Doris, Beaverlodge
Jessica Jang, Everything goes on forever, 2024, installation view
The Canadian art landscape is ever-changing. Places + Spaces keeps you informed of established and up-and-coming exhibition venues across the country including museums, galleries, artist-run centres, and more. This month, we hear from Maggie Tiesenhausen of Doris in Beaverlodge, Alberta.
What is the history and mandate of your gallery?
Katia Arcarese, Into the Flesh, 2023, installation view
Doris was established by Peter von Tiesenhausen, Murray Quinn, and Maggie Tiesenhausen in 2023. Doris is an anomalous art space meant to crosspollinate rural and metropolitan art practices, and to provide a site for swift and experimental exhibition-making. Doris hosts work by artists at every career stage, local and far flung alike. The three of us all do it for our own reasons, but common among them is a hope for vibrancy, mystery, and freshness in the arts sphere up here.
We are located upstairs in the Beaverlodge Art and Culture Centre, and Doris exhibitions are free and open to the public during BACS open hours. A key will be provided to you if you ask. Please sign the guestbook. It helps secure funding for the continued operation of the Beaverlodge Art and Culture Centre!
What’s a highlight of the neighbourhood where the gallery is located?
The Pink Tea Room, galleries, and Euphemia McNaught Room (like Doris, located inside Beaverlodge Art and Culture Centre), and the Giant Beaver attraction in the parking lot outside.
What’s your favourite part of running an art gallery?
Danan Lake, Mushrooming, 2025, installation view
Meeting new people and making connections, showing artists around the Peace Country, watching the space transform and transform again.
How do you find out about new artists?
David McGregor, Intimate Certainty, 2023, installation view
Word of mouth.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Miruna Dragan, TORPOR, 2024, installation view
Doris operates on immediacy. We could disappear at any moment.
What excites you about your upcoming exhibitions?
Margaret May, works on paper; Walter May, objects, 2026, installation view
We don’t know what our next exhibition is yet. In the meantime, we invite you to visit Margaret May: works on paper / Walter May: objects, open until early September.