Summary
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society "Industry Narratives"
project was a multidisciplinary initiative involving socio-historical
research and the production of contemporary art using the Gulf of
Georgia Cannery Society's salmon can label collection as the primary
resource of study. These utilitarian labels, with their direct association
to industry, commercial art and popular culture, serve to uniquely
encapsulate key periods of BC's history.
In the fall of 2001, two University of Victoria students took upon
themselves the challenge of studying specific portions of the Gulf
of Georgia Cannery's salmon can label collection. In four months,
the students generated thoughtful interpretive work, which inspired
the content and layout of an exhibit entitled "Trademarks
and Salmon Art: A brand new perspective, held at the Gulf of
Georgia Cannery in the summer of 2002.
The exhibition featured not only the labels and their associated
stories, but also contemporary works of art inspired by the research.
Eight jury-selected artists were given only three months to produce
artwork responding to both the salmon can label collection and the
research results. An exhibition catalogue with the same title was
published by the Gulf of Georgia Cannery in October and a lecture
series featuring the student papers was held in February.
The catalogue, Trademarks and Salmon Art: a brand new perspective,
proved to be so popular that it was reprinted in 2003. Copies of this publication can be obtained from the Cannery, by contacting the site at gog.info@pc.gc.ca. The catalogue was distributed to numerous museums, archives and libraries throughout the province, where it may also be seen.
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