Ken Danby, 1940 – 2007

Now including an Additional 23 Works from the Ken Danby Studios

 
Wednesday, October 10 – Sunday, December 16, 2007

The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre was open to the public on Wednesday, October 10 from noon to 11 p.m. for those attending the memorial service at the River Run Centre.

The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre was thrilled to announce the addition of 23 works from the Ken Danby Studios which augmented the exhibition of 15 works from the Art Centre and University of Guelph collections already on display at the MSAC.  Among the works borrowed from the Danby Studios are the portraits of Wayne Gretzky, titled The Great Farewell (2001), and of Gordon Lightfoot (1986-1988).  Other major paintings in the exhibition were Golden Vines (2004), and The Offering (1988).  Among the watercolours, were some of Danby’s most accomplished works including Study for the Great Farewell (2000), Study for 10 Peaks (2002) and Long Island Shadows (2003).
 
“His ability to capture Canadian national identity through his realistic depictions of landscapes and athletes is a remarkable and unsurpassed accomplishment” commented Judith Nasby, Director and Curator of the  Macdonald Stewart Art Centre.

“Danby is one of the few artists who created paintings that became icons of Canadian culture, from hockey images to magnificent depictions of Niagara Falls and Lake Louise. His contributions to the arts have earned him a steadfast place in the history of Canadian art” commented Nasby.

Among the many awards Danby received during his lifetime are: the Jessie Dow Prize, the 125^th Anniversary Commemorative Medal of Canada, and spanning twenty-five years of recognition, both the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals. He was named to both the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada, the province’s and country’s highest honours. 

Image: Ken Danby, The Great Farewell (2001), Ken Danby Studio