Thomson vs MacDonald

Some traditional Canadian landscapes at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), Toronto 2016 ...

Tom Thomson:

J.E.H. MacDonald:

Northern landscapes 2

Yesterday's daytime HIGH here in Toronto was -17 degrees C, coldest so far this winter.  I know these paintings won't complain ...

Canadian landscapes by Lawren Harris at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), Toronto 2013:

Northern landscapes

It's only November but Toronto is already in deep freeze.  I'm not ready for winter yet ...

Lawren Harris's unique northern landscapes of Canada at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), Toronto 2013:

Evening skies

Tom Thomson at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), Toronto 2014:

Emil Nolde at Museum Ludwig, Köln 2014:

Thomson's trees

His prolific but short-lived career has sparked the formation of the Group of Seven and is still influencing new generations of Canadian artists today.  Trees by the legendary Tom Thomson at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), Toronto 2014:

... while I was reading Margaret Atwood's Death By Landscape.

Dorland and the great Canadian landscape

Another show that's closing this weekend is Kim Dorland's You Are Here: Kim Dorland And The Return To Painting showing with the legendary Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven at the very beautiful natural setting of McMichael Canadian Art Collection, where Dorland had a year-long residency.  It's a PLUS PLUS PLUS.  It's just outside, in the northwest of, Toronto.  A short trip to the village of Kleinburg, where the gallery is, is really worth it.  As some might say, it's a quintessential Canadian experience.  I went there before Christmas just after our first heavy snowfall this winter.  The pristine, snow-covered forest outside framed by the gallery windows became part of the exhibition of phenomenal landscape paintings.

Dorland at McMichael, Kleinburg 2013:

Dorland previously at Angell Gallery, Toronto 2013:

Forest outside McMichael:

G72K12*

Douglas Coupland's tribute to the Group of Seven at Daniel Faria Gallery, Toronto 2012:

*G72K10 is the title of Coupland's solo exhibition at Monte Clark Gallery, Vancouver 2010.

NetherMind Mirabilia

Toronto's St. Anne's Church is celebrating its 150th anniversary with its Mirabilia festival.  Art installations by the NetherMind Artists' Collective took over the interior spaces of the church decorated with Group of Seven murals.

Mary Catherine Newcomb's wheat installation Osiris' Advance (10 000 Soldiers):

Lyla Rye's tarpaulin installation Sanctuary:

Max Streicher and Garnet Willis's inflatable sound installation Tree Organ is my favourite:

Catherine Heard's gilded busts Votive:

Tom Dean's layered etched glass The Ten Commandments:

The extraordinary interior of St. Anne's:

The exterior of the Byzantine Revival church: