THE ART OF ROBERT BATEMAN Exhibition Held Over
…now closes November 4th, 2007
Kleinburg, ON. Oct. 18, 2007 —THE ART OF ROBERT BATEMAN, a major retrospective exhibition that explores the work of Canadian wildlife artist Robert Bateman has enjoyed record attendance since it opened September 1st at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. The popular exhibition will be extended to Sunday, November 4th. It was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, October 28th.
To accommodate the thousands of art lovers who have been lining up every weekend to gain admission to the McMichael, the public gallery will open one hour earlier this weekend and the following two weekends to allow more people to see the exhibition. The gallery will be open from 9am to 4pm the weekends of October 20th, October 27th and November 3rd. Regular hours of operation 10am to 4pm will be in effect from Monday to Friday.
“THE ART OF ROBERT BATEMAN has struck a chord with Canadians; this artist and his works resonate with people of all ages. We’ve been impressed by the sheer number of people coming out to the McMichael to see the Bateman show. Ours is the only gallery in the country that is showcasing the Bateman retrospective and we know that there are still thousands of people who want to see the exhibition. It is because of that overwhelming interest for Robert Bateman’s art that we are keeping the exhibition here in Kleinburg for another seven days,” said Tom Smart, McMichael CEO and Executive Director. “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to extend THE ART OF ROBERT BATEMAN since it opens in less than a month’s time at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. As it is, by extending the run of this show, we will have to delay the start of our next exhibition by a few days.” (The exhibition, Miller Brittain: When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears, will now open Friday, November 16th.)
THE ART OF ROBERT BATEMAN, produced and curated by U.S. wildlife artist expert Dr. David J. Wagner, is an exhibition that not only celebrates the work of the Canadian artist but also highlights his long-standing commitment to the preservation and restoration of endangered species. This special exhibition contains over 50 signature paintings, bronze sculpture, books and videos, plus works on paper which include examples of his original prints and personal sketchbooks.
Recognized by his peers as one of the most influential wildlife painters of all time, 77-year-old Robert Bateman is an artist whose oeuvre encompasses other subjects ranging from the human figure, still life, portraiture, landscapes and waterscapes, and other media including original prints and sculpture. Consequently, THE ART OF ROBERT BATEMAN has been conceptualized and designed to exemplify the breadth and depth and versatility of Robert Bateman and his artistic output.
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Culture. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of more than 5,500 artworks, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, First Nations and Inuit artists.
The gallery is located on Islington Avenue, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in Kleinburg and, for the duration of this exhibition, is open daily Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 4pm. (Regular hours of operation will resume on Monday, November 5th and the gallery will be open daily from 10am to 4pm.)-30-
For High Rez Photo and other information
Media Contact
Stephen Weir, Publicist
(905) 893-1121 ext. 2529 Gallery
(416) 489-5868 Home Office
(416) 801-3101 Cell
sweir5492@rogers.com
