loop Gallery is pleased to announce exhibitions by loop members Gary Clement entitled Dark Energy, and Thelma Rosner entitled Dictionary.
Concern about national and religious conflict in the Middle East has been the subject of much of Thelma Rosner's recent artistic practice. In her exploration of these issues, she has considered Jewish-Muslim relations in both historical and contemporary contexts, from the magnificent culture of Andalusia to the conflicting narratives of today's Israel-Palestine. In the latter situation, the achievement of equality and dignity for both peoples should remain a realistic hope. This ideal is the focus of Rosner's work. The doubling of images or words to indicate connection and equivalence is her underlying structural strategy.
Thelma Rosner studied painting at the University of Western Ontario, where Paterson Ewen was her teacher and mentor. Her mixed media installations generally refer to concrete social concerns. For the last decade, her production has focused on Muslim-Jewish issues, most recently on the Israel-Palestine situation.
The ink drawings in Dark Energy reflect Gary Clement’s lifelong interest in history, cosmology, archaeology, sitcoms, bodily functions, music, poetry astronauts and current events among other things. As a cartoonist/artist Clement draws heavily on the diverse influences that have shaped his work, from MAD magazine and National Lampoon to Philip Guston and Joseph Cornell.
The title, Dark Energy, refers to a hypothetical force that permeates the universe. In the context of this show, it refers to the materiality of the India ink used in the drawings, to the frenetic period of energy that produced the drawings and to the permeable and wide ranging nature of the subjects that inform the drawings.
Gary Clement is the political cartoonist for the National Post. His cartoons have appeared in the New York Times Week In Review, The Guardian and TIME. As a freelance illustrator, his work has appeared in publications around the world. He is also a children’s writer/illustrator whose many awards include the 1999 Governor General’s Award for Illustration for his book “The Great Poochini”. This is his 7th show at Loop. He is represented in Toronto by Loop Gallery and by Parts Gallery.
Please join the artists in celebrating their opening receptions on Saturday, February 19 from 2-5 pm.
Learn more about Gary Clement’s work during a Question & Answer Session at loop on Saturday March 5th at 3pm. Moderated by Peter Kuitenbrouwer/National Post.
