Gibson Gallery exhibits Canada 150 juried art show

By MD NURUZZAMAN

Local artists displayed their representational art works for an exhibit at Gibson Gallery to mark the celebration of Canada 150. The Gibson Gallery of Amherstburg organized the art exhibition.

Most of the artists are from Windsor and Essex County. The artists chose various mediums and subject matter to depict the celebration of Canada’s 150 years.

“The art works are phenomenal.” Exhibit chair Kathleen Cant said.

Cant said the works of art are very surprising to depict the representation of Canada 150.

Artists depicted Sir John A. MacDonald’s vision of Canada Elijah McCoy, a black Canadian mechanical engineer and inventor of industrial lubrication, Mackenzie Hall; and leaders from the Suffragettes Movement — Marry Ann Shadd, Emily Stowe, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Edwards and Emily Murphy. These women are known as the famous five.

The artist also depicted two iconic women: Dr. Roberta Bonder, Canada’s first female astronaut and Kim Campbell is a Canadian politician, diplomat, lawyer and writer who served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada.

One of the artists depicted indigenous people through the French and British colonization. The artist used symbolic representation of money, hockey and coffee for representation of pure Canadian.

In another art work, the RCMP musical ride also depicted and symbolized the Goodwill of Canada.

Rachel Fitzgerald is a student employee at the Gibson Gallery and said visitors expressed excitement about the theme and content of the art work.

“The visitors absolutely love it,” said Fitzgerald.

According to the Gibson Gallery, the jury committee gave first place to Dennis K. Smith for “The Real McCoy,” The second place went to Nancy Bauer for “Many Things are Canadian but …‘Eh!’ says it all.” The third winner was Sue Southern for “Canadian Women at Mackenzie Hall,” The jury also announced honourable mentions for Mariano Klimowicz for “Homestead,” Debbie Goldring for “Strong and Free” and Donovan Alp for “A Vision.”

The exhibition is open to the public and will continue to Oct.1. The Gibson Gallery is also a venue for the 7^th Annual Windsor Essex Open Studio Tour 2017.