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A R T S C E H Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 5559) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: rjerred@haltonsearch.com Current art display reveals human portraiture By Craig MacBride SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER H istorical and contem porary portraiture faced o ff at the Oakville Galleries recently as two distinct collections of work were compared. Arlene G ehm acher. President o f Forster's National Portrait Gallery at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM ), and Oakville G alleries' registrar and exhibitions co-ordinator Shannon Anderson each presented slide shows of collected work. The slides and accompanying dis cussion complemented the show cur rently running at the O akville G alleries at C entennial Square, Revealing the Subject. The show was assem bled from the permanent collection, with Anderson as curator, and its eclecticism pushes the boundaries o f what is traditionally understood as portraiture. Norm an C o h n 's video Peter in Long Term Care . one in a series of films o f children in hospitals, shows Peter,, who has a respiratory disease, lying in his steel crib and being cared for by a nurse. Micah Lexier's Seven Siblings is made up o f seven books standing together-on a shelf. On the spine of each book is a photograph o f one of the siblings, standing back against doorframe, being measured. Marking a doorframe is the most common way that siblings are measured against one another, but the stories within those books are truly what make their lives what they are. In Revealing the Subject , these works fit nicely together, but when presented in a slideshow with the ROM's portrait collection, the pieces Peter C. McCusker · Oakville Beaver O akville G alleries' reg istrar and exhibitions coordinator Shannon A nderson explains the a r t show at C entennial S quare, Revealing the Subject, pushes the boundaries of p o rtra itu re . T he show continues until Ju n e 8. Gehm acher said. seem to overstep the boundaries. Collecting portraits based on merit, The ROM clings to the traditional idea o f portraits as paintings of impor though, doesn't manage to represent tant people wearing their important Canada well either because countries medals and sashes and looking at the are not made up o f only the successful world without amusement. and scholastic. The Oakville Galleries, on the other The Oakville Galleries has a good hand, has looser restrictions, hanging handle on that concept, showing por on their walls virtually anything that traits of a family o f Russian immi has a person, noteworthy or not, as the grants gathered around a dinner table, subject, provided the piece is interest appearing uncomfortable in front of the camera, and a couple on a blanket ing art. The divide is a fascinating one, and relaxing on a grassy hill. These photographs, it illustrates the distinc along with pieces like tive m andates o f two Peter in Long Term institutions heading in "There are different Care, do a better job different directions. narratives yet to be exam ining the human Gehm acher said that the ROM, above all else, told. The connections condition. And. like por traiture itself, the con is concerned with histori will change over the text w ithin which the cal accuracy and authen years." hum an condition is ticity. As well, there · Shannon Anderson experienced constantly needs to be a reason for changes. the portrait to be" in a Anderson said that is museum; the subject has one of the reasons that permanent col to be significant. Among the portraits that make up lections need to be brought out o f stor Forster's National Portrait Gallery - a age and juxtaposed with art by other collection that has never been dis artists working with sim ilar themes. "There are different narratives yet played in full and remains in storage are paintings o f Canadian poets to be told," Anderson said. "The connections will change over Pauline Johnson and A rchibald Lampman. as well as inventor o f the the years." It is that attitude o f re-evaluating telephone, Alexander Graham Bell. W hat the N ational G allery is their acquisitions that keeps the attempting is to collect portraits of Oakville Galleries a strong, contempo notable Canadians, but as the collec rary institution. Hopefully, it will continue adding tion gathers dust and a procession of people pass through the position of to its permanent collection in the same president over it, the aim has some manner. Revealing the Subject is on display times been overlooked. "The people (Forster) wanted rep until June 8 at Oakville Galleries at resented were based on merit, not the Centennial Square. Oakville Galleries at Centennial accident o f birth," as was the case o f a baron whose portrait was added to the Square is located at 120 Navy St., 905collection by a past president. 844-4402. Dive into the season with Boat, Sport and Leisure Show All systems are a go for the first and only spring boat show in the GTA. The Bronte In-water Boat, Sport and Leisure Show, has, as its name suggests, something for everyone May 30 - June 1. The venue is the Bronte Outer Harbour M arina a place organizer Peter Whitaker describes as the "nicest of all on Lake Ontario." "I'm thrilled to have the show here, it's so well maintained and understand ably deserves its nickname as the `jewel on the lake," ' said Whitaker. For marine enthusiasts there'll be 70 new and used, power and sail boats in the water to view, representing major manu facturers from around the world. And for those less inclined, a 15,000 square foot, ice-rink sized tent will house more than 80 exhibitors who'll fulfill the sport and leisure component of the show. This area will feature backyard and cottage life products and services such as hot tubs, barbecues, golf clubs, electron ics, pool tables and games. The spring show has been three years in the making for Whitaker who is an avid fan of boating. In fact, he has been living in a 40-ft. cabin cruiser for the past four years. It is currently docked in Port Credit. Due to the gap between this spring show and the previous one held annually in Toronto every January, Whitaker said boaters are eager to attend, especially now that the season has launched. He expects about 25,000 people will con verge for the weekend show. The Bronte Outer Harbour Marina is located at 2340 Ontario St., in the Village of Bronte. The show runs from noon until 9 p.m. May 30 and 31, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 1. Admission for adults is $4 and seniors and children are free. For more information log on to bronteboatshow.com or call 905 891-5925. vintagecollection Liesa Kortmann · Oakville Beaver The Bronte In-w ater Boat, Sp o rt an d Leisure Show has som ething for everyone. Event organizer Peter W hitaker, left, and Bronte O u te r H a rb o u r M arin a's H a rb o u r M aster G eorge Bielefeld, are encouraging all residents to head to the lakeshore this w eekend. T he tw o a re standing a b o ard Bielefeld's T rojan Tricabin. Diamonds and G em stone Jewellery Exclusive Show and Sale May 1 4 -Ju n e 7, only at Oakville Place Join us for a m ost special event, as Birks invites you to take advantage of this once a year opportunity. Experience this extraordinary fine and exclusive vintage jewellery collection featuring magnificient one-of-a-kind Antique, Period and Modern diamond and gem stone jewellery. 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