New exhibition: Drawing Conclusions
Rarely seen drawings by the Group of Seven
and contemporary Canadian artists.
February 23 to June 8, 2008
February 14, 2008 Kleinburg, ON —Visitors to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection will be able to draw their own conclusions of the rich legacy of drawing in Canada. Opening on February 23 the new exhibition Drawing Conclusions examines the works of some of Canada’s best known Canadian contemporary artists juxtaposed with the freehand works created by members of the Group of Seven.
For many Canadian artists drawing is an important component of their creativity. Drawing Conclusions presents 25 pieces by the nation’s most prominent contemporary artists and approximately 70 drawings by members of the Group of Seven. The McMichael show demonstrates the importance of “freehand drawing” in the training of artists throughout of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The selection of works hanging in the exhibition range from Globe and Mail editorial cartoons to sketches drawn on the battlefield.
The exhibition, which closes on June 8, provides a rare opportunity to view drawings that are seldom exhibited due to their sensitivity to light. Included are drawings that not only served as visual diaries and preparatory drawings for future large canvases, but also were often finished works in themselves. Collectively these drawings allow the viewer to explore the place and role of this medium in the artistic practice dating back to the turn of the last century and moving forward to today.
Thematically selected works – portraits, figure studies, design and calligraphy, war studies, caricatures, urban scenes, and landscapes – provide insight into the Group’s influences and the range of their drawing skills as a means of artistic expression.
“The significance of the Group of Seven for me, from an early age is that they were “there”. They were artists that painted the ‘outdoors’. Their status was iconic,” says contributing artist Ann Kipling. “As my own art practice evolved, I could not attribute direct influence to the Group as a whole other than drawing as a means of exploration and working en plein air.”
Today, the Group’s influence may still be seen in some of the works of many of Canada’s contemporary artists (others simply share a link to the discipline of drawing). To illustrate this link and the renewed interest in the importance of this artistic medium, Drawing Conclusions gives the McMichael the rare opportunity to look at the work of living artists in context to the gallery’s permanent collection holdings. This adjunct exhibition of contemporary works, curated by McMichael’s Senior Curator Shelley Falconer and Assistant Curator Chris Finn, spotlights the works of Allan Mackay, Sheila Butler, Nobuo Kubota, John Ward, Brian Gable, Ann Kipling, Charles Pachter, Tony Scherman and Medrie MacPhee.
“For me, the mimetic aspect of drawing effects a strong connection between the image that I draw and the source for the image in the world of lived reality,” explains Sheila Butler, one of nine important contributing artists.
For contributing artist Tony Scherman: “When I draw, I am passing through a lit universe and taking light out. Someone or something was there before me to light the paper. Theologically, God was there. In drawing, time only goes one way; once there is no more light, it’s over.”
The Group of Seven Drawing Conclusions exhibition has been curated by Terrence Heath. Mr. Heath is one of Canada’s most distinguished curators and art historians. He is also the award-winning author of numerous books, including the recently published biography of Canadian sculptor Joe Fafard.
In addition to the new drawing exhibition, the McMichael is also presenting a show based on the works by London, Ontario’s James Crerar Reaney. Mr. Reaney is one of Canada’s literary giants and he is also a gifted artist. The McMichael Canadian Art Collection opened an exhibition of his work – the first by a major public gallery – on January 26. The show, curated by the McMichael’s Sharona Adamowicz-Clements, closes on May 18, 2008.
About the Gallery
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.
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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
