Canvas of War — Last chance to see this major exhibition which has attracted more than 280,000 visitorsHull (Quebec), January 3, 2001 — January 7, 2001, will mark the closing of the major exhibition Canvas of War: Masterpieces from the Canadian War Museum (http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/canvas/cwint01e.html ), produced by the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC). In total, more than 280,000 people will have had the opportunity to visit this successful exhibition. There are only a few days left to see this wonderful exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Civilization before it begins a national tour.
On display since February 10, 2000, Canvas of War: Masterpieces from the Canadian War Museum is the largest exhibition ever of works from the Canadian War Museum's vast and little-known war art collection. It brings together 69 works painted by some of Canada's most well known artists, such as Charles Comfort, Alex Colville, Molly Lamb Bobak and four members of the future Group of Seven.
"Public interest in this exhibition and the extremely favourable comments it has generated demonstrate how important it is to show the gems of the Canadian War Museum's collections, some of which have been unknown until now," said Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the CMCC.
"Several of the paintings in this exhibition have not been shown for 80 years, and others have never before been seen by the public. Over the next few years, the national tour undertaken by this exhibition will allow hundreds of thousands of Canadians to appreciate the quality of these works and their historic significance. This exhibition's success also supports the Canadian War Museum's new building project, for which the selection of an architect is underway," added Mr. Rabinovitch.
From the joy of an Armistice Day celebration to the sad scene of a drowning sailor, these eloquent works are a powerful witness to the Canadian war experience. Three large sculptures created by Walter Allward for the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France are also on display. The Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization have worked together to produce this large project. Visitors leave with a new vision of how Canadian military history helped shape even the social and artistic culture of our country.
"For too long, this collection of war art was the least well known of all the country's art collections," said Laura Brandon, exhibition curator and co-author of Canvas of War. "The CMCC therefore enthusiastically undertook the publication of the book Canvas of War. It achieved instant success, as did the exhibition on which it is based."
In total, nine museums in nine provinces will host Canvas of War: Masterpieces of the Canadian War Museum, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the MacKenzie Art Gallery, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the McCord Museum, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the Glenbow Museum, the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Vancouver Art Gallery. The exhibition will tour until 2005.
Produced with the generous financial support of the Donner Canadian Foundation and a donation from the W. Garfield Weston Foundation, Canvas of War: Masterpieces of the Canadian War Museum will be open until January 7, 2001 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Information (media):
Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7169
Senior Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7167
Fax: (819) 776-7187
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