An opening reception last Friday showcased Art Gallery of Bancroft’s first exhibition of the new year.
Landscape Engaged from artist Alex Jack showcases art of various mediums, including oil paint, pastel and charcoal.
Originally from Toronto, Jack now lives near Napanee and frequents Frontenac Park to create his pieces.
Jack captures the landscape not as scenery, but as something he is experiencing.
“The more I do it, the more I see. It continually renews itself in a way,” he said.
He said it is for this reason he rarely uses perspective, because it makes the viewer feel like they’re distanced from the landscape.
“The landscape is always changing, so I don’t try to hold it in one position the way a photograph would for example. So as I’m painting and it’s changing, then I change the painting.”
When working, Jack always tries to remain aware of what else is happening around him even if focused on one particular thing.
The exhibition title popped into Jack’s head one day, and he realized it perfectly summarizes what he does in two words.
Jack said this is not the first time he’s exhibited work at the Art Gallery of Bancroft, as he did a solo show with them in 2018 and regularly enters work into their annual juried exhibitions.
He said when people look at his art, he hopes they’ll recognize a commitment to making strong images produced in the moment, rather than reproduced in a studio.
The largest piece on display, the title wall painting called Shoreline, sold at the gallery.
You can see it and Jack’s other work on display until Jan. 31.
