Rita McKeough facts for kids
Rita McKeough is a Canadian artist born in 1951. She is known for her unique art installations and performances. She also creates music and teaches art.
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Becoming an Artist and Teacher
Rita McKeough was born in 1951 in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She studied art at the University of Calgary, finishing in 1975. Later, she earned another degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1979. Today, she teaches at Alberta University of the Arts and lives in Calgary, Alberta.
What Rita McKeough's Art is About
Rita McKeough uses different kinds of technology, like old-fashioned tools, electronics, and computers, to make her art. Her art often includes performances, videos, and sounds. She likes to tell stories from a woman's point of view. She often uses everyday objects to create sounds in her art.
Rita believes it's important for everyone to have a voice. She wants her art to help people imagine a world where everyone can speak up for themselves. Her work often encourages people to think deeply, be curious, and become more aware of the world around them. She brings attention to important social issues. These include how the oil industry affects nature, how meat is produced, how humans and animals interact, and making sure women's voices are heard.
Cool Artworks by Rita McKeough
Veins (2016)
Veins is an art installation that makes you feel like you're inside the artwork. It was first shown in Calgary, Alberta, in 2016. This artwork explores Rita's worries about oil and gas pipelines being built across delicate natural areas.
H (2014)
"H" was a performance art piece that happened in an old barber shop in Sackville, New Brunswick. It ran from July 24 to August 2, 2014. People in Sackville were asked to bring their old, "sick" cell phones to a special "hospital" set up in the barber shop. The cell phones rested in tiny hospital beds. A giant squirrel and a tree took care of them, using different ways to help them "get better." Visitors could watch the phones recover or just observe the process.
This artwork was shown at several art galleries. It was at the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery in 2012. It also traveled to the Doris McCarthy Art Gallery in Scarborough, Ontario, and the Dalhousie Art Gallery in Halifax in 2013. In 2014, it was shown at the Kenderdine Art Gallery at the University of Saskatchewan and the Illingworth Kerr Gallery in Calgary.
Wilderment (2010)
Wilderment was part of the Timeland: Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art at the Art Gallery of Alberta in 2010. It was also featured in a solo exhibition at Neutral Ground in May 2013.
Alternator (2008-2012)
Alternator was shown at Nuit Blanche in Toronto in 2008. It was also part of the ArtCity Festival in Calgary in 2009 and the Art in the Streets Festival in Lethbridge in 2009. In 2012, it was shown at the Oh Canada! exhibition at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in Boston.
In bocca al lupo—In the mouth of the wolf (1991–92)
This was a ninety-minute performance and art installation. Rita McKeough was inspired by writers Hélène Cixous and Luce Irigaray, and musician Patti Smith. The performance included a choir, solo singers, musicians, dancers, and projections. The audience and performers were surrounded by a large wooden figure. This artwork aimed to give a strong, shared voice to women's feelings.
Take it to the Teeth (1993)
Rita created this artwork with her friend Cheryl L'Hirondelle. It was an installation and performance at the Glenbow Museum in 1993. In this piece, Rita and Cheryl actually chewed through the museum walls. This revealed eight hidden audio tapes. The artwork showed how people can find their voice and strength, especially when they have been silenced.
Where Her Art is Kept
Rita McKeough's art is part of many public and private collections. These include the Canada Council Art Bank in Ottawa and the Glenbow Museum in Calgary. Her work is also at the Walter Phillips Gallery at The Banff Centre, the University of Lethbridge, and the Dunlop Art Gallery in Regina.
Rita's Music and Bands
Besides being an artist, Rita McKeough is also a musician. She plays drums and percussion. She has been a part of several bands, including Sleepy Panther, The Permuters, Sit Com, Mode d'Emploi, Almost Even, Demi Monde, Confidence Band, and Books All Over the Bed.
Awards and Recognition
Rita McKeough has received important awards for her art. In 2009, she won a Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts. In 2006, she was named Éminence Grise by the 7a*11d performance art festival. She has also been an Artist-in-Residence at many places. These include the Bemis Centre for Contemporary Art, the Rauschenberg Residency, the Banff Centre, and Artspace Sydney in Australia in 2014.
