The Timken Gallery is dedicated to the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre's permanent collection. We thank the Timken Foundation for their generous support.
Clark Mc Dougall OUT OF BOUNDS
Selections from the Permanent Collection
Timken Foundation Gallery
September 18 to October 31, 2010
“Well, as an artist, I would have to be classified as a self-taught artist and as far back as I’d say about 13, 14 years old, I was painting on the spot. I’d go to nature, which comprised the landscape about 5 miles north of St. Thomas, it’s the furthest extent of my travels by bicycle, and then I’d go maybe within 5 miles either side of that, so it became like a perimeter. I’d go out to the spot and paint…” Clark McDougall (An Interview by John Stirling in 1979)
The works displayed in this exhibition, McDougall’s “OUT OF BOUNDS”, document paintings produced outside the limits of St. Thomas and his 5 mile perimeter. These scenes are those of the city. They describe what he liked about the city, the electrical energy he felt in it as far as the surroundings go, such as automobiles in the streets. They are a build up of his experiences, his materials, and his philosophy, which assisted him in achieving the impact of the city.
His travels had a profound influence on his works and career. At age 16, he read about Charles Burchfield, the American painter, in an article in one of the first Life magazines. Subsequently he made the trip to Buffalo, New York to meet him and had asked him to evaluate his work. McDougall, at this point, was struggling with the idea of attending art school and with the encouragement of Burchfield, urged him to avoid art school and to continue to work directly from nature. He quit school to paint full time.
McDougall’s trip to Quebec and Montreal, in 1950, also had a great impact on his work. He had come under the influence of the French manner of working. He was inspired by John Lyman, James Wilson Morrice and had the opportunity to view works by Pierre Matisse. One painting, in particular, by John Lyman’s, was a self portrait. It was an example of a fauve painting and in which he was inspired by the way he had painted his flesh. “I think it was sort of a green colour… and the shadow area purple and it was so illogical that it became logical. And I realized at that moment that colour need not follow any given rule.” Clark McDougall (An Interview by John Stirling in 1979). From 1950 on, McDougall required a more exciting approach to his oil paintings, which had taken over as his chief medium, watercolour. This need eventually developed into the black enamel oil technique in 1963.
Clark Mc Dougall Barns
September 11 to November 27, 2010
Elgin County Museum
450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, ON
Experience the rural landscape of Elgin County through the distinctive style of nationally significant local artist Clark McDougall (1921-1980). The show includes a large number of original works on loan from private collectors and the St.Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre plus photographs and barn-related artifacts from the Museum’s collection. more...
TAKE ROOT – RON KINGSWOOD
Selections from the Permanent Collection
Timken Foundation Gallery
July 17 to September 11, 2010
“Look at the earth crowded with growth, new and old bursting from their strong roots hidden in the silent, live ground, each seed according to its own kind... each one knowing what to do, each one demanding its own rights on the earth... So, artist, you too from the deeps of your soul... let your roots creep forth, gaining strength” Emily Carr
A selection of paintings from the Art Centre’s permanent collection and from the artists’ private collection form this installation, featuring works from the last two decades of Ron Kingswood’s career which celebrate his connection with nature. Kingswood’s landscapes from this period reveal his developing keen observation of his surroundings and his attention to detail. These works have been selected to augment his current exhibition “LANDSCAPES” and demonstrate his growth as an artist, in his thought and expression.
