Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Interview with Sarah Fillmore, Chief Curator of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and
curator of the Sobey Art Award.
Realism
The 20th century was dominated by the realists.
Alex Colville, who's family moved to Amherst, Nova Scotia, from Toronto when he
was nine years old, is Atlantic Canada's most famous artist. While Colville is known as a
realist, many of his works are reminiscent of the American Precisionist movement of the
1930s and he was greatly influenced by the American realist Edward Hopper. There's a
dreamy aspect to Colville's work that make the seemingly innocuous Canadian scenes he
painted a shade darker, then they become more enigmatic the longer you examine them.
Colville passed away peacefully at the age of 92 in 2013 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
Power artist couple (although no longer married) Christopher and Mary Pratt met at
Mount Allison University in Sackville, where they both studied under and were influen-
ced by Alex Colville. While Christopher's stark, streamlined landscape pieces are nearly
photographic in quality, Mary uses color and design more boldly in her still life, portrait
and domestic scenes. Both of the Pratts currently live in Newfoundland and Christopher
runs a gallery featuring his works as well as other artists in Bay Roberts.
Another student of Colville's, Tom Forrestall has been called a Magic Realist, a
moniker given to many East Coast Canadian artists post-WWII. Forrestall's works are
very Maritime in theme (think crab traps on wood docks and ice fields).
Newfoundland painter David Blackwood takes the magic a little farther with star-lit
dark images of ghostly people or stormy sea vistas from the shore. In 2003 he was named
Honorary Chairman of the Art Gallery of Ontario, although he still maintains a studio in
Wesleyville, Newfoundland .
FESTIVALS
NNova Sc
t Festtiivaal( www.nsfolkartfestival.com ; Lunenburg; early Aug)
The festival kicks off with a buffet dinner ($20), commemorative video and a
chance to meet the artists. The sale is the following day (entry $5) with an auction
and door prize.
SStudio R
a Scottia F
ia Folk A
olk Arrt F
ally( www.studiorally.ca ; Nova Scotia; early Oct)For more than 20
years, artists all over Nova Scotia have opened their doors to all visitors on this
special weekend.
udio Rally
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