Rough country

de Catherine Crowston, Ruth Burns

"ROUGH COUNTRY considers the resonance of expressionism in the artistic practice of five Alberta artists: Maxwell Bates, Laura Evans Reid, John Snow, W.L. Stevenson and Dorothy Henzell Willis. Evocative of the postwar social climate, the perspective these artists offer can be unsettling, sometimes uncanny or even downright disturbing. All born before 1918, they bring a perspective of the province and its people that belies the myth of Alberta as a land of prosperity and simple beauty. With an impassioned approach to their subject matter, their works are beautifully composed; executed with strong colours and distorted space, as well as other features associated with expressionism. Taking its title from John Snow's print of the same name, the exhibition ROUGH COUNTRY reflects the connections between Alberta artists and artistic practice in Europe and across North America. Co-curated by Ruth Burns and Mary-Beth Laviolette. Organized by the Art Gallery of Alberta."--