Art Gallery

On now at CBU Art Gallery:

The Most Suitable Place: The Founding of Louisbourg and île Royale in 1713

L’endroit le plus convenable : l’établissement de Louisbourg et l’île Royale en 1713

June 13 – August 15/ 13 juin – 15 août  

Opening Reception: Thursday June 13th, 4:00-6:00 pm

Everyone is welcome.

 

 

The imperial decisions that led to relocating the French colony of Plaisance, Newfoundland, to Louisbourg in 1713 highlighted the uncertainty of life in the colonial North Atlantic World. Combining modern technology with antique documents, maps and artefacts, this interactive exhibit takes visitors on a journey of discovery through the landscapes and histories of Île Royale, Louisbourg, and its people.

Les décisions impériales qui ont mené à la réinstallation de la colonie française de Plaisance, Terre-Neuve, à Louisbourg en 1713 ont souligné l’incertitude de la vie dans le monde colonial de l’Atlantique Nord. En combinant la technologie moderne avec d’anciens documents, cartes et artéfacts, cette exposition interactive plonge les visiteurs dans un voyage de découverte à travers les paysages et les histoires de l’île Royale, de Louisbourg, et de ses habitants.

The Most Suitable Place is curated by Anne Marie Lane Jonah and is the result of a multi-partner collaboration between the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site operated by Parks Canada, the Beaton Institute of Cape Breton University and les Archives départementales Charente-Maritime, La Rochelle, France.

Summer hours (June 17 through August 16):

Monday to Friday 10:00am – 4:00pm

Saturday afternoons 12:00-4:00pm

 

Educational Programming

School Tours Available: June 14 – June 26, 2013

Teachers, if you plan to visit, check out our Educator's Guide prior to your tour.

Throughout the summer months, the CBU Art Gallery will offer:

  • guided tours for small walk-in groups (large groups please book in advance)
  • a self-directed Activity Guide which takes families and small groups on an interactive tour of the exhibition
  • a variety of interactive stations

Lecture Series

Throughout the month of June, a series of subject specialists will discuss themes related to the exhibition.

Navigation History in the North Atlantic

Friday June 7th

 6:00-7:00 pm

Cpt. Michael Kruger (Coast Guard College)

Captain Michael Kruger, an instructor in Terrestrial Navigation, Celestial Navigation, Marine Law (Ship Management), and Marine Communications at the Coast Guard College in Sydney, will give a talk on the history of navigation in the North Atlantic. His talk will be illustrated by maps and charts dating from 1565-1765 from the collection of the Beaton Institute. (He'll even explain the difference between a map and a chart). Captain Kruger has lived in England, France, Nigeria, South Africa, and New York City and has had a 40 year career with the Canadian Navy, the merchant service, the Nova Scotia Nautical Institute, and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada before joining the CCGC.

Check our Cpt. Kruger's interview on CBC Information Morning with Steve Sutherland!

18th century Writing & Papermaking (includes hands-on component)

Thursday June 20th

6:00-7:30 pm

Anne Marie Lane Jonah & Katherine Scott

Katherine Scott and Anne Marie Lane Jonah will give an interactive and hands-on experience of 18th century letter writing. Katherine, a bookbinder and paper artist living in Gabarus, Cape Breton will give a short presentation on the papermaking tradition in Europe during the time of this exhibit, and will lead the participants through the process of making their own sheet of rag paper. Anne Marie, curator of the exhibit, will present the art of letter-writing and the communication challenges of the North Atlantic world in Louisbourg’s time. Katherine Scott runs the “Little Pink House Studio in Gabarus, Anne Marie Lane Jonah is an historian with Parks Canada at the Fortress of Louisbourg.

Chanson de Louisbourg

Tuesday June 25th

6:00-7:00 pm

Dr. Ronald LaBelle

Dr. Ronald Labelle, Associate professor of French at Cape Breton University, and a specialist of Acadian traditional culture will present an illustrated talk on "La complainte de Louisbourg," a fragmentary, tragic ballad about the fall of the Fortress that was sung in Chéticamp. Dr. Labelle’s talk will address how the fall of Louisbourg was commemorated in this traditional song, as well as what hasn't been remembered: how very little of early Acadian history was remembered through oral tradition. Before joining CBU Dr. Labelle worked as a Folklore Archivist at the Université de Moncton's Centre d'études acadiennes and held the McCain Research Chair in Acadian Ethnology and Folklore.