This exhibition offers an intimate view of the years-long creative and technical processes behind Grace Note, the MacLaren Art Centre’s newest permanent sculpture on view in the main lobby.
Included in the show are to-scale maquettes of the MacLaren’s clerestory and loading dock, a replica scaffolding structure, engineering schematics, and material samples that show the qualities of the finished artwork. Photographs taken of the artists’ shared studio capture the labour-intensive fabrication process, revealing the experimentation and problem-solving integral to realizing the sculpture.
Originally titled Rope Trick—a nod to the classic illusion—the project transformed into Grace Note, a gesture of upward movement rendered in hand-bent, painted steel. The exhibition opens a window into the artists’ collaboration, the technical expertise required to scale their ideas, and the challenges of creating a site-specific sculpture for a space as dynamic as the MacLaren. Collectively, these materials help us trace the journey of the artwork, and invite us to consider the often hidden labour and ingenuity that underpin works of public art.
Lyn Carter’s work explores the interplay of form, material, and space, often drawing on her background in textile design. Carter has exhibited internationally, including the Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art (China, 2016) and the 3rd Guangzhou Triennial (China, 2008). Her solo exhibition 11th Line toured to several Canadian institutions, including the Textile Museum of Canada.
Carl Taçon is known for large-scale public art installations across Canada and the United States. Notable works include Shift (Toronto, 2008), Counterpoise (Edmonton, 2012), and Ruche (Toronto, 2016). His practice combines technical precision with architectural sensitivity, reflecting his interest in the relationship between objects and space. The artists maintain individual and collaborative practices from their shared studio near Grand Bend, Ontario.
Grace Note is generously supported by Pratt Homes.
