William Kurelek (Canadian 1927-1977) Dinnertime on the Prairies, 1963, Oil on masonite 44.7 x 72 cm Wentworth House Art Committee Purchase. Collection of McMaster Museum of Art, McMaster University © The Estate of William Kurelek, Courtesy of the Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto. Photography by John Tamblyn
The first large-scale survey of William Kurelek in thirty years is coming to Hamilton.
We are very excited about the opening of William Kurelek: The Messenger at the Art Gallery of Hamilton this weekend and proud that McMaster’s painting by the artist is part of it. The Messenger seeks to bring together the most important and engaging works executed by the artist during his career. Don’t miss it!
Dinnertime on the Prairies is best described by the artist himself. On the label for the back of the painting Kurelek wrote, “This is an intuitive painting. I was wondering how to paint a Western religious painting and suddenly this idea came to me so it is open to interpretation. The meaning I put on it is that sin, which crucifies Christ over and over, can just as easily happen on a summer day on a Manitoba farm as anywhere else. The farmer and his sons doing the fencing may have had an argument just before dinner or one of them may have enjoyed a lustful thought. Or got an idea how to revenge himself on neighbours, etc.”
To preview the exhibition and learn more about William Kurelek, check out this site: kurelek.ca
I have always liked Kurelek’s work. Blogged on himself a while ago. Good luck with the exhibition