Unboxed is a two-person exhibition at the Ten by Ten Project space, created by artist Heejung Shin at Boarding House Arts, an artist-run space supporting emerging and established artists through accessible, professionally presented exhibitions. Guest curated by local artist Laurie Skantzos, the show features David Brown (Toronto) and Ian Leach (Guelph), and explores how cardboard and fibre-based materials can be transformed through processes of deconstruction, reconstruction, and sculptural intervention. Guelph Arts Council spoke with curator Laurie Skantzos about the ideas behind Unboxed and the process of bringing the exhibition together.
What was the main inspiration behind the title “Unboxed”?
Unboxed is a title that David Brown came up with, and it immediately felt right. It speaks to the material both artists use, cardboard and fibreboard, but also to the idea of undoing. Ian Leach starts by literally dismantling boxes, while both artists push the material far beyond its original function. Even the gallery plays into this, it’s essentially a 10 x 10-foot box, shaped by the angles of a stairwell, so the work is both inside the box and pushing against it.
What first drew you to the idea of pairing David Brown and Ian Leach for this show?
What drew me to pairing Ian and David is how differently they approach the same kind of material. They’re both working with something humble and not intended to have aesthetic value, and transforming it into sculptural objects. There’s something surprising in that, how strong, adaptable, and versatile cardboard and fibreboard can be.
How do both artist’s works play off of each other, what dialogue emerges?
A dialogue starts to happen when you see the work together. David’s pieces are more angular and geometric, and they really highlight the organic, almost vessel-like quality of Ian’s forms. At the same time, Ian’s work softens and offsets David’s. They balance each other in a way that feels very natural.
There’s also a playful quality that bounces around the exhibition that was really fun to work with. It wasn’t overly planned, it just started to emerge as we were installing. The space contributes to that too. It’s small and a bit unconventional, with these unexpected angles, so it allows for unusual placements and moments of discovery. It’s the kind of space that could easily be overlooked, much like the materials the artists are using, but it ends up having a real presence.
What’s the one thing you hope people feel or think about after they leave the Boarding House Arts gallery?
I hope people come away with a sense of possibility and a bit of whimsy. It’s really an invitation to see familiar materials differently, and maybe to think, quite literally, outside the box.
Unboxed will be on view at Ten By Ten Project space at Boarding House Arts (6 Dublin St. S. Guelph ON) from April 22 – June 26 2026 with an opening reception May 2nd, 1pm-3pm.For more info visit the Ten By Ten Project website.
