For the love of true patriot art
Gallery exhibition highlights works from well-known Canadian artists
Just in time for a holiday outing, a special exhibition — The Art of Canada: Director’s Cut — has opened at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ont., just north of Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The 150 pieces on display were hand-picked by the McMichael’s new executive director Ian A.C. Dejardin, who joined the gallery in April of this year.
The exhibition includes works from the McMichael collection by well known Canadian artists — Thom Thomson, the Group of Seven, Emily Carr, Norval Morrisseau, David Milne, Christiane Pflug, Alex Colville — as well as some by less familiar names. Both longtime favourites and rarely seen pieces are on display.
A Scot by birth, Dejardin has a long-standing passion for, and deep knowledge of, Canadian art.
While working for London’s Dulwich Picture Gallery, he curated Painting Canada: Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, which brought the artist’s work to England for the first time and drew record attendance before travelling to Norway and the Netherlands.
Dejardin later co-curated From the Forest to the Sea: Emily Carr in British Columbia.
“In the vaults of the McMichael, I feel like a kid in a sweet shop — it is so exciting to discover the richness and variety of work in the collection,” Dejardin said in a statement. “I am grateful to have the chance to share my first impressions of this wonderful collection with the public. I hope they will like what I have chosen.”
The Art of Canada: Director’s Cut continues through Nov. 18, 2018. For details, go to mcmichael.com.