At Meaford Hall

My artwork currently on display at Meaford Hall includes several of my ‘Cloud’ paintings as well as a few of my ‘Clouds and Waves’ constructions.

These works fall generally within the category of landscapes, overlaid and abstracted through the lens of my experience being in the landscape. I’m representing not so much what the landscape looks like as much as what it’s like to look at the landscape.

The rocky shore of Georgian Bay is a nexus of powerful realms. The landscape descends to tumultuous waves under an ever-shifting skyscape. Overlaid this world of raw nature, are the ephemeral traces of human activity. Some of these broken boulders are made of concrete. Rusty rebar reaches crookedly toward the sky. Further in from the shore, you might trip over the regular pattern of old railway ties under the brambles.

Viz and I have embarked on an extensive history project to research the lost architecture and infrastructure as well as the stories about the people in this area around Meaford.

A century ago, Meaford was a busy industrial town. A foundry, a woolen mill, a furniture factory, and a hardwood flooring factory were some of the industries supported by a rail network and a deep-water harbour. Today only a few traces remain.

In these artworks I represent the experience of being on this shoreline. The effect of the sound of the waves; the impact of the massive clouds above and the faint traces and ruins of human activity. All of this is in a constant state of flux.

In the artwork you can follow geometries that break apart and contradict each other. Fragments of buildings and text intermingle with cloud and sky images. Areas of interference paint flash and fade as you move around. Look closely and let the paintings induce an experience similar to what you might feel out on the Georgian Bay shore.