Production/Theories: Galleries

Gallery 4: Group of Seven

The Group of Seven exhibit was the second of three featured at the AGO. As you recall from my previous gallery review, my camera died so there are no pictures from this exhibit or the following one :(

What was virtually inescapable when I entered the exhibit was the wall of silence that I'd seem to have hit. The exhibit felt almost dead it was so silent. The few people that were looking around moved as if they were cat burglars or ninjas -- attempting to make no noise at all costs.

The Group of Seven paintings themselves were magnificent. A great testament to Canadian culture that is all too often overlooked in this day and age.

The paintings themselves were varied in mood, style, subject matter and color - just what you'd expect from seven different artists. My personal favorites were any of the abstract pieces that experimented with color... they felt very vibrant and alive. More "modern" if you will, than the other pieces.

An interesting interactive piece in the exhibit was showcased in the first room. In a glassed in area was works (written and drawn) done by gallery visitors and submitted to the AGO. Some were simply stunning renditions of paintings on the walls, others were amazingly elegant critiques (some by people as young as 14 years old!) of the paintings. I felt it added an amazing degree of interactivity and closeness with the works, the ability to comment or reflect on them and have your thoughts displayed right next to those very works.

Amazing.

posted by Brian