MUSE in The Library: An Interview with Dawn MacNutt

Have you wondered about the sculpture on the library stage? The piece greets students, teachers, and visitors touring the building every day. The artist of the piece, whose work is part of many prominent gallery collections across Canada, and currently on exhibition at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Art Gallery, has an interesting connection with King's-Edgehill School. I was fortunate to connect with her to find out more.

SD: Hello Dawn, it's nice to be in touch with you. I am a bit familiar with your work from my time at the St. Francis Xavier University (St. FXU) Art Gallery and Art Gallery of Nova Scotia gallery shop where I worked as a student in the late 90s and early 2000s. I'm now at King's-Edgehill School as librarian and I'm lucky to see your sculpture every day. Would you have time to tell me a bit about it and how it came to live here at King's-Edgehill School?

DM: Congratulations on your appointment to King’s-Edgehill as librarian. I was looking in my picture and document files for the piece that King’s-Edgehill acquired during the time that Laura (MacNutt), my daughter was teaching art at the school, and her daughter Emma was a student.
 

SD: What is the sculpture made of?

DM: The piece is of willow, harvested from the land and twined. It is called MUSE and was donated to the school during the time that Harry Munroe was Chairman of the Board. I believe it was 2006.

SD: I have bought a copy of the new exhibition book that MSVU published in 2024 that covers your current showing at MSVU Art Gallery to place beside the piece. I was hoping to provide some context of your piece for current students and staff. How can we find out more about it? 

DM: Its form relates to the last (MUSE) chapter of the book, MUSE. PS. The show comes down from MSVU Gallery on April 12 but resurfaces at StFX U Gallery on September 18 at 1:00 pm.

SD: Thanks for answering my questions, Dawn, and best wishes with the rest of your exhibition tour.