Rough Trade
Pieces of art are such amazing creations for the simple fact that they are truly a manifestation and pure embodiment of so many different aspects of one’s life. An art piece is like a web, it begins with the telling of a story, and as time goes on, that story grows, evolves, and cumulates. It is for this reason that public art has become such an integral part of many communities, including that of the University of Victoria. All across the campus there lives a wide array of outdoor public art pieces. Not only does an art piece visually enhance the space in which it resides, but it also acts as a representation and embodiment of the thoughts and values of a previous people, place, and time. These pieces are a significant feature of the landscape in which we live, and we believe it is important for people to acquaint themselves with this art in order to better understand their own cultural landscape. We feel that by acquiring knowledge of the art pieces across campus, people will better engage with the past, present, and future of the University of Victoria, and thus increase their own sense of place on campus.---
Rough Trade
Artist: Greg Snider
Date: 1976
Photo by Claire Daniels
Rough Trade is a Contemporary wooden beam outdoor sculpture. Composed of Douglas fir and steel, the piece has a strong industrial theme- reflecting the values and livelihood of a time past. Michael C. Williams generously donated Rough Trade to the university in 2001 (3).
A piece of art gives insight into both the tasks and interests of the collector. Michael C. Williams was a businessman, developer and heritage conservationist. He spent much of his later life working to improve the public realm and had a strong presence in the Victoria community (1). Williams built his fortune redeveloping run-down heritage buildings in Victoria, and thus had a great appreciation of industrial works (5). Rough Trade captured the city’s industrial roots and reflected William’s interest in the public sphere. Throughout the University’s history, community support has been ongoing and crucial. Just as a piece of art provides insight into the collector, generosity provides insight into the relationships forged within a community. Williams worked tirelessly for the betterment of the University and larger community of Victoria. His work was recognized in 1990 when he was given an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Victoria for his commitment to heritage conservation (1). Williams, who had never completed grade school while growing up on a farm in England, was deeply affected by the degree. He subsequently donated one of the largest collections of BC contemporary art, as well as almost all his estate to the university. This was the largest gift in the university’s 38-year history and greatly increased the cultural presence of UVic. It was Williams’ desire that his collection “should provide for study and enjoyment by faculty and students” (5). Rough Trade is situated between the Fine Arts, Visual Arts, and Phoenix Building and provides a central focus and gathering place that helps to bring these three disciplines together. As one of the newest editions to UVic’s outdoor public gallery, Rough Trade demonstrates a growing appreciation of the Arts Faculties within the university community and strengthens a space that was previously under-utilized and fragmented.
A little side about the artist:
Greg Snider was born in Halifax and received a BSc and MFA from the University of Wisconsin. He now resides in Vancouver and works as an artist and professor of art at Simon Fraser University. Snider is a sculptor and installation artist. His practice is one of critical realism, concentrating on ideas of work, labour, production, and consumption and how these are represented in the public sphere. Snider uses a variety of materials and media to meet the conceptual demands of each project (2 & 4).
Links:
The Williams Legacy: Contemporary Art of the Pacific Northwest
Michael Williams
Content contributed by Ashlene Nairn and Claire Daniels