Canadian Art in the Twentieth Century

MostCanadians when thinking of twentieth century Canadian art mightenvisage the haunting and vibrant landscapes of the Group of Seven,the dream-like images of Alex Colleville, or the humorous andmystical sculptures created by First Nations artists. But theseartists only hint at the richness and diversity in the development ofCanadian art over the last one hundred years.

Alongsidethese more familiar works are the bright and quirky abstractions byWilliam Ronald; the dance-like sculptures of artist and dancerFranoise Sullivan; the unusual portraits of Saskatoon-born MashelTeitelbaum who developed paint into a kind of skin that was glued tothe canvas; the surrealist clay sculptures of Cathie Falk inVancouver; and the representational but deeply resonant paintings byNewfoundland artist Christopher Pratt.

Thevariety and innovation in Canadian art is finally given its due inCanadian Art in the Twentieth Century by Joan Murray. Here, Canadianartists from across the country, working in every medium and duringevery major period, are represented together at last. This is thedefinitive book for Canadian art at the end of the century.

Curatorand artist Joan Murray takes the reader on a guided tour through aliterary gallery, pointing out various works, commenting on theircreation and meaning, and evoking the cultural, social, and politicalcontext of their conception. She reminds us that while Canadianartists are often accused of lagging behind Europe, Canadian art hasalways had its own vitality, flair, and mythology, developed out of adeep feeling for the environment. She traces the new directions inart as they developed and continue to emerge, from representation todidacticism, from modernism to the increasing use of communicationtechnologies such as video and computers as a medium of expression.And she looks towards the future, where we will be confronted by ascene of unprecedented variety and complexity.

CanadianArt in the Twentieth Century is a lucid introduction, broad in itsscope and intelligently written. It will serve as a starting pointfor new discoveries by the reader into the art that is shaped by, andhas shaped,Canada