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Current Exhibition
Paint: The Painted Works of Lyle WilsonMarch 27 to September 15, 2013
Artist's Talk with Lyle Wilson – Thursday, May 9th at 3:30pm
Lyle Wilson: Octopus, 1993. Collection of the artist. Photo: Jenn Walton
The first major exhibition of paintings by Haisla artist, Lyle Wilson is currently featured at the Bill Reid Gallery.
The exhibition, Paint: The Painted Works of Lyle Wilson was conceptualized by Maple Ridge Art Gallery curator, Barbara Duncan and reveals the impressive range of traditional and contemporary elements of Wilson’s evolving artistic vision, while celebrating his accomplishments as a painter. Created over a period of 20 years, this collection of 58 works was curated to be enjoyed in its entirety, as well as to show pieces with remarkable detail in execution, and reflect narrative themes and personal stories.
Lyle Wilson was born and raised in the Haisla community of Kitamaat, British Columbia, and went on to study fine arts and education at both the University of BC and the Emily Carr College of Art and Design. He also undertook an intensive exploration of ancestral paintings while working at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC (MOA). The artist’s 20–year association with MOA enabled him to reinforce his understanding and conclusion about the style of painting popularly known as formline.
"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 media. Yet the inventiveness and skill involved in painting in Northwest Coast styles is not widely recognized."
Lyle Wilson cited in Paint: The Painted Works of Lyle Wilson, page vii.
The exhibition catalogue, Paint, offers not only a comprehensive visual record of the exhibition, but some 30 essays by the artist that help to explain his paintings, and reflect his keen interest in the Haisla language. It is available at the Bill Reid Gallery Gift Shop.
The presentation of Paint in this Gallery would not have been possible without the generous support of the Deux Mille Foundation, The Mary and Gordon Christopher Family Foundation, Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, and The Listel Hotel.
We also gratefully acknowledge the support of the following organizations for their respective contributions to the creation of this exhibition and accompanying catalogue:
Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council Canada Council for the Arts
The Haisla Nation Council (HNC) Michael O’Brian Family Foundation
Audain Foundation for the Visual Arts
