This map will take you to places that no longer exist, landscapes that have transformed over time, and locations that you might know well. Through a selection of work from the Owens Art Gallery’s permanent collection, you can discover and rediscover Sackville.
Since time immemorial, artists have lived in Siknikt, the district of Mi'kma'ki in which Sackville is located, and many more have passed through on short or long visits. These artists have seen Sackville and its surrounding salt marshes as gifts from the Creator, a scenic setting, a subject, an idea, or a question. Through their work we can reflect on what it means to be “here” and how “here” has changed. We can open a window to the past, respond to the present, and consider the future. We can also take a moment to consider our connections to this place and the land on which it is situated. With this in mind, we acknowledge, honour, and pay respect to the traditional owners and custodians—from all four directions—of this land. Mount Allison University and the Owens Art Gallery are built upon the unceded, ancestral lands of the L’nuk (Mi'kmaq). This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship,” which the Mi'kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, and Peskotomuhkati first signed with the British Crown in 1726.
Participate
We invite you to add your view. Make a drawing, photograph, painting, collage, or other visual response and share it. Each new perspective broadens our view, offering new ways of seeing Sackville. “Share Your View” buttons accompany every Owens artwork.
About this Project
You Are Here was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary closure of the Owens Art Gallery and Colville House. This project activates the gallery’s collection through works that connect to the local Sackville environment. Bridging online and physical space, You Are Here encompasses historical and contemporary perspectives, encouraging participants to engage with their immediate surroundings.
An engagement with place is at the heart of the programs of Colville House. Artist Alex Colville (1920-2013) lived for several decades in Sackville, and he often said that his time here allowed him to “know” this place. Many of his most important works are set in recognizable locations in and around the town. Colville chose to live in the relative isolation of Sackville. Beyond his desire for solitude, he was drawn to the particular landscape here, one that he described as “horizontal,” “open,” and “rather bleak.” A number of works by Colville are included in You Are Here.
You Are Here will be accompanied by a forthcoming teacher resource to support the interdisciplinary investigation of community mapping in the classroom.