The celebrated Canadian artist Alex Colville died a few days ago at the ripe old age of ninety-two. He enjoyed his home in Wolfeville, Nova Scotia to the end and while his wife and muse, Rhoda, died last December they shared 70 years of marriage.
There was a pensive and even ominous quality to Colville's paintings which meant that even though they were representational they were also surreal. We were invited into scenes that left us wondering about the outcome, such as Horse and Train which became the cover art for Bruce Cockburn's Night Vision album forty years ago. Colville was a war artist and Rhoda experienced the tragic loss of most of her family as a child, so perhaps these experiences shaped his artistic sensibilities. Colville was modest about his accomplishments and took a workmanlike approach to painting.
The Colville's were churchgoers and a story that always makes me smile is of Rhoda having a group of church women into their home in the early 1960's. At that time a large painting of a nude Rhoda was prominently displayed where the guests couldn't help but see it. She wondered what tongues were set to wagging as a result of that visit.
Do you know Colville's work? We have a Colville signed reproduction, a dubious art form to be sure, in our living room. The Seven Crows is so evocative of the Wolfville area, which we enjoyed while living in Nova Scotia. Any thoughts or comments about Colville? About the church ladies?
6 comments:
Art and Canadian art, specifically, are not my area of expertise, so I am always appreciative of your perspective during postings like this one.
I bet that did set their tongues to wagging (the church ladies) too funny! Good for Rhoda for displaying it so proudly and not taking it down when the ladies came by. I had the Night Vision album, one of many albums that has gone missing over the years. I found the cover stirring and interesting but had no idea who the artis was(until now). Thank you for the lesson today. The Seven Crows is beautiful.
Yes, as a Mt A grad and Maritimer, I am very fond of Colville's work and that of his student, Mary Pratt. A history teacher wrote an editorial in this week's G&M about the power of Colville's war paintings which had such an impact on his students. Colville's works (Horse & Train, PEI Ferry) are gentle and perfect, then suddenly startling and thought-provoking. Thanks, David for blogging about this great Canadian.
Colville's work is simple and engaging - nice stuff!
I think if I were Rhoda, I would not want the painting to be displayed where all could see it - so I can imagine why the church ladies' tongues might be wagging - but that is just me - some things, although very lovely, are not meant for total public display, I think.
Was lucky to have had a weekend workshop with Alex Colville years ago. Interesting man, really like his work, also love Mary Pratt's work. Have modelled many years ago for a art retreat weekend for United Church ministers, then I have taught life drawing to a few United Church ministers, I find that they make great students, they are so open to seeing/looking at things in a new way.
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