Cartoonist’s prime suspects
MacKinnon exhibit looks at Canada’s prime ministers
SaltWire cartoonist Bruce MacKinnon will have his caricature-portraits of Canada’s prime ministers showcased at the J. Franklin Wright Gallery later this month.
The opening reception will take place Sunday, Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. with MacKinnon in attendance. Admission is free but reserved seats may be obtained at the civic centre box office. The exhibition will be open to the public Nov. 26 until Feb. 17.
This exhibition, curated by David Diviney, curator of modern and contemporary art at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, premiered in Halifax in August 2017 and this will be its second showing in Port Hawkesbury.
Included in the exhibition are examples of works-onpaper and paintings created by MacKinnon between 1993 and 2017 that together depict all 23 prime ministers, from Sir John A. Macdonald to Justin Trudeau.
MacKinnon has worked for the Halifax Chronicle Herald since 1985 and his work there has been widely recognized locally, nationally and internationally.
In 2011, he was made a member of the Order of Nova Scotia. In 2013, he was the recipient of an honorary doctorate from NSCAD University in Halifax and also received the Friend of St FX Award from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish.
Upon being appointed to the Order of Canada in 2016, a news release from Gov. Gen. David Johnston praised MacKinnon for being “fearless, thoughtful and provocative” and “one of Canada’s most talented and respected editorial cartoonists.”