Greg Curnoe Skimming Stones on the Thames River 1963 Oil on plywood Purchase, Saugeen-Maitland Hall Residence Fund, 1970
London artist Greg Curnoe (1936–1992) is often remembered for his decision to ignore international art trends and base his work instead on his local community and surroundings.
This early work displays many aspects of what was to become Curnoe’s mature style: the bright colour palette, the use of uppercase text, simplified outlines, a local London setting and portraits of his friends (John Boyle and Toby Chapman).
The painting is on view at the Faculty of Education in the west hallway, main floor. Adding text was the artist’s way of documenting the actual date, time and situation around the creation of his paintings. One line describes the exact circumstances of the painting — Gibbons Park at the Foot of Grosvenor St. around 10 o’clock Sunday Morning End of May 63. Another offers a fragment of conversation about skipping stones — A good one would skip right over a small island near us.
The McIntosh Gallery is one of Canada’s oldest university galleries and holds more than 3,000 works of art, many displayed in public spaces on campus.
To support the gallery’s mission of taking art to the community, contact Acting Director Judith M. Rodger at jrodge5@uwo.ca www.mcintoshgallery.ca
