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Paint: The Painted Works of Lyle Wilson
The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art is delighted to present the exhibition, Paint: The Painted Works of Lyle Wilson. Conceptualized by Maple Ridge Art Gallery curator, Barbara Duncan, it is the first major exhibition to focus on Lyle Wilson's paintings. A representative body of his carving work is also included in the exhibition in this Gallery. Created over a 20-year time span, this collection of some of Wilson's finest paintings was curated to allow for the full scope of his painting practice to be enjoyed in a single sweeping view. Beyond the initial impact, the works may be viewed individually and appreciated for their remarkable detail in execution, and for the narrative themes and personal stories they contain.
The primary focus on paintings is an unusual one. In his artist's statement, Wilson explains his decision to keep the focus on the medium of paint:
While historical Pacific Northwest Coast paintings on boxes, screens, and house fronts arouse much interest among experts and the public, modern works in this medium are largely ignored. Because I also work in wood and metal, I know that painting is as challenging as these other mediums. Yet the inventiveness and skill involved in painting in Northwest Coast styles is not widely recognized. Painting is the most stressful of the mediums I practice. The physical act of carving wood relieves tension, while in painting, an image is built up brush stroke by brush stroke, the stress level continually rising. Often I've found myself unconsciously holding my breath for long periods until the series of strokes is finished. The concentration required is draining, and the sense of dread with which I approach painting is alleviated only by the pure joy of finishing a work. Lyle Wilson cited in Paint: The Painted Works of Lyle Wilson, page vii.
Although Wilson has spent years mastering the traditional Northwest Coast style, he has always allowed for the expression of his own unique voice in his work. His ability to keep both of these dynamic forces in balance is one of Wilson's great achievements. The power of these paintings clearly upholds the artist's contention that a singular and concentrated focus on contemporary First Nations painting is long overdue.
The primary focus on paintings is an unusual one. In his artist's statement, Wilson explains his decision to keep the focus on the medium of paint:
While historical Pacific Northwest Coast paintings on boxes, screens, and house fronts arouse much interest among experts and the public, modern works in this medium are largely ignored. Because I also work in wood and metal, I know that painting is as challenging as these other mediums. Yet the inventiveness and skill involved in painting in Northwest Coast styles is not widely recognized. Painting is the most stressful of the mediums I practice. The physical act of carving wood relieves tension, while in painting, an image is built up brush stroke by brush stroke, the stress level continually rising. Often I've found myself unconsciously holding my breath for long periods until the series of strokes is finished. The concentration required is draining, and the sense of dread with which I approach painting is alleviated only by the pure joy of finishing a work. Lyle Wilson cited in Paint: The Painted Works of Lyle Wilson, page vii.
Although Wilson has spent years mastering the traditional Northwest Coast style, he has always allowed for the expression of his own unique voice in his work. His ability to keep both of these dynamic forces in balance is one of Wilson's great achievements. The power of these paintings clearly upholds the artist's contention that a singular and concentrated focus on contemporary First Nations painting is long overdue.
Submitted on April 6, 2013 in By David.
