A Jock McDonald Remix Project by Pete Smith.

This blog is a running journal that was made in conjunction with my artist residency at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada that took place between December 2014 and February of 2015.

To get an understanding of how this project fits into the larger scope of my art practice, please visit:

www.petesmith.ca


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Correspondence with Kate Wilson

Hi Pete,

Hope all’s great with you. Congratulations! The wall piece at the RMG looks spectacular. And congrats on the Kelowna show. Liz Wylie is a joy to work with.

Pete, I would like to introduce you to Lois Steen. Lois is a Toronto-based painter. I’m assisting Lois with her archives. Lois has a fascinating history and she has many brilliant stories about Jock Macdonald.

In 1951, Lois studied with Macdonald at the Banff School of Fine Arts. "In his teaching, Macdonald treated his students as the most important thing in his life at that moment and he never let you forget it. He encouraged experimentation, especially with abstraction. There was something personal Jock had with his students that endeared him to you. You bent over backwards to do the best work possible.” In 1981, Lois participated in Jock Macdonald’s Students, a group exhibition at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery curated by Joan Murray. Lois exhibited six large-scale paintings: Noetic, Twilight Rubies, Celebration of All That Is, Patch of Green, Untitled and Energy Within.

Jock and Lois maintained a friendship until his death in 1960. Several years ago, Lois donated correspondence from Jock to The Robert McLaughlin Gallery archives. Lois continues to maintain a studio practice.

lois-steen.tumblr.com

Have a Merry Christmas, Pete and Best Wishes for the New Year!

Cheers,

Kate Wilson

That's awesome, Kate!

Thank you so much! I will absolutely get in contact with Lois! Also, am I ok to post this correspondence on my blog? I've been doing that sort of thing. I like giving the shout-outs to friends, but also like to show the way artists function as a community.

Best,

Pete

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