Steve Wells: Art Collector, ALS Survivor

By Mark Skeffington Steve Wells’ hospital room walls are covered with Canadian art. Steve, who is North America’s longest living person with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), has made a conscious decision to surround himself with beautiful things that bring him joy as he continues to beat the odds against the terminal disease. "Yes, I have ALS. Yes, I reside in a hospital. SO WHAT! Life is what you make it, so If surrounding myself with art brings me pleasure, why wouldn't I do it,” … [Read more...]

CBC Digital Archives Chronicle Canadian Art

By Mark Skeffington The CBC Digital Archives is a treasure trove for anyone interested in Canadian art history. Over the decades, Canada’s national broadcaster has interviewed a Who’s Who of Canadian artists and documented, in radio and TV clips, dozens of fascinating visual arts stories. CBC’s archives are extensive, covering all aspects of Canadian life over the decades. But it is the coverage of Canadian art that is of interest here. As one might expect, the Group of Seven has … [Read more...]

Sampson-Matthews Silkscreen Story

By Mark Skeffington When is a print more than just a print? The answer: When it’s a Sampson-Matthews silkscreen. Prints aren’t as valued or sought-after by art collectors. However, Canadian art silkscreens produced by the Sampson-Matthews Ltd. company of Toronto from 1942-1963 hold a special place in the homes of many art collectors. The silkscreens also hold a special place in the history of Canadian art and Canada. The story is familiar to some, but not to … [Read more...]

Group of Seven inspires artist John Leonard

By Mark Skeffington With hundreds of exhibits to his credit, artist John C. Leonard doesn’t worry about self-promotion or seek out publicity. “I’ve had more than 350 shows. I don’t need the promotion,” the 69-year-old Canadian artist says, explaining his relatively low profile, especially online. Stories and bios about John Leonard are hard to find, even though he has exhibited since the late 1960s in Canada and abroad, and his works are held in dozens of public and corporate … [Read more...]

The Longevity of Canadian Artists

The death of Alex Colville at age 92 in July 2013 was a reminder of the amazing longevity of many Canadian artists. Imagine an artistic career encompassing six or seven decades, plenty of time to explore different and sometimes ever-changing dreams, impulses, inspirations, influences, styles, mediums. Of course, not all Canadian artists had lives and creative careers spanning decades.  Some, sadly, left us too soon  – Tom Thomson at age 40, George Kulmala at 44 – before sharing all their … [Read more...]

Museum celebrates art collecting

Tucked away in historic Queenston, Ontario is a small public art museum that celebrates art collecting and collectors. RiverBrink Art Museum houses the eclectic collection of Samuel E. Weir, an Ontario lawyer who had a passion for collecting paintings, sculpture, books, stamps, clocks and decorative arts – a collection of about 1,400 pieces. The love of collecting is stamped all over this little gem of a museum, which backs onto the picturesque Niagara River and is surrounded by beautiful … [Read more...]