Government of Canada Supports "Against the Grain" Exhibit at the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery

MOOSE JAW, SASKATCHEWAN--(Marketwire - Feb. 8, 2011) - The Moose Jaw Art Museum will host a travelling exhibit of Japanese prints entitled "Against the Grain" as the result of the Government of Canada's financial contribution. This was confirmed today by Ray Boughen, Member of Parliament (Palliser), on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

"Our Government is proud to support initiatives that provide Canadians with increased access to various cultural and artistic experiences," said Minister Moore. "This exhibit of Japanese prints will give residents of Moose Jaw an opportunity to increase their knowledge of Japanese artistic traditions."

Featuring approximately 70 woodblock prints spanning from the Edo period (1603–1868) to the present day, the exhibit from the University of Alberta Art Collection will showcase the beauty, complexity, and range of this intriguing art form. Visitors will be able to experience the art of Japanese woodblock printmaking and learn about the aesthetic, cultural, and technical developments of printmaking in Japan. The exhibit is open to the public from January 27 to March 26, 2011.

"The investment announced today will support the exhibit installation and interpretation, as well as the delivery of educational programming to both adults and young people," said Mr. Boughen. "I encourage residents of Moose Jaw and the surrounding area to visit the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery to explore this unique art form."

"The Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery appreciates the opportunity to exhibit these wood block prints that would not normally be exhibited in Moose Jaw," said Jim Carr, Board Chair. "The exhibition includes extensive information about Japanese printmaking and provides a wonderful opportunity for school children and visitors to explore this medium."

The Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery is the third largest public gallery in Saskatchewan and is considered a leader among small-city art galleries in the province. Its mandate is to offer opportunities for learning and inspiration through the visual arts and the presentation of history, as well as to exhibit, interpret, and promote the province's cultural and artistic heritage. The Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery produces in-house exhibits and programming, tours exhibitions provincially and nationally, and regularly hosts travelling exhibits from across Canada.

The Government of Canada has provided funding of $5,826 through the Museums Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This program provides funding to Canadian museums and related institutions for projects that foster excellence in museum activities and that facilitate access to the treasures of our collective heritage.

(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.)