By Angie Sullivan
There is nothing more Canadian than two art galleries helping each other out by sharing a collection of the Group of Seven artwork.
From July 1 to Aug. 10, this stunning collection is on display at the Art Gallery of Georgina, showcasing the beauty of the Canadian landscape and the artists that were inspired by it.
The story of how these iconic paintings made their way from Rookleys Canadian Art Gallery in Ridgeway, Ont., to the Art Gallery of Georgina in Sutton is pure serendipity.
Sheona Hurd, the executive director for the AGG, was on vacation in the Niagara region when she stumbled upon a fine art gallery in the quaint village of Ridgeway.
Hurd and Andrew Rookley, the owner of Rookleys Canadian Art Gallery, began talking and the collaboration was born.
“It’s a win-win for both galleries. This collection helped them draw a good crowd, which helps with funding and encouraging donations,” Rookley said. “We like to have the paintings out of storage and on the walls and the more they are seen, the more iconic they are.”
“Collaborations like this expand what’s possible for a community museum,” Hurd said, “Partnering with Rookley’s Gallery has allowed us to bring together nationally significant works, thoughtful interpretation, and engaging public programming that invites visitors to experience the Group of Seven in new and meaningful ways.”
The collection features work from A.Y. Jackson, Franklin Carmichael, J.E.H. MacDonald, Frank Johnston, Edwin Holgate, and A.J. Casson, as well as their contemporaries and successors.
Pearl McLean of Sutton, creative designer and marketing assistant at the AGG, said, “The July 1 opening of this collection was our biggest launch to date. It was an overwhelming response.”
Councillor Dale Genge was in attendance at the opening and said, “Canada Day was the perfect day to open this amazing exhibition. Well worth stopping by.”
“The Group of Seven could be called the start of Canadian art. They were some of the first to get Canadians proud of our country artistically and inspired so many,” said Rookley. “The Group of Seven are all about cooperating with other artists, so this collaboration is in the spirit of the Group of Seven.”
Hurd said, “The Art Gallery of Georgina exists to connect our community with Canada’s artistic heritage, and this exhibition is a wonderful example of that mission in action.”
Rachel Douglas comes from Keswick to volunteer at the AGG and said, “The Group of Seven has made such an amazing contribution to Canadian identity.”
If you are interested in volunteering or making a donation to the AGG, please visit https://artgalleryofgeorgina.ca/pages/donate-today.
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