Mary Pratt

by Ray Cronin, Mireille Eagan, Sarah Fillmore

Des tableaux luminescents forment le focus visuel de Mary Pratt , une rétrospective de sa carrière qui examine chaque aspect du parcours créatif de Pratt. Les peintures de Mary Pratt — y compris Œufs dans un casier, Saumon sur Saran, Poulets éviscérés, Filets de morue sur papier d'aluminium, Je vous présente Donna — ont atteint un statut d'icône. Capturant ce qu'elle décrit comme les choses de la vie, l' œuvre de Mary Pratt élève le mondain au monumental, créant des moments silencieux qui sont infusés de signification. Ce volume majeur, le premier sur le travail de Mary Pratt depuis presque vingt ans, présente soixante-quinze reproductions de ses œuvres les plus célèbres ainsi que des essais de cinq des écrivains canadiens les plus talentueux : la journaliste et critique de l'art Sarah Milroy; Catharine Mastin de la Galerie d'art de Windsor; Mireille Eagan et Caroline Stone du Musée provincial de beaux-arts The Rooms et Ray Cronin et Sarah Fillmore du Musée des beaux-arts de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Ensemble ils créent un dialogue autour de la technique et des influences de Pratt, examinant les thèmes qui tissent son art en long et en large : le rôle du lieu et de la biographie personnelle, le passage du temps, l'acte simple de regarder et, bien sûr, les choses de la vie. Le livre Mary Pratt est conçu pour accompagner une exposition organisée par le Musée provincial des beaux-arts The Rooms et le Musée des beaux-arts de la Nouvelle-Écosse et présentée en tournée nationale.

Genres: Art

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

Ray Cronin is Director and CEO of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, appointed in 2008. From 2001 to 2008 he was Curator of Contemporary Art at the AGNS. Cronin was the founding curator of the Sobey Art Award and served as chair of the Sobey jury until 2008. He currently serves on the Sobey Art Award Governance Committee. Prior to 2001 Ray Cronin was a writer, curator and artist based in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Reviews

[Mikey B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jelly Shelf, 1999




The Bed, 1968



I was impressed by Canadian artist Mary Pratt during a recent visit to the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Her realism, her portraiture of everyday objects is something to behold.



Hollowed Eggs for Easter, 1983




Eggs in an Egg Crate, 1975


An interesting observation from one of the articles in the book is that she was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, but when she married she moved to a remote area of Newfoundland near St. Catherine’s, on the Salmonier River, about one hour out of St. John’s. This would be quite a contrast to Fredericton. It was pointed out that her paintings reflect this dichotomy of rural remote (think hunting and fishing) to the more comfortable paintings of sedate Fredericton.



Another Province of Canada, 1978



Fredericton (Waterloo Row), 1972


Interestingly her husband at the time, artist Christopher Pratt, (Mary Pratt has now re-married) took slide pictures for her to use when she was painting. The slides froze the moment and captured well the lighting that she transposed so well in her paintings.




Donna with Powder Puff, 1986




Child with Two Adults, 1983




This book has many of her wonderful paintings and the text, written by several authors, gives us a background of the author and her paintings.



The Supper Table, 1969
This was a transitional painting for Mary Pratt - and she has kept it

[Ramona Jennex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mary Pratt's work and I adore this book.
I continue to open this book often and gaze at the amazing images she created.
I love that this book was created while she was very much a part of the process.
Mary Pratt- March 15, 1935- August 14, 2018

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Mary's images

[Wendell Hennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

created to accompany the five museum travelling exhibit of her work, the curators discuss her art with in depth and sometimes paralysing analysis. The argument of realism versus abstract is discussed in detail and two sections deal with conversations with Mary about her life and a chronological listing of highlights. A lovely recap of the travelling exhibit of her work for those who are not able to view in person.

[Luise · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great retrospective on this iconic Canadian painter of luminous works.