, from August 15 to October 8.
In 2020 Bob releases Scratch you too. A medium-length film, a collection of small art films. A long-running project that has been in the making for five years, The Frontiers of Art, is a feature-length documentary that paints a portrait of the contemporary visual art scene.
The biographies were provided by third parties.
Since then, Bob Mc Kenna has produced and directed Calligraffity in 2007, and Etiquette in 2009. Two short animations, one drawn directly on 16mm film, the other created and edited electronically. Both are accompanied by an original digital soundtrack of his making. Calligraffity has played at numerous festivals around the world, and Etiquette opened at the New York Food Film Festival. In 2010, Bob shot and completed Behind the Kodak which screened at the 2011 FFM and played at the Cinematheque in 2012.
Three short films, Rouville Station, 9 minutes color in 2013, halfway between an art film and a documentary about the aluminum recycling process, The Field of Winds and Hippopotamus’ Dream, both art films. In 2014, Bob produced three web capsules on international artists; Ralph Gibson, Leiko Ikemura, and a portrait of 5 young Parisian artists entitled Parisian Scene. In 2015, Bob directed the music video Ohio for Waves Song and two short art films, Tuesday’s Snow and Scratch one.
Bob Mc Kenna continues to stream his short films on his YouTube channel, where you can also find trailers for his feature documentaries. About the Corridart Affair was shown at the Canadian Centre for Architecture from November 2015 to April 2016, as part of the exhibition entitled The Other Architect. Then from June to September 2016, the film was presented at the Maison de la culture Maisonneuve in Montreal as part of the exhibition The Builders of the Olympic Games.
In 2018, his first fictional film was completed. Au Purgatoire is an allegory in a contemporary rural landscape and has in its main role Jacques Leduc. A new series of short films called Scratchs has been emerging since 2015.
Ice is another spontaneously made short art film inspired by the weird weather we had in 2019. Calligraffity was shown at Orange Hall Gallery, Orange county Community College, Middletown, New York, from August 15 to October 8.
In 2020 Bob releases Scratch you too. A medium-length film, a collection of small art films. A long-running project that has been in the making for five years, The Frontiers of Art, is a feature-length documentary that paints a portrait of the contemporary visual art scene.
The biographies were provided by third parties.
Ice (2019) (2020) ; Au purgatoire (2018) ; Echo à corridart (2016) ; Neige du mardi (2015) ; Les saisons d’une montagne (2014).
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