Blue: A Show in Monochrome

Detail of Molinari`s Quantifacture Blue
Blue an exhibition on at the Musée D’Art Contemprain de Montreal is a spectacular display of some of Canada’s finest paintings and art work. Taken from the Musée permanent collection, guest Curator Marie-Eve Beaupre, explores the magnitude and experience of what seem to be one of the collections most explored colors. Mdme Beaupre found “regarless of artist or timeline that blue was the most utilized color underlining through out the collection”. With this discovery came questions such as “What story can a color tell with in a collection” the answers to which she invites the viewer to discover while exploring this display of FINE ART.

This huge exhibition displays works from through out Quebec and Canada’s Art’s history (yes it’s one in the same Quebec painters are renowned colorists though), there is even some international work interlaced through out. Contemporary and historical works are placed side by side as the curator explores the many effects one color can have on the viewer and the artists. In the main exhibition space, if the viewer takes their time, they are greeted with almost a mausoleum type serenity as blue radiates of the walls. The spectator is taken to a place of peace and harmony(this artists perspective). Hung in a salon style, images in the main exhibition space are hung at multiple levels: at, above and below eye level. This creates a “Blue Stereo” as although each work is “separate or says a separate thing” together they create “Frequency”. Mdme Beaupre asks the the viewer to interpret things like “What happens when two blue works are hung together” and “how is the color seen from both above and below eye level”. All of these questions are answered on a subconscious level as the viewer is emersed by the feeling the color blue creates.

Even without the knowledge of the artists who created the works displayed, the show is STUNNING. What was most exciting, intriguing and enthralling about this display though, where the artists whose works where chosen and hung. This is literally a whose who of great Canadian painters. I found my self bowing to the alter of HIGH ART as I stood face to face with the works of some of my ALL TIME FAVORITES. It was also breath taking to see them all in the same space. Canadian greats such as Paterson Ewan, Michael Snow, David Blatherwick and Jeff Wall(photographer) hung along side of the likes of Quebec’s own Edmond Alleyn, Guido Molinari, and the PRODIGIOUS CLAUDE TOUSIGNANT. All in the most exciting display of Canadian Painting as although I have seen many of these artists hung together at the same time, I never seen it to this degree or felt the impact from seeing these greats hung together as such. And Please believe me when I state in over twenty years of studying Canadian Art through out Canada I have forgotten more art than most people have seen. This would also be a perfect show for a would be investor to come and view Canadian Artists they SHOULD invest in. Which bring me to another interesting fact I learned which is, once the Museum invests in a work for it’s permanent collection it is in the museums memorandum to keep the work acquired. So you can come and Drool but you can only fantisies about owning.

Paterson Ewan’s Pink Moon as seen from below

Claude Tousignant’s Egypt
So Do not miss this show, there isn’t much time left as this exhibtion closes March 27. The good news is that this would be a perfect place to stop for Nuit Blance, Montreal’s ALL NIGHT Cultural Party that Features Free activities through out the city for everyone. If you do stop by don’t forget to catch the work of Arni Sala or Kevin Scmidit’s 11 hour video display of “EPIC JOURNEY” being showen as part of the projections series in the basment of the Musée. Regardless be sure to see Mdme Beapre’s stunning display of Canadian painting, it is sure to leave an outsanding impression on your mind. After all it BLUE ME AWAY.

One of Edmund Alleyn’s Blueprints

~ by Richard Rossetto on February 16, 2011.