November, 2024 – home again

William Kurelek, Hand Saw, 1975, mixed media on board, 16″ x 28″

Family, place and community were at the centre of Kurelek’s world and his art. Whether it be home or studio, his craft and ability to capture his place is evident in this fine portrayal of his framing tools. Never far from his grasp they became the subject of a larger body of work later in his life and career.

Kim Adams, Condo Box, 2003, HO scale model parts, 9″ x 44″ x 10″

Barges that might have carried and transported containers in the shipping industry become subject for Kim Adams seriously playful, layered and prescient practice. In this fine, reductive 2003 sculpture he foreshadows social and urban changes.

Doris McCarthy, Daniel’s Harbour, 1980, watercolour, 22″ x 30″

Newfoundland was almost like a second summer home to McCarthy. Her sketching trips there were frequent and in the earlier days she travelled the Newfoundland shores by supply boat, (the only way for her to get to many of the outports at that time). Looking at this painting you can feel the place, the sights and smells of a small fishing village looking, as she did, from the sea.

Ted Rettig, again and again, 1982-2006, mixed media, 42” x 22” x 26”

In 2007, for Rettig’s solo exhibition at WTG, he brought back into play in this fine and eclectic work, an early stone carving, originally exhibited in one of his first solo shows at Aggregation Gallery, our third gallery home on Front Street East, Toronto.

again and again, once again comes home to WTG, holding within it elements and ideas, an eccentric beauty, and a depth of time.

Greg Curnoe, Morittz Furniture, 1984, watercolour, 9″ x 12″

London, Ontario was Curnoe’s birthplace, home and studio, -a place of discovery, family life and centre of his universe. In his art he was ever expanding and encompassing, with moments of recognition of home never far away, wherever he might be, as in this lovely and vibrant watercolour.