Both Sides Now: Paintings by Gary Evans and Frances Thomas

Latcham Art Centre launches the exhibition Both Sides Now: Paintings by Gary Evans and Frances Thomas. The exhibition is on view from Friday May 20, through Saturday July 2, 2022. Guest curated by Carol-Ann Ryan.

Join us for the opening reception on Friday May 27, 7:00 – 9:00 PM. Artists and Curator in attendance. Light refreshments. All welcome, admission free.

In Both Sides Now, Gary Evans & Frances Thomas exhibit two strikingly distinct approaches to abstract painting, and pathways that are embedded with an undeniable je ne sais quoi that tethers their organic language. The title of this exhibition is inspired by Joni Mitchell’s song of the same name and provides a lyrical entry point into the connection between the work of these artists; the two modes in which they paint, the way they address their subject and surface, and the hard to define connection between Evans’ use of density and Thomas’ tendency towards space.

Painting for Evans begins with a view to the outside world, which he internalizes and articulates subjectively creating hybrid realities with otherworldly connotations. Thomas works from within, responding materially to the experiential and mystical. No starting point or conclusion are the same. The working methods of both artists include observations of the world and intuition drives their investigations with paint.

Ultimately Evans’ and Thomas’ abstractions lead them to a common middle ground, located between the real and the imaginative. When viewed in concert, within this rich visual dialogue, their work offers us both sides of a similar journey. As with all good art, we aren’t given all the answers, we “really don’t know clouds at all”. This exhibition is guest Curated by Carol–Ann Ryan.

Please join us for the opening reception on Friday May 27, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Remarks will begin at 7:30.

Latcham Art Centre gratefully acknowledges the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Tiny Seedlings and the Ontario Arts Council for their generous support of this exhibition.

About the Artists and Curator:

Gary Evans was born in Weston Super Mare, England and resides in Alliston, Ontario. He has been exhibiting work professionally since 1995. Evans’ work in contemporary painting challenges traditional notions of perception and experience of the Canadian landscape. Of his more than twenty solo exhibitions highlights include a touring exhibition of his work, Seeing Things: The Paintings of Gary Evans, curated by Stuart Reid, which toured across Canada between 2000-2002, as well as several survey exhibitions of paintings including Station at The Art Gallery of Windsor in 2008, and Farther Afield at the MacLaren Art Centre, 2016. Evans is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design and is an instructor at the School of Design and Visual Art, Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario.

Frances Thomas, a Canadian painter and printmaker, was born in Parry Sound, Ontario. She received both her BFA and MFA from York University, Toronto, Ontario, and is the recipient of the Samuel Sarick Purchase Award for excellence in thesis work. She has participated in residencies in Pouch Cove, Newfoundland and Triangle Arts in Brooklyn, New York and in 2016 spent three months in Berlin on a self-directed residency. Her paintings were featured in a solo exhibition, but wait, with an accompanying catalogue, at the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie. Thomas currently lives and works from her loft and studio space in Barrie. She has exhibited in Barrie, Montreal, Edmonton, Toronto and New York, and her work is in the permanent collections of the MacLaren Art Centre, Bank of Montreal and York University.
Frances wishes to acknowledge the generous support of the Ontario Ars Council (OAC).
Carol-Ann Ryan is a visual arts professional based in Barrie, Ontario. She has held positions at public art galleries including the Art Gallery of Ontario, MOCA Toronto, the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the MacLaren Art Centre. Her work in the private sector includes corporate art collections management and consulting. Carol-Ann currently serves as Public Art Coordinator for the City of Barrie. She holds an MA in Art History and an Honours BA in Art & Art History.
About Latcham Art Centre:

Latcham Art Centre is a public art gallery that inspires the community to engage with arts and culture through dedicated exhibitions of contemporary art that reflect a range of artistic media and the cultural diversity of our province. Latcham Art Centre offers vibrant education programs that cultivate creativity and experimentation through classes, workshops, artist talks, and tours. Latcham Art Centre is located in Stouffville, Ontario, 45 minutes northeast of Toronto with free parking and is accessible via GO Transit. The Gallery is open to the public and admission is free.

Latcham Art Centre is wheelchair accessible.

Gallery Hours:

Sunday – Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10 am – 5 pm
Wednesday: 10 am – 8 pm
Thursday: 10 am – 8 pm
Friday: 10 am – 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm

For more information please contact:
Tyler Durbano, Curator
Latcham Art Centre
curator@latchamartcentre.ca

Latcham Art Centre
2 Park Drive
Stouffville, ON
L4A 4K1
T: 905-540-8964
www.latchamartcentre.ca