March 11 to August 20, 2017

Allan Wigney, Curator

JUNO House: R•Evolutions

Curator’s statement

Recognition comes to the working musician in many forms – from polite applause in a half-filled room to JUNO Award triumph. Each achievement is the product of sweat and toil, of inspiration and perspiration, of a drive for creative expression.

The Canadian musician’s world is long on drives and short on cash. It is mentors and peers, homemade recordings and community radio, familiarity in strange surroundings. It is the artist recast as businessperson. It is expressions of frustration and calls to action.

To the determined but financially-challenged creative spirit, the Canada Council for the Arts can be life’s blood. For 60 years, the Canada Council has been champion and cheerleader. This year, grants will be presented to thousands of artists, groups and organizations who in turn will bring to Canadians a trove of artistic riches.

These walls sing of those riches – of romantics, rebels and revolutionaries. Of arena headliners and bands playing at a club near you. Of artistic triumph and JUNO glory.

This is the sound of Canada. Turn it up.

- Allan Wigney, 2017

Leonard Cohen, Poet, Montreal, 1973 Photographer(s): Sam Tata

The JUNO Awards

In 1970, they were the Gold Leaf Awards, and a small gathering of people attended the ceremony in Toronto. A year later, in honour of CRTC chair Pierre Juneau and in celebration of recently adopted Canadian content regulations, the JUNO Awards arrived. As the decade progressed, the JUNOs and non-profit overseer CARAS served to promote and celebrate Canadian artists and music. As the public’s palate expanded, so did the range of categories.

Likewise, so did the size and influence of the annual gala.

In 1978, the JUNOs added the Canadian Music Hall of Fame to their arsenal – a reminder each year of the extraordinary accomplishments of Canadian musicians at home and abroad, and of how far our nation’s musical and cultural scene has come.

Travel. Composition. Recording. Touring.

For the Canadian musician, each step serves not only to build character but also to strengthen a sense of community. With that shared experience can come awareness, and a desire to give back. Back to the music community, through collaborative efforts. Back to the wider community, by speaking up and speaking out.

Changing Woman (1975), Buffy Sainte-Marie / Buffy </em>Sainte-Marie presented Tagaq with a gift of beads / <em>Animism (2014), Tanya Tagaq

Changing Woman (1975), Buffy Sainte-Marie / Buffy Sainte-Marie presented Tagaq with a gift of beads / Animism (2014), Tanya Tagaq

World Music, the Canada Council and the  JUNO Awards

Each year, Canada Council grant recipients populate a diverse range of categories at the JUNOs. No single category represents strength through diversity more than the annual award for World Music Album of the Year. For 15 years, that award has been sponsored by the Canada Council.

It is important that the artists, the music industry and the Canadian public be aware that the Canada Council is directly involved with assisting the making of music that has a real impact in Canada and abroad. World music can be and is excellent Canadian music made by artists, influenced by their own traditions, who have chosen Canada as their home and inspiration.

Russell Kelley, former Head of Music at the Canada Council

“Winning a JUNO was like a B12 shot for my career.”

Lynn Miles

Gallery

Allan Wigney

A veritable music geek, Allan Wigney has penned profiles, features and reviews for numerous local, national and international publications and spent several years as managing editor of Ottawa’s newsweekly X Press. The Wig has served as a member of campus-based community radio station CKCU’s board of directors, created and hosted a wide range of music programs and been called on for arts commentary by CBC Radio and commercial radio and TV stations.

In addition to having been a JUNO and Polaris Prize judge, he has been a panelist at music conferences and contributed to two books on Canadian music. He has written liner notes for and played on a handful of local record releases and presented events at local festivals. He maintains a music blog and has written for a number of prominent websites.

Previous usage of his archives technician studies has included aiding with the preparation of an exhibition devoted to local music for the City of Ottawa Archives.

The Kinks’ co-founder Dave Davies has praised Allan’s accent.

Our thanks to the following individuals and organizations who provided assistance, advice and artifacts for the exhibition.

JUNO Awards, National Music Centre, A Tribe Called Red, Aglukark Entertainment Inc., Alert Music Inc., Lubo Alexandrov, Lillian Allen, Arcade Fire, Arts & Crafts Productions, Borealis Records, Philip Shaw Bova, CKCU-FM, Canada Science and Technology Museum, Carleton University, Estate of Leonard Cohen, Gary Comeau, David Buchbinder /DB Works, Jim Cuddy, Élage Diouf, Quique Escamilia, Estate of Gino Empry, Sue Foley, Galerie BBAM!, Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation, Stephanie Hardman and Outside Music Inc., Mary Jelley and Warner Music Canada, Justin Time Records, Kelp Management, Heather Kitching, Lorraine Klaasen, Kid Koala, La Bottine Souriante, Library and Archives Canada, Macklam Feldman Management, Dominic Mancuso, Marlene McKay, McMaster University, Mighty Popo, Lynn Miles, Ana Miura, National Arts Centre, Nomadic Alter Natives, Julie O’Brien, Dr. Trevor W. Payne, Polaris Music Prize, Donné Roberts, SIX Media Marketing Inc., Six Shooter Records, Adam Solomon, Jayme Stone, Souljazz Orchestra, The Record Centre, Universal Music Canada, Wolfson Entertainment Inc.

Christopher Ira McKay: Art Restoration, exhibition layout and design

Birddog Design Studio: Graphic Design