An exhibition catalogue published in conjunction with a travelling exhibition curated by Dan Ring for the Mendel Art Gallery, where it was shown from 29 October 1993 to 2 January 1994. Vanderhaeghe contributes the essay “Brand Name vs. No-Name" : A Half-Century of the Representation of Western Canadian Cities in Fiction, while Melnyk provides a multi-part essay examining the historical development and cultural significance of prairie urban centres, from ancient history through the emergence of the modern West.
The catalogue explores the evolution of a distinct urban culture on the Canadian Prairies from the late 19th century onward. Through paintings, photographs, and commercial imagery dating from approximately 1880 to 1960, it presents a visual and textual record of prairie cities and towns that contrasts with the more romanticized imagery traditionally associated with the West.
Notes adapted from the publishers information.
