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Happy Friday! Today we’re sharing the work of William Ronald from the AGP #PermanentCollection

William Ronald (1926 – 1998) was a Canadian artist, born in Stratford, Ontario. He spent a significant amount of his life living in both New York City, and Toronto, and was a major influence on the development of the Abstract Expressionist art movement in mainstream Canadian art in the 1960s and 1970s.

Abstract Expressionism emerged from the New York art scene in the 1940s and 50s and emphasized non-objective imagery and emotional expression through bold, gestural abstraction. Arising in the aftermath of WWII, a period of significant trauma and anxiety, it was fueled by artists who sought new ways to express complex emotions.

Within Abstract Expressionism were two broad groupings: the “action painters,” who approached their canvases with expressive brush strokes emphasizing the physical act of creation; and the colour field painters who filled their canvases with large areas of a single colour to create a contemplative or meditative effect.

William Ronald was the youngest member of Painters Eleven, a collective based out of Toronto in the 1950s, and the first abstract painting group in Ontario. The Painters Eleven are credited with introducing a New York abstract influence to the mainstream Canadian art scene.

By the 1970s William Ronald’s style had evolved and adapted stylistically to the evolving abstract art scene by painting almost exclusively with clear colours and hard edges, aligning more and more with the colour field style.

“Black Venus” is an example of this evolution in his style and contains a selection of bold flat colours. The vibrant, asymmetrical background of solid, geometric colour blocks contrasts heavily with the dark organic shape located in the centre of the lower half. Ronald’s use of colour blocking in varying sizes creates a sense of balance and unity across the composition, while the dark central form evokes a sense of unease.

Image: William Ronald, Black Venus, 1962, oil on linen. Collection of the Art Gallery of Peterborough. Gift of Alan M. Schwartz, 1985

#AGPtbo #Collection #WilliamRonald #Abstract #Abstraction #Painting

Do you know a young person interested in applying to a secondary school arts program? The AGP has developed a program to help support the process!

This new four-week course is designed for students aged 11 to 14 who are looking to develop a portfolio of work and prepare for a secondary school art program, such as the Peterborough Integrated Arts Program at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School. It will help participants develop skills and techniques that boost their artistic skill and creativity while emphasizing the importance of taking risks.

Join us in the AGP studio each week from April 24 – May 15 and learn directly from practicing artists in our community to create a standout portfolio of your own!

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Details:

4-week course

Weekly: Thursdays, April 24 – May 15
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Suitable for ages 11 – 14
Fee: $132

Learn more and register at: https://agp.on.ca/…/teen-programs/portfolio-development/ or check out the link in our profile.

#AGPtbo #Portfolio #ArtEducation #ArtProgram

Join us! We are currently seeking applicants to join the AGP Board of Directors or the Fundraising & Development Committee.

Successful candidates will serve as ambassadors for the organization, and offer leadership, insight, and support as members of the Board of Directors and the Board’s committees.

Our Peterborough community is changing and growing and so are we. If you are an art lover and enthusiastic about supporting your regional gallery, we want to hear from you!

Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 16 at 11:59 pm

More information and how to apply is available at: agp.on.ca/connect/volunteer/call-for-board-members/ or visit our website by heading to the link in our profile.

#AGPtbo #ArtGalleryOfPeterborough #Volunteer