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| June |
June 3 - September 6
Cultural Floe: Modern and Inuit Traditions
Varley Art Gallery
Curated by: Dr. Anna Hudson
This exhibition will juxtapose sculpture and drawing produced at the beginning and
(arguably) end of the ethnically defined field of Inuit modern art. During the 1950s an
international market developed for carving produced in the regions now known as Nunavut
and Nunavik. Sixty years later, following significant attainments in Aboriginal
self-governance, current Inuit art now flows into an expansive international contemporary
art practice. In this new context, individual artists are celebrated as witnesses to a new
global reality. Inuit traditional knowledge privileges the expression of personal
experience over received information. The subjective views of life captured in these
sculptures and drawings advance the continuity of an inuit way of being in the world and
offer a template of cultural influence on contemporary culture. Among the artists featured
are: Shuvinai Ashoona, Tim Pitsiulak, William Noah, and Idris Moss-Davies. |
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June 3 - September 6
A Tribute to Norman Bethune: the mural and political cartoons of Avrom Yanovsky
Varley Art Gallery
Curated by: Dr. Anna Hudson
Yanovsky was born in Krivoirog, Ukraine in 1911 and came to Canada with his mother,
grandparents, and brother in 1913. They settled first in Winnipeg, where he studied with
LeMoine FitzGerald at the Winnipeg School of Art. In 1930 he moved to Toronto and enrolled
at the Ontario College of Art to study under Yvonne McKague Housser, John Alfsen, and
Rowley Murphy. In 1931 he helped to form the Progressive Arts Club and, in the late 1930s,
an artists’ union in Canada. In 1938, he won a scholarship to the American
Artists’ School in New York. During the war he worked with John Grierson at the
National Film Board of Canada. In 1945-46 he was an instructor of Saturday Morning Classes
at the Art Gallery of Toronto. By the late 1940s, he was publishing his cartoons and
painting murals. From 1963 through 1970 he was involved in the administration of the
Canadian Society of Graphic Art. He died in Toronto in 1979.
This exhibition features Avrom Yanovsky's mural tribute to Dr. Norman Bethune, who remains
best known as a hero in the People's Republic of China. He is remembered in Canada as a
surgeon and inventor who developed a mobile blood-transfusion service, a political
activist and an early proponent of a universal health care system. The mural (19 x 7
feet/5.8 X 2.1 metres) was painted for the Communist Party of Canada and covered an entire
wall at the Norman Bethune-Tim Buck Educational Centre, 24 Cecil St., Toronto. The mural,
completed in 1963-65, has never been exhibited since being removed from its original
location. |
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June 3 - September 6
Varley : Selections from the permanent collection
Varley Art Gallery
A selection of drawings and paintings from the Gallery’s permanent collection form
this installation featuring works from the last two decades of Varley’s life and
celebrate his connection with Unionville.
Research points out that in the early 1950s Varley’s personal life stabilized after
he met Kathleen and Donald McKay and was invited into their home. While living with them,
first in Toronto and then in Unionville, Kathy took him on several painting excursions in
Ontario and also to British Columbia, to Creston and the Kootenays in the interior.
Varley’s landscapes from this period continue to display his keen observation of the
immediate surroundings and his attention to detail. His palette changed though and he
began using more war, earthly colours, abandoning his favourite use of green and purple. |
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June 9-13
Denise Fetherston
McKay Art Centre
Joie de Vie - Solo exhibit by Canadian artist Denise Fetherston. Come experience Denise's
collection of joy filled abstract paintings inspired by her love of music. Focus is on the
positive. Please visit Denise's website at www.pixiepaintings.net |
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June 16-20
Textile exhibition by Shibani Sahney
McKay Art Centre
Silver Tulip Boutique specializing in unique fusion wear ladies clothing. Each piece is
hand-crafted with a variety of threadwork, stonework applique and zardozil. Custom orders
taken. |
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June 23-27
Abstract paintings by Donalda
McKay Art Centre
New works in acrylic and mixed media on paper and canvas. |
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June 30-July 4
Toogood Pond Artists
McKay Art Centre
Three talented artists (Gayle Fehr, George Huff and Jean Rennie) join together, expressing
themselves in their own individual styles with various media. 7th Annual Show at the McKay
Art Centre. |
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| July |
July 7-18
North York Visual Artists
McKay Art Centre
The 12th Annual North York Visual Artists Group Exhibition displays a sweeping mosaic of
styles and techniques. Enjoy the traditional and futuristic, the vibrant and tranquil -
always rewarding and thought provoking. |
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July 21-25
Dynasty Watercolour Association
McKay Art Centre
The mandate of this new association is to promote the watercolour medium among Asian
artists. Thier aim is to organize, encourage and nurture excellence of their works, by
promoting and introducing new faces and new perspectives, to enrich the art scene and
strengthen cultural bonds.Director: Stephen Yau (CSPWC) www..stephenyau.com
Chair: Ben Lee, www.benleestudio.ca
Vice Chair: Yan Yaohua (CSPWC), www.yaohuayan.com |
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July 28-August 2
Artwork by George Shane
McKay Art Centre |
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| August |
August 4-8
Mixed media artwork by Nigar Pilarki
McKay Art Centre
An exotic/eclectic collection of African and South Asian people/culture art. Some floral,
landscapes as well as seascapes. Media - acrylic and watercolour |
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August 11-15
Artwork by YaoHua Yan
McKay Art Centre
Yaohua Yan is a member of the CSPWC and is a watercolour impressionist painter. Exhibition
features landscapes & florals. Yaohua conducts workshops and demonstrations in various
art clubs. Website: www.yaohuayan.com |
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August 18-22
Artwork by Chung Yiu and James Lee
McKay Art Centre |
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August 25-29
Joy of Colour
McKay Art Centre
The 2nd exhibition of artwork by Florica Laslau, Linda Chen, Lynda Warne |
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| September |
September 1-5
The Other Side of the Brush
McKay Art Centre
A two artist show featuring award winning artists Julia Kane (mixed media, watercolours)
and Lucy Poscente (oils). |
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September 8-12
Varley Annual Art Instructor’s Exhibition
McKay Art Centre
A diverse exhibition of artwork by the talented and professional roster of instructors |
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September 15-19
Artwork by Quad Colorists
McKay Art Centre
The group has been exhibiting at the McKay Art Centre for 14 consecutive years. They keep
getting better, so come and visit! |
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September 22-26
Main Streets and Country Lanes
High realism acrylic on canvas paintings and rural scenes - cultivated and wild
flowers by artist Murray Pipher. Original paintings, prints and cards.
McKay Art Centre |
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September 26 - February 2011
Kai Chan: A Spider's Logic
Varley Art Gallery
Curated by: Sarah Quinton
In partnership with the Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto
The exhibition includes a selection of Kai Chan’s sculptural works, created between
1975 and 2010. The exhibitions are presented concurrently at the Varley Art Gallery in
Markham and the Textile Museum of Canada, in Toronto with the exhibition at the Textile
Museum of Canada opening in early November. An exhibition catalogue will be published to
accompany the exhibition. A Canadian artist with Chinese roots, Kai Chan’s story is
one that echoes the experiences of many of us, as it is about how immigrants imagine
belong in Canada.
Kathy became a true inspiration for Varley and he painted numerous drawings and paintings
of her over the years. |
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September 29 - October 3
Artwork by John Pryce
McKay Art Centre |
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| October |
October 6-11
Judith Livingston's Woodlands and Waterways
McKay Art Centre
Judith's 11th Annual Fall Exhibition. Original paintings from Southwest Ontario's
Carolinian Forests to North of Superior. For information visit:
www.judithlivingston.com |
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October 13-17
Artwork by Raine Davis, Joseé Savaria, Katja Van Den Enden
McKay Art Centre
Three uniquely different artists with a penchant for colour and layering of mixed media,
evoke a sense of mystery and imagination with this collection of dynamic paintings. |
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October 20-24
Artwork by Andrew Hamilton
McKay Art Centre |
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October 27-31
Artwork by Alpheus Jones
McKay Art Centre |
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| November |
November 3-7
Artwork by Edward Abela
McKay Art Centre
Recent landscapes by award winning artist Edward Abela, reflecting his travels in America
and Europe. |
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November 10-14
Artwork by Maryam Mokhtari
McKay Art Centre |
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November 17-21
Artworkby Sylvio Gagnon
McKay Art Centre
Plein Air paintings by a travelling lover of nature. |
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November 24-28
Artwork by the Markham Group of Artists
McKay Art Centre
A variety of works by members of the Markham Group of Artists. |
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| December |
December 1-5
Five Ladies Sharing
McKay Art Centre
Morven Crothers, Linda Irvine, Judith Livingston, Pat Wheeler and Janet Wilson during Olde
Tyme Christmas in the historic village of Unionville.
For information visit www.judithlivingston.com |
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December 8-12
Holly Briesmaster
McKay Art Centre
Verizontal: An exhibition of landscape painting (British Columbia and Waterfalls of
Ontario), and also fan paintings. |
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2011 -- |
| January |
| TBA |
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| February |
| TBA |
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| March |
| TBA |
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| April |
| TBA |
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| May |
| TBA |
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The Varley Art Gallery of Markham features frequently changing
exhibitions from the permanent collection as well as historical contemporary exhibitions
drawn from local, national and international sources. New ways of seeing and appreciating
art are enhanced through a broad range of dynamic hands-on art-related activities,
including group tours, school programs, studio courses and workshops, courses and
lectures, and family activities, designed to appeal to audiences of all ages and
interests.
