"One Thing Leads to Another"

A survey exhibition organized by the Art Gallery of Swift Current (in partnership with the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery) and curated by Kim Houghtaling, former Director and Curator of the Art Gallery of Swift Current.

Venues and dates:

Art Gallery of Swift Current: September 11 - October 31, 2021
Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery: February 2 - April 30, 2023

The exhibition follows the trajectory of Jonathan Forrest’s painting practice featureing a selection of large-scale paintings dating from 2002 to 2019, and a “wall of small” featuring a dozen or more small-scale works on paper and canvas dating from 1985 to the present.

Jonathan Forrest is an abstract painter who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and who grew up on the Canadian prairies. He divides his studio time between Vancouver Island (where he moved in 2013) and small town Saskatchewan (where he maintains a summer studio an hour east of Saskatoon).

Forrest studied at the University of Saskatchewan receiving his BFA in 1983 and his MFA in 1991. He has participated in several artists' workshops including the Emma Lake Artists' Workshop (1985, 1988, 1991, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012), the Saskatchewan Invitational Artists' Workshop, (Emma Lake, 2000), and Triangle Artists' Workshop (Brooklyn, NY, 2002). His work has been shown in museums including the Mendel Art Gallery (Saskatoon), the Edmonton Art Gallery, and the Dunlop Art Gallery (Regina), as well as commercial galleries including Art Placement (Saskatoon), Peter Robertson Gallery (Edmonton), Newzones (Calgary), Gallery Jones (Vancouver), and Michael Gibson Gallery (London ON). Public collections include the Canada Council / Art Bank, Dunlop Art Gallery (Regina), Edmonton Art Gallery, Remai Modern (Saskatoon), Moose Jaw Art Museum, Mackenzie Art Gallery (Regina), Saskatchewan Arts Board, University of Lethbridge, and the University of Saskatchewan. (click here for Jonathan Forrest's full CV)

“... My work is a combination of intuitive responses to the world around me, an ongoing dialogue with contemporary and historical painting, and an enthusiastic immersion in the material process of making objects. A natural openness and curiosity has kept me alert to the range of potential approaches to art-making. My creative process is positive – I’m interested in creating something new, something generous and giving, and, above all, something that sustains me in the studio.”
(Jonathan Forrest)

Website links:
| Art Gallery of Swift Current | Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery |

Images:

Wall #1 - "Wall of Small" (a selection of small scale canvases and paper works ranging in dates from 1985 to the present)

“Like Oil and Water”, 1985, Acrylic and Oil on Paper, 26” x 20”
"Walker", 1987, Acrylic on Paper, 20" x 26"
“Grey Column”, 1989, Acrylic and Charcoal on paper, 30” x 22”
"Centre Fold", 1993, Acrylic on Paper, 30 1/2" x 22 1/2"
“Oval II”, 1996, Acrylic on paper, 22 3/4” x 29 1/8”
"Clean Sweep", 1999, Acrylic on Paper, 30" x 22 1/2"
“Lake House”, 2000, Acrylic and paper collage, 26” x 20”
"Blue Conduit", 2003, Acrylic on Canvas, 24" x 32"
“Double Time”, 2007, Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 32”
"Aperture", 2009, Acrylic on Canvas, 24" x 32"
“Around the World”, 2011, Acrylic on Canvas, 32” x 24”
“Guard”, 2013, Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 32”
“Warm Wind”, 2017, Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 32”

Wall #2 (large scale paintings from 2018 - 2019)

“All Down the Line”, 2019, Acrylic on Canvas, 66” x 48”
“Half Light”, 2018, Acrylic on Canvas, 66” x 48”
“Milk and Honey”, 2018, Acrylic on Canvas, 83” x 61”
“Second Look”, 2018, Acrylic on Canvas, 83” x 61”

Wall #3 (large scale paintings from 2010 - 2016)

"Tippy Toe", 2010, Acrylic on Canvas, 66" x 48"
"Jumping Jack", 2012, Acrylic on Canvas, 66" x 48"
"Letter Press", 2016, Acrylic on Canvas, 66" x 48"

Wall #4 (large scale paintings from 2002 - 2008)

"Lean-to", 2008, Acrylic on Canvas, 66" x 48"
"Six Shooter", 2006, Acrylic on Canvas, 66" x 48"
"Choc-a-block", 2006, Acrylic on Canvas, 66" x 48"
"Blue Print", 2002, Acrylic on Canvas, 48 1/2" x 56 1/2"

Gallery layout:

Artist's Talk (Brock University February 2021)

youtube link: https://youtu.be/iI-TidQ706k