Tuesday, February 24, 2009

February: Studio Work


080808, 02/2009, 30" x 30", oil on canvas


Stairways, 02/2009, 30" x 30", oil on canvas


Untitled Red #15, 02/2009, 53" x 46", oil on canvas


Mandela, 02/2009, 30" x 30", oil on canvas

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

"A Gathering of Lines" : Gallery Page and Strange, Halifax, NS, Canada


Banyan #4, 2008, 30" x 30", oil on canvas


Bodhi, 2008, 30" x 30", oil on canvas


Mae Sot, 2008, 18" x 16", oil on canvas


Holding the Line, 2008, 30" x 30", oil on canvas


The Lost Bird of Paradise, 2008, 30" x 30", oil on canvas


Moen, 2008, 30" x 30", oil on canvas, private collection

These series of paintings were produced in 2008 evolving from my artist in residence at the Borderline Gallery in Mae Sot, Thailand.

The ‘Gathering of Lines’ was informed by “Proscenium Footlights” 2006, whereby the brilliance of light an vertical lines imply a veil or curtain of red. Its’ gestural action implies that something is about to happen.

The exuberance of monochromatic saturated colour, illusive content, and improvisation remain. The intent of the new work was to simplify the notions, and sensibilities of mark making and spatial colour into a cohesiveness of process, execution, and possibilities of meaning.


Proscenium Fooltights, 2006, 30" x 30", oil on canvas, NS Art Bank

In February 2008, the loosely titled “Gathering of Lines” began, and embodies two series of works “The Banyan Tree Suite” and “A Gathering of Monks”. The new work was greatly influenced by my artist in residence at the Borderline Gallery in Mae Sot, Thailand in January and February of 2008.

‘Gathering’ refers to the gathering of vertical gestural lines. In Thailand, I was awestruck by the enormous strangler fig tree (Bodhi, Banyan, or Pipal Tree), and its’ trunk, limbs, exposed climbing roots and strangling around itself. Buddha’s tree of enlightenment. The gusty and rhythmic movement of lines expanded the idea of Proscenium, and its’ consequential theatrics and dynamics . The Banyan Tree Suite is about light, movement, and the residue of a dialogue with the paintings that are open to interpretation and meaning.


Banyan6, 2008, 36 x 36, oil on canvas


Roe, 2008, 42" x 42", oil on canvas


Mywaddy, 2008, 24" x 20", oil on canvas


Strangler Fig, 2008, 24" x 24", oil on canvas

“A Gathering of Monks” is more specific in the animating of lines into the emblematic. The Saffron Revolutions of protest by Burmese Monks of 1988, 1994, 2007, and the brutal treatment of Tibetan monks and citizens in 2008 were the impetus. The lines gather, huddle, herd and march in defensive or offensive formations at the gates, in marches,in the temple, or at the palisades of protection.


At the Gate, 2008, 30" x 30", oil on canvas


At the Wat, 2008, 42" x 42", oil on canvas


Before the Parade, 2008, 30" x 30", oil on canvas, private collection


Huddle,2008, 42" x 42" oil on canvas

The verticality of being human, the dignity of the saffron robed monks, my exiled Burmese artist friends, the light and brilliance of nothingness were important sources of inspiration in devising the choreography and dance of the paintings.


The Monkey's Grotto, 2008, 56" x 56", oil on canvas

About Wayne Boucher



Wayne is the receipient of the 2006 Nova Scotia Portia White Award for excellence, innovation, and expression in the arts.

Wayne Boucher studied at the Banff Centre, Alberta, and at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 1975. The following year he moved to Graywood, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia where he continues his painting practice at his studio in Parker’s Cove.

Boucher’s solo professional exhibition record spans the past three past decades. A major exhibition "Radiance and Counterpoint" curated by Peter Dykhuis was at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Gallery 1 to October 22, 2006 and at the Western Branch of the AGNS in Yarmouth from October 29 to January 5 2007.

The recipient of numerous grants from provincial and federal agencies including a Canada Council Established Artist Grant in 2001, other key professional successes include winning the 2004 juried competition to execute the mural entitled Réveil for the new Interpretation Centre at Grand-Pré National National Historic Site that marks the 18th Century Acadian Deportation.

Boucher became a member of the Royal Canadian Academy in 2002. Other active memberships include the Canadian Artists Representation, Visual Arts Nova Scotia and Arms Length Funding for the Arts. Boucher is a founding member and past chair of the Annapolis Region Community Arts Council and presently on the Exhibitions Committee of the artist-run centre ARTsPLACE as well as the Adisory/Selection Committee, Artist in Residence Program, Memory Clinic, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, in Halifax.