On Thursday, July 23rd, Cath and I were invited out to the IX Gallery here in Toronto to attend the opening of a new art exhibition entitled “Big” which featured the work of Jack Butler, Erin Fitzsimmons, Kate Martin, Joshua Roy and Todd Lawson. The very general theme of the show was to exhibit artworks that were large in scale. Painting, photography and mixed media were all represented in the exhibition and subject matter varied from artist to artist.

When we first entered the gallery we were confronted with the ridiculous “Art” of Jack Butler. His is the type of work that becomes ammunition for critics against the art world and rightly so. I’d chastise my four year old nephew if he created work of such piss poor quality let alone an artist such as Jack Butler. If he were a politician, a move comparable to this one on the political stage would have the opposition screaming for his resignation. His childishly painted cut-outs were outrageously under qualified to be in any Art exhibition and the $4800 price tag on each one didn’t help their credibility either. Drech.

Next we encountered the works of Erin Fitzsimmons, a photographer whose large C-Prints placed the spectator in front of the chaotic order present in many of mankinds working and living spaces. Highly detailed, crisp and gripping, Erin’s large scale photos had our eyes jumping all over their surfaces trying to take in all the clutter that humans love to surround themselves with. It’s all about stuff!

Also represented at the show were the imposing faces of Joshua Roy. Painted rough and loose with colours indicative of the glam rock era, Joshua’s paintings had eyes that would grab you and not let go. He captured in one still moment the depth of feeling that so many looks in our society can convey but are missed so often as we trundle through the daily grind.

Packed away in the corner of the gallery were the surreal works of Kate Martin. Depicting Man and Nature communing with each other yet separated like incompatable formats, one of her acrylic paintings featured a child laying prostrate across a grassy field while floating several inches above it. They had the eerie quality one might find in a dream. Objects, individuals and Nature all seemed realistic enough but were slightly off kilter, just enough to make the viewer assume a  reverential calmness in case their actions might further subvert the natural order of things. I’d keep an eye on Kate Martin — good things are in the works from her.

Last but certainly not least were the stylistic and surreal works of Todd Lawson. While they were the smallest in the show and may not have fit too well with the theme of “Big”, they were by far the best artworks in the show.

I first met Todd at Sheridan College, where we were both students in the inaugural class of the Advanced Illustration program. Even then, back in 2001/2002, Todd’s artwork was imposingly professional. At the time he was using the computer program Maya and his own prodigious drawing skills to make singularly unique looking works of editorial illustration.

While he’s kept a similar aesthetic to his work, one that was prevalent back at the beginning of the new millenium, he has since dropped Maya from his personal repertoire and gone back to the more traditional techniques of painting, drawing and mixed media. According to his bio:

“Todd’s artwork explores the similar visual aesthetics and complex narratives he grew up admiring, pulling roots from folk art, pop art and art deco, while helping him to create paintings and dimensional work that tends to pull very strong influences from Americana’s past; comic books, science fiction, pulp art, fantasy, classic toys and retro paranoid advertising.

Always symbolic and often surreal, the work juggles story telling within a staged setting with emotional and sometimes awkward personal statements expressed through the various figurative characters who populate his worlds. He continues to explore these strange imaginative places in an effort expand the horizons of himself and those who like his work” [toddlawson.com]

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Mr. Lawson’s work is colourful, fun and engaging. It invites you into a world populated with strange and mysterious beings and creatures then assimilates the viewer regardless of his/her own lack of congruence within the setting. His paintings make you feel a little like the famous “Alice” during her exploits in Wonderland.

He was attending the opening with his wife Elesavet Lawson, who is also an illustrator and artist alongside Todd. They took quite a chunk of time out of their hob-nobbing schedule to talk to both Cath and I about Todd’s work, what they’ve been up to and what might be coming up in the future. We learned of the sad state of financial affairs in the world of professional illustration and how Todd is thinking of arranging another show of work not unlike his own in the near future. I smell a group show in the works!

Todd Lawson’s paintings along with the work of the other artists in the show will be on display at IX Gallery until the 29th of August. If you get the chance drop by and check them out. They’re definately worth the trip.

To see and read more about Todd Lawson please check out his website:

www.toddlawson.com

For now, that is all. Goodnight.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 12:37 pm and is filed under Articles, on ART . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.