PAST EXHIBITION
Breaking Black: Nicole Collins
Toronto-based artist Nicole Collins takes her cues from alchemy in a new exhibition at the McMaster Museum of Art, Breaking Black. The artist was invited to develop an exhibition, combining her own works with selections from McMaster’s collection, as part of the Museum’s ongoing program, inviting artists as guest curators.
The work of the artist is often compared to that of the alchemist—experimental, transformative and transcendent—and alchemy has been a preoccupation for Collins throughout her own artistic practice. Her work, primarily encaustic painting, focuses on the effect of time, accumulation, force and heat on visceral materials.
For Breaking Black, Collins has selected paintings by Louis Comtois, Anselm Kiefer, and Sigmar Polke; a sculpture by David Nash; a 5th century BCE Kalyx-Krater; and a contemporary painting by an unknown artist. Two recent works by Collins are included as well as a recent work by Czech-born Toronto artist Jiri Ladocha, loans from the artists. (A detailed list of works follows.)
The title Breaking Black is drawn from one of Collins’ works.
In discussing the exhibition, Collins says, “The goal of alchemy was multiple: to transform base metals to gold; to pass from the darkness of ignorance to enlightenment; to transcend the physical and gain access to the spiritual. In this exhibition a kind of transmutation occurs with the gathering of these works.”
An exhibition publication, with an essay by Nicole Collins and colour images, is available.
Nicole Collins is a Toronto-based artist and an award-winning educator at the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCADU). Since 1994 she has shown in 10 solo exhibitions including The Embassy of Canada in Tokyo, and participated in many group exhibitions in Toronto, New York, London, Zurich.
Works in the exhibition:
Nicole Collins (Canadian b. 1962)
Breaking Black, 2011, Wax, pigment and rope on canvas and board, 244 x 183 cm
Agamemnon’s Dream, 2010, encaustic on canvas on board, 274.3 x 45.7 cm
Louis Comtois (Canadian 1945-1990)
Distortion in Yellow, 1979, Acrylic on canvas, 127 x 267 cm, Gift of Jeanette Hlinka, 2010
Anselm Kiefer (German b. 1945)
Yggdrasil, 1985-1991, Emulsion, acrylic (partially charred), melted lead, 220 x 190 cm
Levy Bequest Purchase, 1993
Jiri Ladocha (Canadian b. Czechoslovakia, 1942)
Silver Wave, 2012, Silver leaf on plywood, 2 panels, each 96.5 x 147.3 x 5cm. Courtesy of the artist
David Nash (English b. 1945)
Fins, 1987
Burnt carved wood, 81 x 163 x 41 cm, Gift of Leon Liffmann, 2010
Sigmar Polke (German 1941-2010
Zaun (Mutlangen), 1986, Synthetic resin, acrylic medium, metallic and graphite pigments,180 x 200 cm, Levy Bequest Purchase, 1996
Unknown
Untitled, Oil on canvas, 50.5 x 50.5 cm, George Loranger Bequest, 1994
Red-Figure Kalyx-Krater, Early Lucanian School 5th century ceramic
Gift of Herman Levy, Esq., O.B.E. in honour of Dr. Clement H. Stearn
Curated by: McMaster Museum of Art
November 15, 2012 – January 12, 2013
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SUBMISSIONS & ASSISTANCE
SUBMISSIONS:
The McMaster Museum of Art is presently not accepting artists’ submissions for exhibitions at this time of leadership change at the museum. Our Interim Director will be undertaking a review of the museum’s forward exhibition schedule, as well as our policies and procedures, in the coming months. Our present focus is the ongoing maintenance of our permanent collection and storage needs for future collection activities.
The museum remains committed to our collecting priority in the continued support of early career, mid-career and established Indigenous artists, artists of the Black diaspora and racialized artists through purchases and commissions. Donations will be welcomed and reviewed at a future date which will be posted on our website.
ASSISTANCE:
The McMaster Museum of Art is a third party recommender for Ontario Arts Council (OAC) Exhibition Assistance Grants.
The museum is currently accepting applications. Our next program deadline is: December 16, 2024.
Priorities:
Artists who demonstrate an interest and consideration of art as a medium for social change and action.
Please follow the guidelines established by the Ontario Arts Council, apply directly through their website, and submit the following with your applications:
Brief artist statement
Confirmation letter from the gallery/museum/venue
Budget
CV
Digital images of work
