Alex Colville at the National Gallery of Canada - Only six weeks left before this major exhibition closes

OTTAWA, July 22, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - "Spectacular!" "Impressive!" "An opportunity not to be missed." Those are just some of the comments made by visitors who had just seen the exhibition Alex Colville, presented at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC).

There are only six weeks left to visit this exhibition, which was organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario in collaboration with the NGC. The show has drawn some 55,000 visitors to date and closes September 7.

On display are 250 paintings, studies, sketches and prints - including 17 works from the National Gallery collection and more than 100 preparatory drawings from the NGC Library and Archives. Colville's iconic paintings present scenes of everyday Canadian life. However, there is often something about his work that is mysterious, or unsettling.

"You absolutely must see Alex Colville before the exhibition is taken down and all these splendid paintings go back to their owners – who, for the most part, are private individuals – because they won't be on public view again for a very long time," said NGC director Marc Mayer. "The exhibition offers the largest selection of Colville works ever brought together and gives an excellent sense of their context. It shows us the influence his major works and his talent had on other artists and disciplines, such as literature and film," added Mr. Mayer.

The presentation in Ottawa is sponsored by Enbridge Inc. and supported by Heffel Fine Art Auction House.  To find out more about the exhibition, visit gallery.ca/colville.

Charmed visitors

Here are some of the comments gathered from visitors as they left the exhibition:

"I was surprised by the extent of his work. His work is inspiring. It makes me want to paint again." - E.M, Manila, Philippines

"I was taken aback by all the influence he had on pop culture, on movies for instance.  He was such a great artist.  People have to see this exhibition. " – D. St-Denis, Gatineau, Quebec

"Impressive! He is an artist I didn't really know. He had a lot of talent.  We must get to know our artists, here, in Canada." – G. Lacoste, Thurso, Quebec

"I think it is pretty spectacular to see so many of Colville's works in one place, under one roof. He is one of Canada's greatest painters.  It is amazing. It's definitely an opportunity not to be missed."  – R. Gouveia, Sarnia, Ontario

"I enjoyed the expression of the Canadian culture.  I was taken by the consistency of his colours and background. This is a slice of Canadiana. It is contemporary. People should see it." – C. Elkin, Kelowna, British Columbia

"Alex Colville is a remarkable exhibition which enabled us to go beyond the image and discover not only a renowned Canadian artist, but also a person of great sensitivity." – W. Palma, Montréal, Québec

Exhibition catalogue
A 170-page hardcover catalogue is available from the NGC Bookstore for a special exhibition price of $35 (regular $45) as well as at ShopNGC.ca, the Gallery's online boutique.

Public program
A series of public activities is organized in conjunction with the exhibition: talks, a film screening, a music performance, meetings with the curators, and much more. For more details, visit gallery.ca/colville.

NGC Magazine
NGCmagazine.ca, the National Gallery's online magazine, is a frequently updated source of information on the Canadian art world and events at the National Gallery of Canada.  Correspondents from across the country provide engaging and exclusive content on historical and contemporary art in Canada. This online magazine also includes interviews with artists. Read the articles Alex Colville: Of dogs, guns and bathers and  Acquisition of Alex Colville's Preparatory Drawings now online.

Admission
Special admission price for the Alex Colville includes all other exhibitions and the collection. Tickets: $16 (adults); $14 (seniors and full-time students); $7 (youth: 12-19); $32 (families: two adults and three youth). Admission is free for children under the age of 12 and for Members.

General admission price includes all exhibitions (excluding Colville) and the collection. Tickets: $12 (adults); $10 (seniors and full-time students); $6 (youth: 12-19); $24 (families: two adults and three youth). Admission is free for children under the age of 12 and for Members.

Hours
The NGC is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays until 8 p.m. Closed Mondays until May 1. From May 16 to September 7, 2015, the Gallery is staying open one hour longer, i.e. until 6 pm from Friday to Wednesday. The Gallery will still be open until 8 pm on Thursdays. For more information call 613-990-1985 or 1-800-319-ARTS.

About the National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada is home to the most important collections of historical and contemporary Canadian art. The Gallery also maintains Canada's premier collection of European Art from the 14th to the 21st century, as well as important works of American, Asian and Indigenous Art and renowned international collections of prints, drawings and photographs. Created in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada has played a key role in Canadian culture for well over a century. Among its principal missions is to increase access to excellent works of art for all Canadians. For more information, visit gallery.ca

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SOURCE National Gallery of Canada

For media only: For more information, please contact: Josée-Britanie Mallet, Senior Media and Public Relations Officer, National Gallery of Canada, 613.990.6835 / [email protected]; A series of images in high and low resolutions are available in the Media Centre, through the section "For the media" at gallery.ca