One thing I've learned is that the multi-photo galleries Substack enables display differently on different platforms. So those four photos appear in different order on phones and laptops. Never a dull moment.
Oh boy. Another great Canadian achievement, involving years of dedicated effort and creativity, and, wouldn't you know, we've never heard about it. Thank you for bringing it to our attention!!! I'm buying the book tomorrow. Canada is such a funny old place, is it not? So painfully self-deprecating, so rarely celebrating its most unique achievements.
What matters most is that the portraits you show are just so good. I don’t understand why the idea of a national portrait gallery— and yes, in Ottawa— is stuffy. The National Portrait Gallery in London is the least stuffy gallery I know. We ought to have one of our own. Well done Wells.
Even a stuffy gallery can be subject to interventions. The big, slightly ominous and mostly boring collection of U of T ,Hart House wardens', for instance: who'd've thunk?
Thanks for writing this. I recently spent two years living in Australia and can confirm that the Archibald Prize enjoys widespread mainstream recognition there. I was struck by the magnitude of art prizes in general Down Under, including a $50,000 prize pool in the Queensland town of 5,000 people where my mother-in-law lives. We Canadians could learn a few things from our Commonwealth cousins when it comes to unapologetically celebrating our contemporary artists, and to paying more than lip service to their efforts.
Thanks so much for this article as I find modern portraits so interesting. So much so that after retiring have taken couple courses on drawing and painting portraits even though have no artistic background.
Especially like your line “First, it’s great to learn that Canada has people living in it”. You are so right Canada is full of interesting people from all walks of life they need to be celebrated.
Again and again - and yet, yet again - I am reminded why I cheerfully subscribe to this newsletter.
Many people say something to the effect that, "I don't know anything about art but I know what I like." Personally, I cannot say even that.
I have no education in art but I enjoy looking at it. I am retired now but in my working life (I was an accountant) I had a large number of clients who were artists. Whenever I got a new client who was an artist my very first question of them was, "What is your medium?" That got a large variety of interesting answers and I still remember the one fellow who simply replied in a deadpan voice, "Plywood." Me: "Excuse me?" Him (again, deadpan voice): "Plywood." Actually, he was telling the truth. Live and learn.
Oh, and what those many folks say about knowing what they like? As noted, I cannot say even that. What I do know is that some art, whether portraiture, landscapes, ceramics, sculpture or whatever medium simply COMPELS me to look at it. Sometimes I have found an image to be actually repulsive but I cannot look away. Good? Bad? I don't know and I don't care; the image or shape or whatever makes me look and that is just as near as I need to my personal definition of good art.
It has always been an embarrassment that Kingston could not find a suitable venue to showcase the Kingston Prize. Many reasons…personal and political…but a shame nevertheless. That a City of 138,000 would be outshone by a Town of 5,400 is a sad commentary.
You truly are an agent of culture, Paul. I enjoy your ability to introduce your audience to both visual and performance art and have us purring happily.
I'm a bit late to this important article - but, damn, is it another good one. And all too Canadian in that it fills me simultaneously with hope...and despair. And, I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of this prize despite years (decades) of gallery going. Thank you, Paul (and Jason and Brown family)
The news right now might be consumed by a focus on the economy and defence, as bulwarks against threats to our sovereignty, but there is an important place for the arts and sports as well. What are the images that we are creating in 2025 that define us as a people with shared history and citizenship? The Portrait Gallery in London is one of the most exciting, fun institutions to visit, with the old and the new of British culture on display. This would 100% work in Canada -- we need more ambition.
I just ordered the book The Kingston Prize for myself from my Indie bookstore, Someday Books in Niagara. I also put on order a copy of the book at my local public library. And subscribed to the Portrait Gallery website. I'm impressed as hell at portraits you introduced us to, Paul Wells. Now if only the current PM would look at 'culture' a tad more closely, I would be happier.
Thanks, Paul, for bringing this to a broader audience. Fascinating and, I hate to say it, a Worthy Canadian Initiative. Hope we get a national portrait gallery one day.
One thing I've learned is that the multi-photo galleries Substack enables display differently on different platforms. So those four photos appear in different order on phones and laptops. Never a dull moment.
Oh boy. Another great Canadian achievement, involving years of dedicated effort and creativity, and, wouldn't you know, we've never heard about it. Thank you for bringing it to our attention!!! I'm buying the book tomorrow. Canada is such a funny old place, is it not? So painfully self-deprecating, so rarely celebrating its most unique achievements.
What matters most is that the portraits you show are just so good. I don’t understand why the idea of a national portrait gallery— and yes, in Ottawa— is stuffy. The National Portrait Gallery in London is the least stuffy gallery I know. We ought to have one of our own. Well done Wells.
Even a stuffy gallery can be subject to interventions. The big, slightly ominous and mostly boring collection of U of T ,Hart House wardens', for instance: who'd've thunk?
Yet there's a Kent Monkman there: https://photos.app.goo.gl/gxdmZRkQDhZCgPmU8
And it's got Canadian cultural/geographical history encoded right in it: Press-Release-Draft1_Gallery.pdf https://share.google/0S9Ecf13Lq4a3etTi
It's easier to cancel great, rich, white men who were racist by today's standards than to celebrate them.
Thank you for sharing this lovely piece.
Thanks for writing this. I recently spent two years living in Australia and can confirm that the Archibald Prize enjoys widespread mainstream recognition there. I was struck by the magnitude of art prizes in general Down Under, including a $50,000 prize pool in the Queensland town of 5,000 people where my mother-in-law lives. We Canadians could learn a few things from our Commonwealth cousins when it comes to unapologetically celebrating our contemporary artists, and to paying more than lip service to their efforts.
Thanks so much for this article as I find modern portraits so interesting. So much so that after retiring have taken couple courses on drawing and painting portraits even though have no artistic background.
Especially like your line “First, it’s great to learn that Canada has people living in it”. You are so right Canada is full of interesting people from all walks of life they need to be celebrated.
Thank you, Sir.
Again and again - and yet, yet again - I am reminded why I cheerfully subscribe to this newsletter.
Many people say something to the effect that, "I don't know anything about art but I know what I like." Personally, I cannot say even that.
I have no education in art but I enjoy looking at it. I am retired now but in my working life (I was an accountant) I had a large number of clients who were artists. Whenever I got a new client who was an artist my very first question of them was, "What is your medium?" That got a large variety of interesting answers and I still remember the one fellow who simply replied in a deadpan voice, "Plywood." Me: "Excuse me?" Him (again, deadpan voice): "Plywood." Actually, he was telling the truth. Live and learn.
Oh, and what those many folks say about knowing what they like? As noted, I cannot say even that. What I do know is that some art, whether portraiture, landscapes, ceramics, sculpture or whatever medium simply COMPELS me to look at it. Sometimes I have found an image to be actually repulsive but I cannot look away. Good? Bad? I don't know and I don't care; the image or shape or whatever makes me look and that is just as near as I need to my personal definition of good art.
It has always been an embarrassment that Kingston could not find a suitable venue to showcase the Kingston Prize. Many reasons…personal and political…but a shame nevertheless. That a City of 138,000 would be outshone by a Town of 5,400 is a sad commentary.
You truly are an agent of culture, Paul. I enjoy your ability to introduce your audience to both visual and performance art and have us purring happily.
I'm a bit late to this important article - but, damn, is it another good one. And all too Canadian in that it fills me simultaneously with hope...and despair. And, I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of this prize despite years (decades) of gallery going. Thank you, Paul (and Jason and Brown family)
The news right now might be consumed by a focus on the economy and defence, as bulwarks against threats to our sovereignty, but there is an important place for the arts and sports as well. What are the images that we are creating in 2025 that define us as a people with shared history and citizenship? The Portrait Gallery in London is one of the most exciting, fun institutions to visit, with the old and the new of British culture on display. This would 100% work in Canada -- we need more ambition.
Yes! We need pipelines of creativity - not just pipelines of oil.
Wonderful news, thank you.
Thank you for this. I'd never heard of this competition.
Lovely piece. Thank you.
I just ordered the book The Kingston Prize for myself from my Indie bookstore, Someday Books in Niagara. I also put on order a copy of the book at my local public library. And subscribed to the Portrait Gallery website. I'm impressed as hell at portraits you introduced us to, Paul Wells. Now if only the current PM would look at 'culture' a tad more closely, I would be happier.
Gail B, St. C
Thanks, Paul, for bringing this to a broader audience. Fascinating and, I hate to say it, a Worthy Canadian Initiative. Hope we get a national portrait gallery one day.