January 28, 2011
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is hearing the stories artists have to share. How did they come to be artists? What kind of twists and turns have their life paths taken and how have they intersected with other people’s journeys. Narrative is alive and well in contemporary visual culture. One artist’s story has captivated the country. Last Friday, Bowmanville-based artist Jane Eccles was featured on the front page of the Toronto Star. This was a first. You’d be hard pressed to find another instance of a living Canadian artist featured so prominently in the Canadian press. The article is immersive, even granular, detailing Jane’s “Dresses Project” in the Living Section (click here to read).
Toronto Star front page, January 21, 2011
Eccles’s series of portraits will premiere at Station Gallery in less than a month. I just love the spirit of her project; she refers to this body of work as emerging from the “closet of souls.”
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January 28, 2011 at 10:48 am
Sheri
Jane spoke at a recent OAA meeting and I could listen to her tell the stories behind the dresses for hours. She is an even better story teller than an artist, and is an amazing artist…many have been blessed to sit under her teaching and have emerged as artists themselves.
She truly is a gem for our Region and a gift to the art world.
Sheri
January 28, 2011 at 9:24 pm
curator by day
Thanks for your post, Sheri. C’mon by the Gallery on March 17th at 7 PM to hear Jane tell more stories–not to mention the opening on Feb. 26 at 1 PM….
January 29, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Ingrid Ruthig
It’s great that Jane and her upcoming show have garnered this sort of attention. I’ve seen some of the dress paintings in her studio and at the VAC, and I’ve heard a few of the tales behind the dresses/paintings… It’s going to be marvelous to see ‘the gathering’ at SG!
February 8, 2011 at 11:23 pm
Anastasia tiller
Looking forward to this exhibition. Big fan of Jane’s work.
February 11, 2011 at 7:30 pm
curator by day
I can’t wait–two weeks away! Thanks for keeping the discourse going, Anastasia.