Overview
In a country that can boast nearly 50,000 artists from its prehistoric beginnings to the present, it is a daunting challenge to compile a collection of some 300 artists that reflects the depth and breadth of Canada's art heritage. Yet in Canadian Art: From Its Beginnings to 2000, author Anne Newlands does just that. Departing from the usual narrative of standard Canadian art histories, Newlands organizes the artists alphabetically, thus removing them from predictable associations and chronological relationships and freeing us to forge new connections. The result is an original and engaging approach to the subject, one that at once refreshes, surprises and teaches. When the paintings of such artists as Emily Carr, Lawren S. Harris, Cornelius Krieghoff and Horatio Walker are placed side by side with works by Kenojuak Ashevak, General Idea, Maud Lewis, Bill Reid and Jeff Wall, the diversity and wonder of the creative process come irresistibly to life.
While Canada's most beloved artists and their art are generously represented in Canadian Art, Newlands also strives to guide us to less familiar media, whose formats and themes seek to redefine art itself even as they reflect the cultural realities of the time. Here, we find not only traditional oils and watercolors but also a rich collection of sculpture, photography and installation art. Each of Newlands' beautifully printed selections is accompanied by an engaging text that focuses on the featured art, provides a brief biographical sketch of the artist and offers us an informed departure point for our own critical appreciation.
Synopsis
In a country that can boast nearly 50,000 artists from its prehistoric beginnings to the present, it is a daunting challenge to compile a collection of some 300 artists that reflects the depth and breadth of Canada's art heritage. Yet in Canadian Art: From Its Beginnings to 2000, author Anne Newlands does just that. Departing from the usual narrative of standard Canadian art histories, Newlands organizes the artists alphabetically, thus removing them from predictable associations and chronological relationships and freeing us to forge new connections. The result is an original and engaging approach to the subject, one that at once refreshes, surprises and teaches. When the paintings of such artists as Emily Carr, Lawren S. Harris, Cornelius Krieghoff and Horatio Walker are placed side by side with works by Kenojuak Ashevak, General Idea, Maud Lewis, Bill Reid and Jeff Wall, the diversity and wonder of the creative process come irresistibly to life.While Canada's most beloved artists and their art are generously represented in Canadian Art, Newlands also strives to guide us to less familiar media, whose formats and themes seek to redefine art itself even as they reflect the cultural realities of the time. Here, we find not only traditional oils and watercolors but also a rich collection of sculpture, photography and installation art. Each of Newlands' beautifully printed selections is accompanied by an engaging text that focuses on the featured art, provides a brief biographical sketch of the artist and offers us an informed departure point for our own critical appreciation.
Editorials
National Post
It's impressively comprehensive, the art is beautifully reproduced, the writing has a nice, light touch -- all in all, an excellent contribution.Edmonton Journal -
This is one of the better biographical encyclopedias of Canadian art to have come along in the last decade. Not only is it informative, but it's beautiful to browse as well.Quill and Quire
With Canadian Art, the rich legacy and stylistic diversity of the Canadian visual arts have been stylishly encapsulated in print.Booklist
Each and every evocative and masterful work is redolent of Canada's magnificent landscape and sensitive to the tenuousness of human life. Each double-page spread both vibrates with contrasting styles and creates surprising and affective formal and emotional harmonies. These diverse paintings, photographs, and sculptures chart a vital and many-splendored visual heritage.Choice
Terrific reference source for Canadian art ... excellent.Canadian Art
A rich A-Z history of Canadian artists ... introduces the oeuvre of each artist with a concisely written critique of one major work.Canadian Geographic
[Newland's] coverage of historical art is balanced, her inclination to include multimedia, installation art and photography is laudable.Globe and Mail
Has much to recommend it ... To have more than 300 plates in color is luxurious ... informative and attractive.Ottawa Life
Long overdue, comprehensive and wide-ranging survey of 320 artists.Homemaker's
[An] engagingly eclectic ... intriguing juxtaposition of works. Along with the expertly printed color plates ... there's reader-friendly text with interesting bio notes, helpful descriptions and unpretentious commentary.British Journal of Canadian Studies
I was delighted that much attention was paid to Inuit and First Nation artists... has much to commend it visually.Judy Stoffman
Newland's approach leaves a thrilling impression of the richness and variety of this country's artistic production.— (Toronto Star, October 26, 2000)
Ray Cronin
An extremely inclusive collection ... Fully two thirds of every page is taken up with color illustrations.— (Fredericton Daily Gleaner, November 4, 2000)
Canadian Art
A rich A-Z history of Canadian artists ... introduces the oeuvre of each artist with a concisely written critique of one major work.—(Fall 2000)
Ottawa Life
Long overdue, comprehensive and wide-ranging survey of 320 artists.— (Fall 2000)
David Silcox
Has much to recommend it ... To have more than 300 plates in colour is luxurious ... informative and attractive.—(Globe and Mail)
Readers Showcase
A magnificent testament to our artistic diversity, and a handsome coffee table book, sure to be enjoyed.Victoria Times Colonist
Anne Newlands has chosen her top 300 with taste and discernmentRegina Haggo
The gorgeous 352 page volume is the ultimate coffee-table book on Canadian Art.—(The Hamilton Spectator)
Elissa Barnard
This beautifully produced book offers all sorts of pathways for thought and further research.—(Halifax Chronicle Herald)
Megan Kopp
Goes far beyond the coffeetable art book genre with meaningful interpretation of each piece.—Fore Word, January 2001
Mary McIver
Along with the expertly printed colour plates ... there's reader-friendly text with interesting bio notes, helpful descriptions and unpretentious commentary.— (Homemaker's, October 1, 2000)
The National Post
It's impressively comprehensive, the art is beautifully reproduced, the writing has a nice, light touch.— (October 6, 2000)
Charles Mandel
his is one of the better biographical encyclopedias of Canadian art to have come along in the last decade.— (Edmonton Journal, October 13, 2000)
Peter Webb
With Canadian Art, the rich legacy and stylistic diversity of the Canadian visual arts have been stylishly encapsulated in print.— (Quill and Quire, November 2000)
Robert Reid
[Newlands] is an insightful critic. Although her commentaries are short, they are informed and well-written.Library Journal
Newlands (the National Gallery of Canada; Meet Edgar Degas) has assembled a much-needed current and comprehensive survey of Canadian art. The book provides an alphabetical arrangement of about 300 biographies that reflect the types of art present throughout the history of Canada, including the native, European, and American influences. Each entry includes a photograph of excellent quality and information on the artist's interests, background, and training. The alphabetical layout, although chosen to allow the reader to appreciate Canadian art free from "predictable associations," does not allow for enough subject access to periods and styles. Anyone unfamiliar with Canadian art will wish for more background information; the book would have benefited from essays on the history of Canadian art and a subject index. Considering the problems it would pose as an introductory text, Newlands's book can only be recommended for specialized art libraries as a source of images and vital information on Canadian artists. Eric Linderman, East Cleveland P.L. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.Booknews
A collection of works by about 300 artists that reflects the depth and breadth of Canada's art heritage. Newlands (National Gallery of Canada) offers not only Canada's most beloved artists and their art but also guides the reader to the less familiar. Artists are presented alphabetically, and each is represented by a color reproduction of his or her work, along with a short text that explores the work's context and offers some brief comments about the artist's life. Canadian card order number: C00-9308792. Oversize: 10x11.75<">. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)From The Critics
On the front cover is the work of a Canadian icon, Lawren S. Harris. His 1920 oil on canvas, Algama Hill, is matched on the reverse cover by "one of the most famous images in Inuit art," Kenojuak Ashevak's The Enchanted Owl. Diverse techniques, a mosaic of cultural influences, and a host of mediums distilled over the course of time-this is Canadian art.Newlands, an art museum educator at the National Gallery of Canada and author of three additional books on Canadian artists, wisely agreed to shun traditional chronological order and resisted grouping similar pieces, and thereby allow each work to be viewed keenly, without distraction and association.
An alphabetical order means that Michael Campeau's black-and-white photographic self-portrait is followed by Joane Cardinal-Schubert's rich series of paintings depicting a war shirt worn by her blood ancestors. Jacques Hurtubise's geometric abstract painting, Isabelle, lies on the opposing page of Inuit artist Luke Iksiktaaryuk's Drum Dance-a carving of antler with wood, sinew, metal, and gut. Dorothy Knowles' vast sky, sinuous river, and golden prairie faces Wanda Koop's ominously dark scene from the Reactor Suite, "expressing her views about the vulnerability of humanity and nature in the face of nuclear disaster."
Pictographs of an Ojibwa artist, petroglyphs of the Nuu-chah-nulth, soapstone sculptures, watercolor landscapes, abstract sculpture, black-and-white photography, wood carvings, genre painting, installation art, and neoclassicism represent the scope of this vast collection. In her selections Newlands acknowledges that "art has meant different things to different people and always will."
The layout of the book is visually appealing with small-type text and large photographs drawing the eye to the work's essence. Over 300 images are displayed-a rich sampling of Qaqaq Ashoona's sculpture, Emily Carr's painting, Margaret Watkin's photography, Zacharias Kunuk's video, Bill Reid's carving, and more across the centuries. Twenty-six artists are represented by two images of their work, which reflects either their immense popularity or divergent styles embraced during their careers.
Canadian Art goes far beyond the coffeetable art book genre with meaningful interpretation of each piece and a brief record of the artists' biographical details. (January)