Potter’s talk, titled “Structurally Porous and Perpetually in Progress: Development & Progress of the Esker Foundation” will speak on the development and progress of Esker Foundation as a generous, supportive, and caring contemporary art gallery. How does one build an institution without becoming too institutional, support the local while participating in a global conversation, and above all how to bring relevance and accessibility to the diverse and complex communities. Potter will speak about developing this model, and the curatorial and engagement focus that supports it.
This event is one-part of Oxygen’s Masterclass Series programming that offers professional support, education, and discourse surrounding contemporary art practice. Potter will also be offering a workshop.
Naomi Potter is the Director/Curator of Esker Foundation in Calgary. Over the last twenty years she developed numerous curatorial, artist, and residency projects in Canada and Central and Eastern Europe. From 2009-2011, she was curator of Walter Phillips Gallery at The Banff Centre where she produced solo projects and exhibitions with many artists including; Anthony Burnham, Geoffrey Farmer, Melanie Gilligan, Brian Jungen, Ragnar Kjartansson, Silke Otto-Knapp, and Ron Terada. More recently she has worked to develop solo projects at Esker Foundation with Peter von Tiesenhausen, Jason deHaan, Mia Feuer, Colleen Heslin, Etienne Zack, Jasmina Cibic, Tammi Campbell and Agnes Martin to name a few. In 2003, Potter was awarded a yearlong Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD) artist residency in Istanbul, and from 2003 to 2007 was co-director of the international artist residency program at CESTA in the Czech Republic. In 2014, she was selected as one of Alberta’s 50 most influential people by Venture magazine, and in 2015 was a guest of both the Australian Arts Council and British Council International Curatorial Visit programs. She currently sits on the Board of Directors at Stride Gallery in Calgary. Potter holds a BFA from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and an MFA in sculpture from Concordia University, Montreal.
