b.smart
Exhibitions/Shows
"Catch-All" Group Show - 2026 - Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary, AB
Included: "One In Every Four", "INERTIA" and
"Selection of Works from 2015-2025".
Self - curated and coordinated by Bonnie Smart
(co-coordinators Justin Waddell and installed by Whitney Reid)
"ONE IN EVERY FOUR"
(Image 1) One In Every Four.
(Images 1, 2 & 3) Smart, Bonnie. One in Every Four. 2026. Baby swing altered with paint, ribbon, leather straps and custom upholstery made from corset and other lingerie. Crochet dolls: condom, alcohol bottle and pill bottle with rattle embedded within. 4 ft x 3.5 ft.
Artist Statement:One In Every Four children are victims of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). This piece heeds caution to indoctrination as early as infancy. Survivors battle with increased risk of addiction, mental health issues, and higher suicide rates. Victims of CSA experience similar Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms to those of war veterans. Instead of insulating the offenders and handing them more power, our commitment needs to shift to protecting the vulnerable and supporting those affected. If we are not careful, we offer our children up as commodities to this broken system.
(Image 2) One In Every Four. (Detail)
(Image 3) One In Every Four. (Detail)
"INERTIA"
(Image 4) INERTIA.
(Images 4, 5 & 6) Smart, Bonnie. INERTIA. 2026. Prop of M982 Excalibur Precision Guided Missile: aluminum, stainless steel, cardboard, polystyrene, spray foam, crocheted wool, rivets. 1.5 ft x 6 ft.
Crochet is one of the few textile industries that has not been able to translate to machine stitching because the hand motion cannot be replicated. The conditions are problematic for those involved in the mass production of crochet goods and there is not much room to recuperate costs of labor on top of materials.
A lot of artists don’t want to work with investors in war and risk losing funding if they draw attention to unethical war profiteering. INERTIA, although derived from the word “inert” is anything but harmless once she is set in motion. An exaggerated version of the Excalibur M982, she draws attention to the inexpendibility of human lives. These GPS-guided missiles were developed to deliver precision shots over an extended range so to “reduce harm in civilian areas”. However, the specification notes say to hit at “impact near vertical for max. lethality.”
One of the M982 units is worth approximately CA$156K.
INERTIA asks questions about cost allocations and risk factors for a plan set in motion that seems unstoppable.
Video: https://1drv.ms/v/c/07f5c7c5b15eb80b/IQAD2KNCfdT1QYkvtq7GqjXgAekQq6rfixS1xc2FO_TMR1A?e=ARWA0p
(Image 5) INERTIA. Detail.
(Image 6) INERTIA. Detail.
"SELECTION OF WORKS FROM 2015-2025"
Smart, Bonnie. Mother and Child. 2015-2019. Acrylic paint on wood panel, thrifted picture frame. Layers added over years. This work has appeared as a digital material/texture in some of my 3D renderings (Community Pool/Infinity Island series).
Smart, Bonnie. Nourish. 2020. Acrylic paint on wood panel. Painted during lockdown.
Smart, Bonnie. Cowboy Hat. 2025. Hat covered in multicoloured crocheted acrylic yarn. Pattern written by Sarah Wolfe: “Granny Square Cowboy Hat”.
Smart, Bonnie. Doilie, 2025. A series of crocheted coasters joined together to create a small tablecloth. Adapted from Camilla Baroe’s pattern: “Ray of Sunshine – Coaster and Mandala”. (SOLD).
Smart, Bonnie. Forest Spirits. 2019. Acrylic paint on found wood panel. Painted in the forest during a family camping trip.
Smart, Bonnie. Fruit Bird. 2020. Acrylic paint on canvas. Painted during lockdown. (SOLD).
"Horse Show" Group Exhibition, 2012 - Alberta College of Art & Design - Calgary, AB
Featuring: "Dance of the Diseased"
Work by: Bonnie Smart, Michelangela Samiadji,
Tessa Seshay, Brooke Whitney
