Fredericton, N.B. – July 14th, 2016

 

For the fifth consecutive year, this July and August the Fredericton Region Museum is set to open one of its galleries as a studio for a local artist. The museum’s Artist-In-Residence program is run annually as a collaboration with artists to encourage a relationship between historical institutions and the art industry. This summer, the museum has secured two different artists, each joining the program for three weeks. Beginning her residency on the 18th of July is Jennifer McInnis-Wharton, and beginning on the 8th of August is Morgan Dugdale. During their respective residencies they will complete a series of works that is tied to and inspired by history.

 

Jennifer McInnis-Wharton is a sculpture artist hailing from the Northwest Territories. In 2013 she moved to Fredericton to attend the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. During her time at the Fredericton Region Museum she will be completing a series of clay pots inspired by the architecture of historical buildings in downtown fredericton. Visitors of the museum will have the opportunity to use different pottery tools, and even use McInnis-Wharton’s pottery wheel.

 

Morgan Dugdale is an upcoming artist who will be attending McKenzie College in Moncton this fall for the intensive visual art foundation program. She works with multiple mediums, including watercolour, acrylics, and digital painting. While at the Fredericton Region Museum, Dugdale will be completing a series of paintings of antique tea sets. Dugdale has always loved the collection of tea sets that are stored at the FRM, and will use them as her subjects. For her interactive element, visitors will be able to try out watercolour painting, sew their own tea bags (which they can take home with them), and smell different types of tea.

 

The Fredericton Region Museum was founded in 1934 by the York Sunbury Historical Society. In 1959, the Museum found permanent headquarters in the Officers’ Quarters (571 Queen Street) in the heart of downtown Fredericton. The Society and Museum remain a non-profit enterprise with a small paid staff and numerous volunteers who work tirelessly to create informative exhibits based on the history of Fredericton and surrounding areas, as well as publish a local history periodical, The Officers’ Quarters. For more information on this story or to schedule an interview (and to contact the artists mentioned), please contact Paige Powell with the information listed. The Fredericton Region Museum is open most days of the week between 9:00AM and 5:00PM.

 

frederictonregionmuseum@gmail.com, (506) 455-6041