Last night I had the honour of attending the preview of "A Collector's Passion" honouring Doris McCarthy. This exhibition is open to the public from January 14 through February 12, 2011. The location is spazio dell'arte at 400 Eastern Avenue, Suite 201 in Toronto. It is a must see. The personal collection of Alan Bryce is on display showing distinct distinct phases of Doris' work. There are water colours, wood cuts, and oils from various eras. One beautiful ice berg, a 48x60 was painted at age 95 in 2005.
Roberta Bondar in front of "Iceberge Fantasy #40"
A number of celebrities spoke. First up was Roberta Bondar, Canada's first female astronaut and long term Doris fan. Second up was one of Canada's well known artists, Harold Klunder.
Student Harold Praising Doris
And finally, long term friend Tom Smart spoke of some of Doris' defining words. They go like this, "oh, I love the world! I love nature! I love creation!
Tom Smart passing the torch
The space showed her early landscapes of the 1930s, to her hard-edge paintings of the 1960s and '70s, to her remarkable "Iceberg Fantasies" inspired by trips to the Canadian Arctic. Here is a sample.
At KeyHole Cottage
Dreamy Watercolour
Iceberg Fantasy Series
Iceberg Fantasy #40, 66x84, 1989
Doris McCarthy was mentored by many Group of Seven painters, including Arthur Lismer and J.E.H. MacDonald. Her work is held in many public and corporate collections, including the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Gallery of Canada.
On November 25th Doris McCarthy passed away at the age of 100. She is one of Canada's most celebrated and distinguished artists.
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