TARA GARDNER

LUMIN-HAUS, RIVERSIDE PARK

Tara Gardner explores her family history through a digitally recorded performance of herself playing a Celtic instrument called the bones. The instrument was one of the few creative endeavours passed on to the artist by her father who valued hard work and utilitarian skills over creativity and artistry. The movement required to play this instrument and the framing of the work draw the viewer in while the practice of playing the music serves as a reminder of the artist’s father and a way of dealing with the grief of his passing in 2009. Gardner blends traditional with contemporary music playing along to country songs on her MP3 player.

Tara Gardner
The Bones, 2011
Digital video
11 min 27 sec
Collection of the Kamloops Art Gallery

Photos: Devon Lindsay, 2014