Michael Snow: notes on notes

As we reflect on the recent passing of Michael Snow (1928 - 2023) we take the time to celebrate his legacy as a Canadian artist of inimitable importance. 

In this period of remembrance, we are fortunate to share a thoughtful recollection on Michael Snow by writer and curator, Ihor Holubizky. 

Ihor is the recent link between Michael Snow and the ECH, who both became involved in the community in 2021. For his curatorial project on Duchamp, a guest + a host = a ghost, Ihor ushered in Michael Snow as a contributor to the ECH. This moment, drawn on a history of partnerships and intersections, once more brought together ECH co-founders Ron Benner and Jamelie Hassan with Michael Snow - further building on a past and present of friendship.

This honorable work that Ihor has shared with the ECH is inspired writing that beautifully conveys the spirit of his friendship and curatorial history with Michael Snow. Ihor’s text highlights aspects of Snow's musical and conceptual references, and how he viewed his art as “breaking rules” and that this was the way towards the making of “radical art”. 

Below is an excerpt of Ihor's text that we are happy to share with the ECH community during this time:
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This is not a rewind and restatement of Snow’s extensive international career, and seemingly diverse practices – the New York Times tribute aptly described him as a polymath – the honours and well-deserved awards and accolades. These are my notes on Michael Snow, who I came to know through my gallery work and in private moments, selecting experiential facets of his work with music, sound and moving image, and performing with the free improvisation group CCMC.  

While not adhering to chronology, my first encounters were with his 3D work in 1967, one at Expo’67.  If that event captured a spirit of the times – a giddy optimism – the stainless steel walking women that populated the Expo island site gave a corporeal and unearthly presence to that spirit; the clean contour of women always moving forward through "Man and His World” and reflecting the flow of world visitors… always moving forward.  

To read the full text "Michael Snow: notes on notes" by Ihor Holubizky, please visit the ECH website at this link. 

Michael Mitchell, "Michael Snow", polaroid test, 1993. Courtesy and copyright, Estate of Michael Mitchell