A free circus-themed art exhibit featuring dozens of driftwood, cardboard and wire sculptures by artist Tanya Bub seeks to raise awareness of prejudices faced by Victoria’s unhoused community and raise funds for Our Place Society.
The Greatest Show on Earth will take place both indoors and outside the Gage Gallery in Bastion Square from Aug. 22 to Sept. 10 in collaboration with Our Place Society and Haus of Owl Creatives Ross Whelan and Eric Hinch, who have made a documentary about the process.
An all-welcome, free, meet-the-artist reception, sponsored by Domino’s Pizza, takes place on Aug. 22 from 5-8 p.m.
“My goal is to give people an emotional experience with the hope of creating a bridge of empathy that changes the way they feel about people in our community who are experiencing homelessness,” said Bub.
One of the central pieces in the show, Sitting with Grace, is of a human figure made from paper, wire and upcycled garbage that takes the form of a throne.
“I was drawn to the idea of grace, which is something that is freely given rather than earned,” said Bub. “The sculpture enshrouds and protects the person sitting in it by reminding the viewer that it’s up to them to receive the sitter with grace, in other words without judgment and even without pity. This is something that the viewer, rather than the sitter, is asked to do by the art.”
Bub took the sculpture to locations around Victoria, where people in the unhoused community congregate, with a focus on Pandora Avenue, to serve as an icebreaker. People were encouraged to sit on the throne, ask questions and contribute to the piece with a message or drawing. The sculpture has since come to include notes and illustrations from tens of people in the unhoused community.
“From far away it gives the impression of being a beautiful woman in an expensive gown. As you get closer you notice that the gown is made of garbage and cardboard and that the person is in an odd posture with their feet floating up above the ground. As you get closer still, you see that it is covered in messages, mostly of hope and kindness, in different sizes and handwriting,” said Bub.
Other show attractions include a driftwood foot archer and two trapeze artists suspended from the gallery ceiling, a life-sized giraffe, a nine-foot-tall giant made entirely from found cardboard and more.
Entry to this show is free with 100 per cent of donations and 25 per cent of sales going to Our Place Society, who serve Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable populations. The public are invited to drop off unused art supplies as well.
The sculptures will be on view at the Gage Gallery from Aug. 22 to Sept. 10, with a by-donation screening of the documentary on Sept. 9.
Follow Tanya on Instagram @VictoriaDrifter to stay tuned as events regarding the exhibit unfold.
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