Kay Burns is the 2023 Historian in Residence

2023 Historian in Residence

Kay Burns is a multidisciplinary artist and researcher driven by perpetual curiosity. She is passionate about questioning the acquisition of knowledge and what unexpected connections are revealed through that process. Her work considers the authority of information, specifically in relation to archival and museum practices. As the Historian in Residence, she will explore Calgary Public Library’s map collection and records of surveyors, asking questions about the perception of place, about Calgary’s growth as a city, and the annexation of surrounding land.

About Kay’s research:

During Kay’s time as Historian in Residence she will be exploring questions around the history of maps. Maps have a curious tradition of embedded misrepresentations and lies. Centuries ago, explorers would embellish their maps to help ensure funding for their expeditions. During the Renaissance, cartographers devised various mathematical projections to translate the three-dimensional surface of the earth into two-dimensional form that wildly distorted the land it portrayed. The history of cartography as implemented in western Canada carries desires and practices of colonialism and land acquisition and leads to numerous questions regarding perspectives of land ownership. Working with the collection at Calgary Public Library, she will explore their maps and records of surveyors in relation to multiple perceptions of place; and consider the growth of the City of Calgary as it was divided into lots with annexation of land as deemed necessary.

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The Historian in Residence is presented in partnership with Calgary Public Library.