ON EXHIBIT
In Ottawa, Hanging With 2 Canadian Favorites
Sunday, October 15, 2006; Page P10
WHAT: "Clarence Gagnon, 1881-1942: Dreaming the Landscape" and "Edwin Holgate" at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
WHEN: Through Jan. 7.
  Clarence Gagnon's "Winter Morning at Baie-Saint-Paul" is typical of his landscapes. (Painting By Clarence Gagnon / Musée National Des Beaux-arts Du Québec) |
HOW MUCH: About $10.50 (U.S.) for both exhibitions.
WHY GO: Major retrospectives on two of Canada's most admired artists are happening in two exhibitions at the same time in the same building. What a happy coincidence.
The artists were separated in age by more than a decade -- Gagnon was born in 1881 and Holgate in 1892 -- but both brought a modern aesthetic to the country's art scene through their portraits and rural landscapes. Gagnon and Holgate studied in Paris in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and they incorporated the principles of impressionism into their works.
They had their differences. Gagnon was more illustrative and conjured the romance of the Quebec villages he depicted, whereas Holgate -- as is evident in his portraits -- was less spontaneous and more focused on form.
DON'T MISS . . . Holgate's "Ludivine" (1930), a mesmerizing portrait of a young girl from a large Quebec family who had just lost her mother. The artist shows her in a state of shock as she looks out blankly. "It's really one his best paintings," says Holgate exhibit organizer Rosalind Pepall, curator of decorative arts at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
Other standouts include Holgate's "The Lumberjack" (1924), which shows a hulking, imposing figure standing in the foreground of a landscape and illustrates the artist's attention to detail. Gagnon's "Oxen Ploughing" (1903) depicts a farmer walking behind a plow that is being pulled by a pair of oxen. It is a quintessential representation of the artist's depiction of rural Quebec.
EXTRAS: In conjunction with the two exhibitions, the museum will host a day-long symposium beginning at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 18 featuring talks (in English and French with simultaneous interpretation) by curators, critics and writers. Admission is about $26, and registration is required (613-998-8888). Young adults can check out "ArtSparks: Spins & Needles" at 6 p.m. Nov. 30; the event features a tour of the exhibitions, hands-on projects, and music and dancing in the Tour Group Lobby. Cost is about $8.75, and registration is required (613-998-8888).
Give yourself a museum break and time your visit so you can attend the 21st annual Ottawa Wine and Food Show (Nov. 3-5). The event at the Ottawa Congress Centre (55 Colonel By Dr.) will feature about 200 booths offering wine, beer and food from around the world; celebrity chefs will hold cooking seminars on the hour. Tickets (about $13.25; no one under 19 admitted) can be purchased in advance by calling 613-755-1111 or by visiting http:/
EATS: Get into a French Canadian state of mind at Luxe Bistro (47 York St., 613-241-8805), offering top-of-the-line steaks in the $32 to $38 range. Fish dishes, including Crispy Lobster Risotto, cost slightly less. For an Asian-inspired meal, book a table at Shanghai (651 Somerset St. W., 613-233-4001). DJs spin tunes every Thursday, and Saturday is karaoke night. The restaurant is known for its dumplings, about $6.65 per order, and pad thai , about $10.55 to $14.95.
Eating on the run? The ByWard Market (55 ByWard Market Sq., 613-562-3325), one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets, offers fast food and baked goods from all over the world. There's also some great shopping: A slew of boutiques and outdoor vendors sell fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and arts and crafts.
SLEEPS: For convenience, it's hard to beat the Sheraton Ottawa Hotel (150 Albert St., 613-238-1500, http:/
For a more intimate setting, try the Carmichael Inn & Spa (46 Cartier St., 877-416-2417, http:/
INFO: The National Gallery of Canada is at 380 Sussex Dr. Details: 800-319-2787, http:/
-- John Maynard
