PAST EXHIBITION
Vision Circle: The Art of Roy Thomas
Organized and circulated by the Thunder Bay Art Gallery
Ahnisnabae artist Roy Thomas (1949 – 2004) was one of the leading representatives of what is commonly referred to as the “Woodland School of Art.” Though the career of the founding figure of the school, Norval Morrisseau, preceded Thomas’s debut by almost 20 years, the paths of these two creative giants intersected more than once, throughout their lives. Like many other ‘Woodland’ artists across Northwestern Ontario, the two shared certain commonalities by virtue of regional proximity and cultural origin. Moreover, given the transmission and transference of the style, the work of these two artists spoke to the potency and complexity of contemporary Ahnisnabae visual culture and its pictographic roots.
Vision Circle: The Art of Roy Thomas constitutes the first critical examination of Roy Thomas’s artistic oeuvre and the presentation at McMaster Museum of Art includes more than 40 works from 1965 to 2002. The retrospective recognizes Roy’s contribution to Ahnisnabae painting and the magnitude of his creative vision. The exhibition title encapsulates two recurrent themes in Roy’s work: the visions that shape the fabric of the Ahnisnabae worldview, and the circle, a symbol of inclusion which invites viewers to consider the interconnected richness of Ahnisnabae thought. Vision Circle is also the title of a 1978 acrylic on canvas, which demonstrates the artist’s graphic use of the pictographic lexicon and knowledge of the guiding forces in the Ahnisnabae spirit world.
Exhibition Curator: Elizabeth McLuhan
December 20, 2012 – February 23, 2013
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We Remain Certain
Arenhátyen tsi ní:tsi teyottenyonhátye’ kwató:ken tsi nī:tsi yonkwa’nikonhrayén:ta’s
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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
