process THE MUSKOKAN, Thursday, July 12, 2007. B5 Art and hockey come to the table The Stanley Cup playoffs may be over and the new “I lament the innocently revered idols of my youth Hockey, in which a player taken from a table hockey season of NHL games is still months away, but hock- being overshadowed by a generation of flawed mil- game is perched atop a table from a dollhouse, led him ey reigns supreme at the Chapel Gallery. lionaire and merchandised sportsmen of today,” stat- to creating art on hockey games. He is still churning Game Faces is an exhibition that fuses art with ed Jenkins who has been an editorial cartoonist, cari- out hockey pieces, many of them now on canvas. That hockey memorabilia. In Game Faces, Toronto artists caturist, illustrator and writer for The Globe and Mail hasn’t stopped him from incorporating items used in Larry Humber and Anthony Jenkins have taken that since 1974. the game, including sticks, skates and pucks. You long ago childhood icon, the table hockey game, and While hockey has never been more popular, Jenkins never know what might turn up in his art. used it as a canvas for portraits and artistic commen- and Humber feel the game’s iconic status in Canada “I love to go out on Monday mornings and scan taries. has been let down by the art of this country. “Pictures through the refuse left on the sidewalk. There’s some Their work is intended as a tribute to a rapidly van- of cute kids on ponds have been the gold standard,” amazing stuff to be found. I call it free art supplies,” ishing aspect of their childhood and culture. For said Jenkins. said Humber who has illustrated more than 100 Facts Jenkins, painting portraits of the likes of Bobby Orr, Together, these longtime friends and hockey team- and Arguments articles for The Globe and Mail and is Wayne Gretzky, Maurice Richard or Gordie Howe is a mates are trying to rectify that in their work, much of currently a cruciverbalist (crossword puzzle creator), way to combine his passion for the game he has which is grounded on past greats and glories. They writer and editor for various publications. played as a boy, man and father with his opinions paint and collage, using hockey memorabilia, on table “I hope the show evokes memories for people,” said about the current state of the game. hockey games and on surfaces that are more tradi- Jenkins. “Give it a little time,” added Humber. tional. “There’s often more than meets the eye.” “Game Faces is our homage to that innocent Game Faces opens on July 14 and continues until Canadian culture,” said Jenkins, who was educated at August 4 at the Chapel Gallery. the Universities of Toronto and Waterloo and took The gallery is located in Bracebridge at 15 King painting courses at the Toronto School of Art and the Street. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday, from Ontario College of Art and Design. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 until 5 p.m. For more Jenkins acquired most of his old table hockey games information, call Muskoka Arts & Crafts at 705-645- on EBay from all over North America. They are col- 5501 or visit www.muskokaartsandcrafts.com. lector’s items and not easily found at garage sales. Humber is able to pick up contemporary games from stores around the Toronto area. You can reach us at Humber is a big believer in experimentation and humour in art. He feels there is not enough of either. [email protected] Among his inspirations is the late Andy Warhol, who was never afraid to try new things. Marcel Duchamp, a modern-day Da Vinci, is another of his artistic heroes. Originally, a watercolourist working with the tiniest of brushes, Humber expanded to bigger brushes and surfaces, followed by acrylics then to collage, shadow boxes and assemblage. Now, he incorporates all these techniques in his work. His shadow box titled Table

WHEN KEON RULED THE EARTH. In 1967 the living was easy for Toronto Maple Leaf fans with Davey Keon leading the Leafs to their fourth Cup in six years. The vanquished Montreal Canadiens are represented by the smaller dinosaurs in Larry Humber’s art work. Submitted photo