Will Gorlitz: nowhere if not here
 

September 23 to November 1, 2009
 

Spanning a period of nearly twenty years, nowhere if not here presented a comprehensive cross-section of the work of contemporary Canadian artist Will Gorlitz. Through a rigourous painting practice, Gorlitz has examined a range of iconographic subjects. His choice of subjects—as seen in his Road Paintings, Numerals, and Not Everyone series— broadly evoke considerations of place, both within the internal context of the painting but also in terms of geographic, social, and theoretical references. To examine the practice of Will Gorlitz is to carefully consider the specific purpose of representation, presentation, and interpretation in the world of images and image-making.

The exhibition began at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery and the tour included the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (Halifax), Macdonald Stewart Art Centre (Guelph), Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (Toronto), and Glenbow Museum (Calgary). An artist’s monograph titled Will Gorlitz: nowhere if not here, published by Wilfrid Laurier University Press, was available during the exhibition tour. This major publication features essays by Bruce Ferguson, Peggy Gale, Jeffrey Spalding, and David Urban.
 

Guelph-based artist Will Gorlitz was born in Buenos Aires and raised in Winnipeg. He studied at both the University of Manitoba School of Art and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Gorlitz’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in exhibitions including the Shanghai Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Power Plant, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Sao Paulo Bienal. He is a Professor in the Studio Art program of the School of Fine Art and Music at the University of Guelph. Will Gorlitz is represented by Michael Gibson Gallery (London, ON); Birch Libralato (Toronto); and Galerie René Blouin (Montreal).

Opening Reception Wednesday, September 23 at 7pm

Artist’s Talk with Will Gorlitz Tuesday, September 29 at noon

Images:
Top: Double Negative: Transparency, 1997 (oil on canvas) Courtesy of the Artist
Bottom: Numerals 0–9, 2008 (oil on canvas, detail) Courtesy of the Artist