"Trampoline"
Kim Dorland, "Trampoline," 2007, oil, acrylic, and spray paint on canvas, 48" x 60".
KIM DORLAND, Over the Fence
Skew Gallery, Calgary
Sept 6 to Oct 6, 2007
By Wes Lafortune
Toronto-based painter Kim Dorland recently visited Medicine Hat, and his experience is now the subject matter for an exhibition of new paintings at Calgary’s Skew Gallery titled Over the Fence. One of the paintings, “Trampoline”, shows a girl bouncing away in an otherwise unremarkable backyard scene. Captured from “over the fence,” the point of view is that of a nearby, yet detached, observer. The careful distance of this and Dorland’s other paintings provide viewers the opportunity to take a look at Alberta’s suburbia as it’s never been seen before, much of it overlaid with a thick neon toxicity. The artist’s previous collections of paintings have explored a less-than-perfect world, yet overall this series is more optimistic in expression. Moving from abstract to representation, Dorland’s works show slices of everyday life in a fresh manner. A semi-finalist in the 2007 RBC Painting Competition, Dorland works on a large scale. He has created captivating canvases by using a technique where thick layers of paint are applied to Day-Glo under-painting. The result is an energy that seems to emanate from within. A graduate of the Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design in Vancouver and York University in Toronto, Dorland has exhibited extensively throughout Canada, the U.S. and Italy.
Represented by: Skew Gallery, Calgary; Angell Gallery, Toronto; Kasia Kay Art Projects, Chicago.