SPRING BAY—The annual season’s opening of Perivale Gallery is always accompanied by the unveiling of the latest collection of internationally renowned artist Ivan Wheale’s latest collection. This year the exhibition of Mr. Wheale’s work is entitled ‘Dimensions: An Artist’s Vision.’
For the artist, the opening is also an opportunity to meet up with old friends and renew acquaintances. This year was particularly special as a blast from the past came all the way from Africa to visit. Dr. Richard Nanka-Bruce and his wife of 50 years Joanna travelled from the West African country of the Republic of Ghana, stopping off in Sudbury to pick up son Robert, and popped by the opening to greet Mr. Wheale.
Dr. Nanka-Bruce holds a special place in the artist’s heart. “If it were not for him, I would not be here today,” said Mr. Wheale, explaining that when the artist was suffering from a meningitis-like illness acquired while travelling the North, it was Dr. Nanka-Bruce, then practicing at Sudbury General Hospital, who helped pull him through.
“I have a number of Ivan Wheale paintings,” said Dr. Nanka-Bruce, whose collection spans the artist’s Arctic period and Western series, as well as the Georgian Bay depictions for which Mr. Wheale is probably best known on Manitoulin.
“When Ivan began painting after his illness, his style had changed completely,” recalled Dr. Nanka-Bruce. “It wasn’t Ivan. Then I saw a smaller painting he had just done, similar to that one (indicating a Georgian Bay scene), and I knew then that he was back. It was Ivan.”
Dr. Nanka-Bruce and his family were just three of the many friends and patrons that were at the gallery opening to see the new collection and give the artist a hug, including fibre artist Judy Martin, who was just returning from an exhibition of her work out west and headed to another opening in Kitchener.
“Ivan is just so very special,” said Ms. Martin as she awaited Mr. Wheale’s arrival at the gallery.
This year’s collection has something for just about everyone, from the larger format oil paintings to mid-size offerings, down to tiny miniatures done in watercolour.
“The tiny paintings take almost as long as the larger ones,” said Mr. Wheale. “Getting in the detail is a challenge.”
Gallery owner Shannon McMullan was holding court by the door as is her custom during the openings, greeting patrons old and new as they entered the Island’s premier art venue.
“This year we have the largest number of artists from Manitoulin we have ever had,” she said. “So many accomplished artists have come to make the Island their home. It’s magical.” Ms. McMullan explained that the decision to focus more on Island artists is deliberate, but she still travels extensively to gather in some of the best that Ontario has to offer. Spanning all mediums from oil, acrylic, watercolour, sculpture, fabric art to multi-media works, the gallery is a great way to spend an afternoon.
In addition to the gallery, Ms. McMullan has instituted a workshop series that has grown by leaps and bounds in popularity. This year will also witness the 9th iteration of ‘In the Spirit of Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven’ from July 22 to August 6. “Wait until you see the work that Ivan has in the show, it is absolutely amazing,” said Ms. McMullan.
The gallery is located on the shore of Lake Kagawong at 1320 Perivale Road East in Spring Bay, and is open from 10 am to 5 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday until mid-June, after which Perivale is open daily until mid-September.
