The exhibition Piece and Parse brought together works by Grace Han, M.E. Sparks, and Nicole Shimonek to explore the act of dismantling and reconfiguring as a way of making sense of uncertainty. Han and Sparks, both faculty members at the University of Manitoba’s School of Art, investigated material and conceptual approaches to fragmentation, while Shimonek extended these inquiries through documentation and collage.
“The artworks in Piece and Parse embodied a liminal space,” wrote researcher and writer Lindsay Inglis. “They sought to make sense of their subject matter while also bringing peace to uncertainty. All three artists incorporated dismantling into their practice, deconstructing narrative structures to examine fragments individually. By building upon and reconstructing these fragments, new stories emerged from the rubble.”
Han, known for her ceramic work, explored reconstruction through material transformation, while Sparks dissected painterly and historical structures. Shimonek documented spaces in flux, such as construction sites and abandoned homes, capturing their transitions through photography and collage.
Rather than imposing order on disorder, Piece and Parse embraced the contradictions of identity, history, and place. The exhibition invited viewers to engage in parsing—breaking things down to understand them anew—while recognizing the power of the spaces in between.
Curated with a focus on process and materiality, Piece and Parse highlighted the dynamic and exploratory practices of School of Art faculty and artists working within and beyond the academic sphere. It offered a meditation on transformation and the creative potential of reconstruction.
The Exhibition was on view February 28–March 9 at 226 Gallery, Winnipeg.
