September 5, 2012 Kleinburg, ON –This fall, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection explores Canadian history through the wonderful diversity of individuals who have left—and are leaving—their mark on our country and our culture. Double Take: Portraits of Intriguing Canadians is on display at the gallery from September 22, 2012 to January 6, 2013, and invites visitors to take a look (or two) at portraits of over fifty Canadians that tell compelling stories of assumed identity, assassination, exploitation, discovery, invention, injustice, activism, and achievement.
The bilingual exhibition (Volte-face: Portraits de Canadiens fascinants) is organized and circulated by Library and Archives Canada. Curated by Carolyn Cook, it showcases the richness and variety of the national portrait collection and provides the opportunity for Library and Archives Canada to exhibit some works for the first time.
The 100 works in Double Take span four centuries, from early explorers such as Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain, to contemporary icons such as David Suzuki and Joni Mitchell, in a variety of media including paintings, photographs, cartoons, drawings, video, and sculpture. Additional audio—voices of contemporary sitters and commentators in recorded interviews—further strengthens the encounter with dialogue and stimulates visitors to think, assess, and compare the characters presented.
The fifty-seven sitters who make up this remarkable portraiture of Canada are:
| Margaret Atwood
Dr. Frederick Banting Archibald Belaney/Grey Owl Norman Bethune Conrad Black J.R. Booth Frances Brooke Rosemary Brown June Callwood Cassie Campbell Kim Campbell Jacques Cartier Thérèse Casgrain Caubvick Samuel de Champlain Jean Chrétien Adrienne Clarkson Leonard Cohen Douglas Coupland |
Roméo Dallaire
Dionne Quintuplets Maurice Duplessis Arthur Erickson Gratien Gélinas Glenn Gould Elijah Harper Ben Johnson Pauline Johnson Tom Longboat Sir John A. Macdonald Irshad Manji Nellie McClung Thomas D’Arcy McGee Norman McLaren Marshall McLuhan Joni Mitchell Marquis de Montcalm Norval Morrisseau |
Alanis Obomsawin
Patriotes Mary Pickford Jacques Plante Mary Pratt Mordecai Richler Louis Riel Buffy Sainte-Marie Laura Secord Robert Service Joey Smallwood Donald Sutherland David Suzuki Catherine Tegahkouita Tom Thomson Pierre E. Trudeau Marie-Madeleine de Verchères Gilles Villeneuve James Wolfe |
Programs that complement Double Take: Portraits of Intriguing Canadians are listed below and will be on during the exhibition to provide visitors an even more intriguing experience! Please visit www.mcmichael.com for registration and more information.
Saturday, September 22, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Double Take: Portraits of Intriguing Canadians
Join curator Carolyn Cook on a tour revealing the most compelling and diverse stories of Canadian personalities, such as sprinter Ben Johnson and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. A special treat for those who love the more personal take on Canadian history. Included with gallery admission. Registration required.
Sunday, September 23, 1:30 p.m.
The Signallers, An Art Encounter with Artist Elaine Goble
Reflect upon Canadian history with Elaine Goble, artist of Senator Romeo Dallaire’s portrait on view in the Double Take exhibition. Elaine Goble’s passion for Canadian military history takes her to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion, from where this story literally dropped on her doorstep in an old trunk full of memorabilia belonging to a certain Colonel Lorne Ardiel. Reconstructing the historical narrative from old letters and photographs, Goble has created an artwork entitled The Signallers that will be unveiled during this presentation. Included with gallery admission. Registration required.
Sunday, October 28, 11:30 a.m.
Double Take: Beyond the Public Image Art Chat
Does a camera capture reality? What does a portrait say about the sitter? Come and explore these questions as our docent takes you through two special exhibitions that reveal interesting facets of famous personalities, including Queen Elizabeth II. Included with gallery admission. No registration required.
About the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of almost 6,000 artworks, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, First Nations and Inuit artists. The gallery is located at 10365 Islington Avenue, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in Kleinburg. For more information about the gallery, visit www.mcmichael.com.
Media contact:
Michelle Kortinen, Communications Coordinator
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
905.893.1121 ext. 2210
mkortinen@mcmichael.com