Sylvia Tait: Journey
to
Burnaby Art Gallery 6344 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 2J3
The Burnaby Art Gallery (BAG) is excited to present Journey, a survey of works on paper by acclaimed West Coast artist Sylvia Tait which includes ink drawings, digital drawings, prints, acrylic paintings, collages, posters and ephemera. While Tait is largely recognized as an abstractionist and a colourist, this exhibition will also include a selection of figurative works, with a particular focus on friends, family and the cultural community. The public is invited to join the artist, curators and Burnaby Art Gallery staff at the opening reception on Thursday, November 16 at 7:00pm.
Sylvia Tait is an established Canadian painter born in Montreal and has lived in Vancouver since 1968. Tait graduated from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in 1953. During her four years at the school she studied under Arthur Lismer (renowned as the founding member of the Group of Seven), Jacques de Tonnancoeur, Gordon Webber, Marion Scott and Eldon Grier (whom she married in 1954). Tait has travelled extensively throughout Europe, US, Canada and Mexico and has lived in Mexico for four six-month periods and in Spain for six months. In 1969, one year after relocating from Montreal to Vancouver, Tait began a long-standing relationship with the BAG when she participated in the 5th Burnaby Print Show; she has retained a strong connection to the gallery since those early days.
Like many artists, Tait has explored a wide range of disciplines including sculpture, printmaking, painting, illustration, design and drawing over the past sixty years. Throughout her career she has often used paper as the background for a variety of media. The BAG’s long-standing interest in works on paper has informed the selection of works featured in Journey, beginning with early sketches and leading to painted works fresh from her studio.
In the artist’s early drawings we gain a glimpse into her personal life; sketches of family and friends, places she has visited and studio scenes fill dozens of sketchbooks over many years. Her habit of journaling through sketching and drawing has resulted in a rich diary of Tait's early years as an artist and young mother in Montreal. Upon moving to British Columbia in 1968, Tait continued to document her life through her art. As she explored printmaking, sculpture and painting, she shifted from realism and hard edge to predominantly high key colour abstraction. Her more recent works continue to reference themes that have resonated in her work throughout her life.
With Tait’s solo exhibition and accompanying catalogue penned by curators Ellen van Eijnsbergen and Robin Laurence, the Burnaby Art Gallery concludes its 50th Anniversary year. The BAG has celebrated and reflected upon the many accomplishments of the gallery over its history, and considered the large number of people who contributed to the cultural fabric of this institution. Artists, foremost, have played a pivotal role through contributions to exhibitions, publications, educational programs and the development of our permanent collection. Sylvia Tait is no exception.
Tait has enjoyed a prolific career spanning six decades. Her work has been featured in solo shows at the Simon Fraser University Gallery, Richmond Art Gallery, the Surrey Art Gallery and the West Vancouver Museum. Tait’s work was collected by numerous directors of the Burnaby Art Gallery on behalf of the City of Burnaby Permanent Art Collection, and is held in private and public collections across Canada.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Exhibition Opening - November 16, 7-9pm | Free, Everyone WelcomeJoin us for the opening reception of Journey at the Burnaby Art Gallery. The evening will feature opening remarks, followed by a reception, with artist in attendance. Live music by classical guitarist Hanh Nguyen.
In the BAG Family Sundays - Sponsored by ABC RecyclingNovember 19: Colourful Collages; December 17: Painting Patterns1-4pm, drop-in, all agesCome and make art! Get your minds humming with a visit to the gallery and then into the studio for family-friendly art projects. Learn about Sylvia Tait's exhibition Journey before making your very own work of art.
Tea & Tour: Tuesday, November 21, 2-3:30pm | $7.50, 55 yrs+Call 604-297-4422 to register | Barcode: 456206Join gallery staff for a guided tour of Journey and finish the tour by settling into the Fireside Room for tea and treats.
Curator's Tour: Sunday, November 26, 2pm | Free, Everyone Welcome Join co-curator Robin Laurence and Director/Curator Ellen van Eijnsbergen for a guided tour of the exhibit. Artist Sylvia Tait will be in attendance. Following the tour, tea will be served in the Fireside Room.