Exhibiting the Ark: Design and Analysis

Living Lightly on the Earth: Building an Ark for Prince Edward Island 1974-76 is an exhibition curated for the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown PE, and expected to travel to other galleries. The exhibition presents a combination of archival materials – drawings, photographs, film and video, professional reports, publications, artifacts and ephemera – and newly created works – architectural models, animations, videos, and environmental installations. The curatorial goal is to provide a multi-layered experience and interpretation of this important work of 1970s Canadian ecological architecture, communicating the form and systems of the building, its place in cultural history, and its reception and legacy. This presentation offers an overview of the exhibition, and a perspective on the role of creative engagement with evidence in curating architectural history.