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Prior
Issue (Archive) The location of Saint John at the mouth of the Saint John River and adjoining the Bay of Fundy has given it a major role in the growth and development of New Brunswick. It began as a trading post and became the largest industrial city in the Province. Now it is changing and adapting again and this is documented through the exhibition - "Saint John: An Industrial City in Transition".
"I
was challenged to experiment and innovate artistically. It is my
hope that the paintings create important visual links to significant
local research in natural science and the humanities" This exhibition, at the New Brunswick Museum, portrays how Saint John is reshaping its economic base, sustaining its cultural life and protecting and conserving its natural environment. This is a joint research project between UNBSJ and the NBM and was developed as a CURA (Community-University Research Alliances) program. CURA aims to produce a greater community understanding of the myriad of forces that are shaping Greater Saint John as it makes the transition from an industrial to a post-industrial city. A city that will be more reliant and dependent upon its cultural, environmental and historical resources.
Dr. Randall Miller, Exhibit Coordinator explains, "This exhibit conveys the range of topics covered by researchers as part of the CURA project. I tried to lay out the exhibit as a research space with a resource centre in the middle containing binders with information from the projects for visitors who want to explore the research in more detail. There is also a small theatre with 'student produced' video interviews of the researchers and a sampling of artifacts and specimens from the NBM and from the collections of Kingston Peninsula Heritage Inc. to illustrate one kind of resource that supported the research." Four themes were used as the focus for research - these include The People of Saint John: A community and neighbourhood Profile; The environmental history of Saint John, Urban and Regional Planning: the Changing Shape of Greater Saint John and the Cultural Representations of Greater Saint John.
The exhibit is enhanced by paintings which were created by Lynn Wigginton, the CURA Project artist. Lynn worked with selected researchers to respond to what they had discovered and presents their findings in a series of 12 significant paintings. These paintings portray views of Saint John from all points of the compass. They are: Portland Place, north; Marble Cove, north; views from Martello Tower in West Saint John; The Reversing Falls Bridge; Saint John Skyline from Uptown and Harbour; view from Red Head Mountain in the eastern part of Saint John; View from Rockwood Park East, View from Rockwood Park uptown and the view from Glen Falls also in the eastern part of Saint John as well as the view from South Bay. Two views portray the Kingston Peninsula which also was included in this research. Lynn commented, "As I worked collaboratively with the researchers to document and interpret their findings through my paintings, I was challenged to experiment and innovate artistically. It is my hope that the paintings create important visual links to significant local research in natural science and the humanities. I also hope that these panoramic views of Saint John will encourage people to appreciate the city's marvellous setting." The exhibit: Saint John: An Industrial City in Transition will be open until June 14. While visiting this exhibit, be sure to visit other Museum galleries which are located on three floors at their Market Square location. Some of the permanent exhibits include Birds of New Brunswick; the Discovery Gallery and the Marine History Gallery. The New Brunswick Museum Exhibition Centre is located at 1 Market Square. For further information: Telephone: (506) 643-2300; Toll free: 1-888-268-9595
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The purple violet (Viola cucullata) is a perennial which flowers from May through July.The flowers of the purple violet have been used in jams and syrups, and are supposed to have properties to soothe the digestive tract and suppress a cough. The flower was adopted as the New Brunswick floral emblem in 1936, at the request of the provincial Women's Institute.
