On Friday, February 8, 2019 from 7PM – 8:30PM at the Gallery, join the teams of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery and McArthur Tire as they celebrate the unveiling of the Giant Goalie Mask as a part of the Saving Face: Art in Front of the Hockey Net exhibition. Doors will open at 7PM with opening remarks beginning at 7:15PM. The Gallery teamed up with local business and community supporter McArthur Tire to commission this large-scale, one-of-a-kind goalie mask painted by artists Gerald McLaughlin and Steve Houston at VooDoo Airbrushing. The Giant Goalie Mask’s design celebrates the art and life of iconic artist Tom Thomson, the legacy and passion of local sports community visionary J.D. McArthur, and Owen Sound’s OHL Attack hockey team. The unveiling reception is hosted and generously sponsored by Presenting Exhibition Sponsor McArthur Tire. Admission to this event is free; all are welcome.
The Giant Goalie Mask’s design features large-scale reproductions of Thomson’s treasured oil sketches and graphic design work from the Gallery’s Collection, and depicts this home-grown Canadian hero in his iconic canoe. The two featured paintings on either side of the mask are recreations of Thomson’s 1915 paintings Northern Lights and Sunset Sky - two works from the Gallery’s Collection that capture the true spirit of the rugged and beautiful Canadian landscape. The ship and train image, on the centre of the throat guard, was originally designed by Tom Thomson around 1914, one of twelve images he created to promote Owen Sound.
J.D. McArthur, an Owen Sound native and local business entrepreneur, was a champion of his community. Mr. McArthur had a successful career as a professional hockey player from 1945 to 1954, and when he returned home, he served as the longest-standing Owen Sound Greys Coach, and Arena Commissioner for Owen Sound. The Giant Goalie Mask celebrates J.D.’s passion for the game and our community with a painted tribute to him. Also included in the design are nods of acknowledgment to several passionate leaders in local sports. Figuring prominently will be the logo of the Owen Sound OHL Attack, whose home ice, the J.D. McArthur Arena, will house the finished public art piece when the exhibition closes in March 2019.
Saving Face: Art in Front of the Hockey Net honours and celebrates the art of the goalie mask. Teaming up with former NHL goaltender and hometown hockey hero Curtis Sanford, this exhibition features several painted goalie masks from Sanford’s career, along with those of other professional career players. Highlighted in the show are painted goalie masks and commercial models of masks through various stages of production, demonstrating the complexity of the airbrushing process. The show highlights the cutting-edge work of leading industry professionals including Vince Goodeve, Gerald McLaughlin, and David Gunnarsson. The exhibition features a large-scale mural by local artist Billy Goodkat, that allows visitors to immerse themselves into the goaltending experience of being the only thing standing between the puck and the net. Included in this exhibition and throughout the gallery, are hundreds of goalie mask designs on paper, created by area students.
The Gallery gratefully acknowledges the generous support from operational funders, sponsors, members and donors it has received to make this large community focused exhibition possible. Thank you to the Gallery’s Presenting Exhibition Sponsor McArthur Tire, the Gallery’s Community Partners and Exhibition Supporters including the Owen Sound Attack, Sunbelt Rentals, Cobble Beach, Voodoo Airbrushing, Vince Goodeve Studios, Billy Goodkat and Have1.com. Thanks to all goalie mask lenders for the exhibition, including Geoff Couture, Vince Goodeve, Gary Kurt, Curtis Sanford, Steve Silverthorn, Gerald McLaughlin and Jeff MacDougald.
For more information, please contact Heather McLeese, Curator of Contemporary Art at (519) 376-1932 ext. 228 or via email to [email protected]. The Tom Thomson Art Gallery is located at 840 1st Avenue West in Owen Sound, Ontario.
source: media release, Tom Thomson Art Gallery
