Film is art just as much as a painting hanging on a wall, say the creators of the Art Gallery of Sudbury's latest exhibit.
Until Dec. 24, Art Gallery of Sudbury's Gallery One features Greenboots, an exhibit created by a local film production company of the same name.
“I think what I really appreciate is they're looking at film not necessarily as this industry or product,” said John Alden Milne, who runs Greenboots with his spouse, Anne Boulton.
“They're looking at film how we look at it — that we can do anything with it.”
Just about five years old, Greenboots mainly produces music videos for local bands. That includes Matt Foy, Almighty Rhombus, Night Terrors, Pistol George Warren Jessica Cardinal, Ox and Kill the Autocrat.
Milne has also worked with well-known Southern Ontario band Great Lake Swimmers.
Greenboots has also produced a short film, Dancing Is Meaningless. Milne and Boulton are currently writing a full-length feature film.
Their work has won multiple awards, including at the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards and at Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival.
The Art Gallery of Sudbury exhibit features five video screens — complete with sets of earphones — playing their various music videos and films.
Framed stills from the productions line the walls, and there's a glass case displaying a script. Boulton and Milne were even allowed to decorate the gallery to their liking.
“They gave us carte blanche,” Milne said. “We built the exhibit to our specs, just because it represents our esthetic. It's not just the film, it's everything.”
The couple say they hope their exhibit shows people that film — and art — can be accessible and fun.
“Music videos are the gateway drug to other forms of cinema,” Milne said.
They were approached by the gallery to do the exhibit after filming a music video for Night Terrors at the historic facility.
“There's the film world that gives us the recognition through Cinéfest or other film festivals, but to be actually recognized as artists within the actual arts community, it's huge for us,” Boulton said. “We are honoured.”
Art Gallery of Sudbury's Gallery Two currently features Central Registrar, giving the public a behind-the-scenes look at the digitization of the gallery's permanent collection.
The gallery has waived entrance fees in favour of admission by donation until Dec. 24. Art Gallery of Sudbury is located at 251 John St. It's open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit ArtSudbury.org, or phone 705-675-4871.
