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In July of 2005,
eighteen members of the Ontario Society of Artists (OSA)
each donated a piece of their own work to the Government
of Ontario Art Collection. Diverse in style and subject
matter all the works however share a commonality in representing
some aspect of Ontario as reflected through the eyes of
its talented artists.
Works by Debra Archibald, Leon Belsky (his City
Portrait is seen to the right), Gil Caldwell, Susan
Clark, Shirray Langley, Lillian Michiko Blakey and Nancy
De Boni focus on the urban and suburban environment, while
those of Jean Eng, Judy Finch, Janet Hendershot, Sonia Tarantour
Pearl, Bev Rodin, Janice Mason Steeves, Ernestine Tahedl,
Darryl Thorogood and Arlene Turkington take their inspiration
from the natural landscape. |
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to see a larger image (83K)
City Portrait, 1996
Leon Belsky, OSA
Oil on canvas
Donated by the artist, 2005
Government of Ontario Art Collection, 100343
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to see a larger image (223K)
Containing Water, 2003
Michael Mills, OSA
Monoprint, oil, oil bar, charcoal, mylar
Donated by the artist, 2005
Government of Ontario Art Collection, 100316
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Individual and personal themes also find expression
in these paintings. The commercialization of water, one
of our most important natural resources, is the subject
of the multi-media work, Containing Water,
by former OSA
President, Michael Mills while the ambiguity of confronting
the familiar in an unfamiliar setting is explored in Anne-Marie
Kornachuk’s Witness.
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see a larger image (81K)
Witness, 2004
Anne-Marie Kornachuk, OSA
Oil on canvas
Donated by the artist, 2005
Government of Ontario Art Collection, 100317
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|  From
its inception the OSA
has enjoyed a particularly rich history and has made an
outstanding and enduring contribution to the artistic life
of Ontario and Canada. Its aim of “fostering
Original Art in the province” led to its
involvement in the establishment of a provincial school
of art, an art museum, and the founding of the Royal Canadian
Academy. It also established the annual exhibitions held
at both the Industrial Exhibition (now the CNE)
and in its own galleries.
Between 1873 and 1914, the Ontario government purchased
almost 200 works of art from the annual exhibitions of
the OSA. This proved to be an important initiative for
the collection today, as well as precedent setting support
for Ontario’s visual artists. The significance of the current donation lies not only
in the welcome addition of new contemporary artworks to
the collection but also serves to re-establish the historic
ties between the Government of Ontario Art Collection
and the Society.
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A Harmony in Grey and Yellow, 1897
Mary Augusta Hiester Reid , OSA
Oil on canvas
Purchased by the Government of Ontario
from the 25th annual OSA Exhibition, 1897
Government of Ontario Art Collection, 619739
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Feedback
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exhibit. We also welcome any suggestions for ways it can
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Personal information
provided to the Archives through this request will be used
only to respond to requests. This information is collected
under the authority of the Archives and Recordkeeping Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, chapter 34, Schedule A.
Questions about the collection of this information should
be directed to: Team Leader, Strategic Business Solutions,
Archives of Ontario, 77 Grenville St. Toronto, ON, M5S 1B3,
416-327-1527. |
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