Nova Scotia artist Dawn MacNutt explores the transformative nature of weaving as it represents human fragility in her unique artistic approach to creating large scale sculptures. The MSVU Art Gallery, in collaboration with the Owens Art Gallery, will open its doors for a celebration of the newly curated “Dawn MacNutt: Timeless Forms” exhibit on January 18. The exhibit is co-curated by MSVU Art Gallery Director Melanie Colosimo and Emily Falvey, Director/Curator of the Owens Art Gallery at Mount Allison University.
A relaxed reception will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the MSVU Art Gallery (located in the Seton Academic Centre on campus, 166 Bedford Highway) to celebrate the opening of this comprehensive retrospective exhibition. All are welcome to join us in honouring Dawn, an exceptional Nova Scotia artist whose work reflects the complexities of the human experience.
About Dawn MacNutt
Dawn obtained a Bachelor of Arts (art and psychology) from Mount Allison University in 1957, followed by a master’s degree (social work) from Dalhousie University in 1970. She left her career in social work to become a full-time artist in the 1990s and travelled Nova Scotia collecting wild willow, wisteria and grapevines for her woven sculptures. She cast her first piece in bronze in 1999 which led to large-scale public art commissions.
Her interest in the natural world began far before the beginning of her education, instead sparking in her childhood from experiences of exploring plants in her uncle’s garden and being mesmerized by how the light reflected in her grandmother’s stained-glass window. Her interest in nature continued into adulthood and is celebrated in her woven sculptures which use natural materials to express the imperfect nature and fragility of the human form. Additionally, Dawn’s experience as a therapist has shaped her interpretation of body language, a skill used throughout her art to convey meaning with better accuracy than the spoken word.
Dawn received a Doctorate of Humane Letters from MSVU in 2005 and was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts in 2008. She has produced numerous exhibitions and commissioned art with collections being held at the MSVU Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the IWK, the Owens Art Gallery, the Museum of Arts and Design, Rideau Hall, and the Canadian Museum of History.
Dawn MacNutt: Timeless Forms will run from January 18 to April 12, 2025 at the MSVU Art Gallery. An exhibition catalogue has been published that tells the story of Dawn’s unique artistic journey in her own words. Called Timeless Forms, the book can be purchased at the opening reception, your local bookstore or directly from publisher Goose Lane. Signed copies will be available for purchase at the opening.
The MSVU Art Gallery will also be hosting an artist talk by Dawn MacNutt on Saturday, March 8 at 1 p.m.