Artistic duo opens Vantage Point exhibit at Gallery in the Grove
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Carl Hnatyshyn
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Meaford's Suzette Terry is one of two artists showcasing their colourful landscape paintings during the Vantage Point exhibition at Gallery in the Grove. Carl Hnatyshyn/Postmedia Network
A colourful and vivacious exhibition focusing on art that seems intrinsic to the identity of Canada – landscape paintings – received a grand opening at Brights Grove's Gallery in the Grove.
Vantage Point, a joint exhibition created by Sarnia-based artist Emily Lardner and Meaford's Suzette Terry, opened March 10 with a well-attended launch at the gallery.
Featuring vivid and vibrant acrylic paintings showcasing natural scenes from across Canada – Lardner is originally a New Brunswicker who now lives in Sarnia, while Terry has lived and worked in communities across Ontario – the exhibition is a paean of sorts to the country's love of landscape art, though done through the prism of each artist's unique style.
"There are similarities between the two in that they both use a lot of colour," said Gallery in the Grove's Ati Powell, who acted as convenor. "They come from two totally different locations – Emily is from Saint John and just recently moved here to Sarnia, while Suzette is from Meaford – and the both have their own approach, but I think the exhibition has come together very nicely."
For Lardner, a graduate of Mount Allison University, Vantage Point is both a reflection on the significance that physical spaces play as part of our identities as well as an illustration of how our memories can be influenced by the natural world that surrounds us.
"A lot of the pieces you see of mine are memories of home. They have a nostalgia aspect to them," she said. "Most of the pieces are taken from images or photographs I've taken or my family or friends have taken, and they all have to do with memories of those times. A lot of time working through those pieces is kind of like reliving those moments. And you'll see in some of my pieces that there are areas that are almost unfinished, you can see the background coming through. But that's kind of like our memories; there are some parts that are a bit clearer than others."
The idea to team up with Terry for a joint exhibition was a bit of a masterstroke by the gallery, Lardner said.
"Suzette and I spoke on the phone – I never met her until today – and we were talking about similar themes in our work," she said. "Canadian landscape is common in both of our work and colour, too, as people can see. It works quite well together, I think.
"This (exhibition) is something that brings two people together that maybe wouldn't normally come together and it brings different people out to the exhibit."
For Terry, who picked up her fine arts degree from the University of Guelph in 1990, Vantage Point is a return to her artistic roots.
"I did a lot of plein air painting with a group from Guelph after I graduated, but we lost contact and I moved around to different places in Ontario, so I shifted to more figurative artwork," she said. "I did a lot of cubist, abstract, kind of funky figurative art. But what I've done is that I transitioned that into landscape because I realize Canadians absolutely love landscapes.
"Part of the reason for the name Vantage Point was about me in relation to the landscape, whether it's in my kayak or sailboat or canoe up in Killarney (Provincial Park), a trip I take every year in the fall with a group of women. I think I realized that landscape is really what Canadians identify with because we don't have the history, we don't have anything else, but we have these incredible landscapes … true, north, strong and free."
In speaking with Lardner prior to exhibit's launch, and after taking a look at samples of Lardner's art, Terry realized the pair would be a terrific fit.
"I was actually really pleased because, when I saw (Emily's) work, I was thrilled because she was doing landscape memory-related work – she's more conceptual than I am in her interpretation, which I like. But it's the same thing – very Canadian," she said.
"I obviously have a strong penchant for colour and so does (Emily). The gallery space is gorgeous, with the lighting and the natural light. It makes such a huge difference in terms of presentation and there's something here for everyone, really, whether you like peaceful places or something strong and energetic."
Vantage Point runs at Gallery in the Grove until April 20.
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