CANADIAN IDENTITY Through the Art of GREG CURNOE Click the Right Corner to CANADIAN IDENTITY GREG CURNOE Through the Art of Return to Table of Contents
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TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE FOR GRADES 6–12 LEARN ABOUT CANADIAN IDENTITY through the art of GREG CURNOE Click the right corner to CANADIAN IDENTITY GREG CURNOE through the art of return to table of contents TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 RESOURCE WHO WAS TIMELINE OF OVERVIEW GREG CURNOE? HISTORICAL EVENTS AND ARTIST’S LIFE PAGE 4 PAGE 7 PAGE 10 LEARNING CULMINATING HOW GREG CURNOE ACTIVITIES TASK MADE ART: STYLE & TECHNIQUE PAGE 11 READ ONLINE DOWNLOAD ADDITIONAL GREG CURNOE: GREG CURNOE RESOURCES LIFE & WORK IMAGE FILE BY JUDITH RODGER EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CANADIAN IDENTITY through the art of GREG CURNOE RESOURCE OVERVIEW This teacher resource guide has been written to complement the Art Canada Institute online art book Greg Curnoe: Life & Work by Judith Rodger. The artworks within this guide and the images required for the learning activities and culminating task can be found in the Greg Curnoe Image File provided. Greg Curnoe (1936–1992) was an artist from London, Ontario, who promoted his hometown as an important centre for artistic production in Canada. He began his career in the 1960s, at the beginning of a decade of change when many people asked, “What does it mean to be Canadian?” He was an ardent promoter of regionalism—a movement that looked toward one’s own life and area for inspiration—to help define Canadian identity. Curnoe expressed his passion for Canada in his paintings and his writings. He believed that there was not one single, unified Canadian identity, but rather many regional identities throughout the country. This guide explores Curnoe’s artistic practice and the formation of Canadian identity during the late twentieth century through to today. Curriculum Connections Grade 6 Social Studies Grades 9–12 History Grades 9–12 Social Studies/Political Studies Grades 9–12 Visual Arts Grade 10 Civics Grades 11–12 Canadian and World Issues Themes Identity Canadian culture Canadian–US relations Fig 1. Greg Curnoe, America, July 1989. Fig 2. Greg Curnoe, Map of North Eliminating the United States entirely, America, 1972. This ink drawing is the North American politics Curnoe’s maps express what has been first of several reimagined maps of Regionalism described as a strong anti-Americanism. North America that Curnoe created. Teaching Exercises Using Greg Curnoe’s art as a starting point, the exercises in this guide examine different concepts of Canadian identity and the expression of these identities in words and images. Learning Activity #1: Create a “Canadian Identity” Wheel (page 4) Learning Activity #2: Discussion of Canadian Identity as Regional or National (page 6) Culminating Task: Create a Text-Based Artwork Inspired by the Art of Greg Curnoe (page 7) A Note on Using This Guide This resource and the ACI publication Greg Curnoe: Life & Work discuss text and imagery present in Greg Curnoe’s artworks that could be interpreted as “anti-American.” Curnoe was not against Americans as individuals or the United States as a country, but he opposed what he saw as the dominating influence of American over Canadian culture. He believed that Canadians should bolster and take pride in their own arts, entertainment, music, and culture. It is important to discuss Curnoe’s views and the phrasing “anti-American” within the context of free speech versus censorship, hate speech, and prejudice. In addition it is important to encourage students to form their own opinions and to encourage open and positive educational discussions. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE 1 CANADIAN IDENTITY through the art of GREG CURNOE WHO WAS GREG CURNOE ? Greg Curnoe was born in 1936 in London, Ontario. His childhood passions—from collections to journaling to maps—would greatly influence his life as an artist and inextricably link his personal interests to his artmaking. In 1957, he enrolled at the Ontario College of Art. Although he did not enjoy the classes, the period was an important one. He was involved in creating an artists’ cooperative, Garret Gallery. Later, Curnoe was leader at three more artist-run galleries in London—Region Gallery, 20/20 Gallery, and Forest City Gallery—allowing artists autonomy over how their work was exhibited. To make art Curnoe used oil, watercolour, acrylic, collage, rubber stamps, and assemblage techniques. In 1962, he created the first artist books in Canada, diaristic recordings of his daily thoughts and observations. This Fig 3. Photograph of Greg Curnoe in 1969. combination of words and images, influenced by comic books and Pop art, featured heavily in Curnoe’s works of the 1960s and 70s. In 1964 Curnoe met his future wife, Sheila Thompson, who would become a muse and model for many of his artworks. They had three children—Owen, Galen, and Zoë. Curnoe’s family members were important subjects in many of his works, congruent with his desire to paint about his own life and local interests. Curnoe’s focus on his hometown and what was closest to him was the driving force behind a movement known as London Regionalism. Throughout his career, and particularly in the 1960s, Curnoe was a champion for Canadian art and culture. Much of his artwork addressed his concerns that Canadian culture was being eroded by an American “cultural imperialism” that he observed in the appointment of Americans in Canadian universities and cultural institutions and in corporate takeovers. Fig 4. Curnoe’s studio in 1988. Fig 5. Greg Curnoe, Self-Portrait In 1967–68 Curnoe painted a large mural for the Dorval You can see tests and studies for with Galen on 1951 CCM, 1971. This airport, which Curnoe said was a reflection of antiwar numerous works and, of course, a work shows the connection between bicycle resting in the corner. Curnoe’s art and his everyday life. sentiment that had become prevalent with the Vietnam War. The mural was removed, an act that became one of Canada’s most important cases of censorship. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Curnoe became more aware of the cultural imperialism within Canada and the injustice that Indigenous peoples across the country had suffered as a result of colonialism. Some of the artist’s final works are dedicated to a new understanding of Canadian identity. Tragically, in 1992, Curnoe was killed at the height of his career when he was hit by a truck while on a regular outing, riding his favourite yellow Mariposa bike. Curnoe’s importance to Fig 6. Greg Curnoe, Myself Walking Fig 7. Greg Curnoe, Self-Portrait Canadian art and artists endures. North in the Tweed Coat, 1963. This #14, 1992. Curnoe painted this life-sized, full-length self-portrait self-portrait while looking at his is an example of the artist’s reflection in a mirror. signature style. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE 2 CANADIAN IDENTITY through the art of GREG CURNOE NATIONAL & WORLD EVENTS GREG CURNOE’S LIFE 1936 Greg Curnoe is born in London, ON. Curnoe helps create an artist-run centre, Garret Gallery, during his A new national flag is adopted studies at OCA. featuring the single maple leaf. 1957 As the Vietnam War continues, Curnoe meets Sheila Thompson, Fig 8. The royal proclamation of the draft dodgers enter Canada and his future wife. national flag of Canada anti-American sentiments increase. in 1965. On his first trip to New York, 1964 Curnoe is shocked by the violent mugging of a friend and Fig 12. Greg Curnoe, Paul Joseph Chartier fails in his re-evaluates his feelings about c.1938. As a child Curnoe 1965 loved maps, journaling, attempt to blow up the Canadian the U.S. and making collections. House of Commons. 1966 Curnoe participates in Canada celebrates its centennial Montreal’s Expo 67, exhibiting a and Montreal hosts Expo 67, putting 1967 portrait of former Prime Minister Canadian identity and patriotism at Lyon Mackenzie King. The same Fig 9. All eyes are the forefront of people’s minds. year, Curnoe is commissioned to on Canada when paint a large mural for Montreal’s Montreal hosts the 1967 International and Dorval airport. It is later removed Universal Exposition. for being “anti-American,” in one of 1968 Canada’s most important cases of censorship. Canadian Artists’ Representation/ Fig 13. Greg Curnoe, View of Victoria Hospital, Second Le front des artistes canadiens Montreal hosts the twenty-first Series, February 10, 1969– Summer Olympics. Canada is once (CARFAC) is founded to ensure March 10, 1971. Victoria more in the international spotlight that artists are paid fairly for the Hospital was important to 1971 Curnoe as the place where and a form of Canadian identity is reproduction and exhibition of their work; Curnoe is one of the he and so many of his family being promoted. and friends had been born 1976 first to join. or had died. Fig 10. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Curnoe journeys over the entire Freedoms. “O Canada” is officially adopted country, wherever possible visiting as the national anthem under the islands, places which he considers National Anthem Act. The first 1980 bastions of local regional cultures. iteration was originally written in 1880 and was approved by a Special Joint 1981 Greg Curnoe: Rétrospective/ Committee of the Senate and House 1982 Retrospective opens at the of Commons on 15 March 1967. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. To Curnoe's disappointment, the reviews are mixed. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms comes into effect, guaranteeing all Canadians 1986 fundamental political and civil rights. Curnoe begins a new series of works that explores colonialism and 1990 Indigenous peoples in Canada. Fig 11. Expo Centre at Expo ’86 opens in Vancouver, B.C. Fig 14. Greg Curnoe, Deeds Expo 86, Vancouver, #5, August 19–22, 1991. Canada. 1992 Curnoe is killed by a pick-up This work traces Curnoe’s truck while riding his bike.