PERIVALE—Mother Nature painted a stunning tableau, replete with dappled sunshine playing across colourful gardens, outside the Perivale Gallery while inside, the latest offerings of featured artist, the legendary Ivan Wheale, were unveiled.
Guests, friends and relatives gathered to admire Mr. Wheale’s latest works, which, while covering familiar themes of the detailed landscape of the Georgian Bay region rendered primarily in oil on canvas, always seem to bring along a variety of fresh nuances and surprises to delight fans each season.
“This is my first time seeing these hung,” said Mr. Wheale, who added that Perivale owner Shannon McMullan’s curatorial skill continues to build on the tradition of her mother the late Sheila McMullan. “It’s always exciting for me.”
Old friends and new acquaintances alike took the opportunity to chat with the artist and learn more about his work and the philosophy behind the pieces.
If there was anyone in the gallery more excited than Mr. Wheale and Ms. McMullan, however, it was likely fledgling artist and environmental scientist Cattail Reed, daughter of Little Current’s Karen Tracy. Ms. Reed’s work ‘False Perceptions’ in acrylic and ink is now hanging in the gallery. “This is my first work to be hung in a gallery,” she said. Ms. Reed has been painting since early high school.
The veteran artist and the new could be seen deep in conversation throughout the opening. “It’s wonderful seeing young artists’ works,” said Mr. Wheale, smiling as he accepted an art piece from one of his grandchildren during the opening. “I wonder where she gets it from,” he added, a trademark twinkle in his eye.
Those interested in acquiring an original Ivan Wheale from this season are advised to “mosey on down” to the now open Perivale Gallery, the official agent of Mr. Wheale’s works. Red dots (signifying sold) were already blossoming on the painting labels even before the show officially opened.
The Perivale Gallery was founded more than 35 years ago by Sheila and Bob McMullan, and the exceptional gardens and grounds of Perivale Gallery showcase masterworks by artists of the calibre of Ivan Wheale, Linda Finn, Judy Martin, Hadyn Butler, Prue Smith, Charles O’Neil, Laurie Sponagle, Laurie Near, Jamie Brick, Cathy Boyd, Jennifer Lawton, Beth Bouffard and now Ms. Reed (and The Expositor’s own inimitable Carly Gordon) among others.
The gallery, located overlooking beautiful Lake Kagawong at 1320 Perivale Road East in Spring Bay, is open weekends from the May holiday weekend just past until mid-June, and then daily (10 am to 5 pm) until mid-September.
