The National Bank Collection on Tour

MONTREAL, Aug. 26, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The National Bank Collection has left the building, and is getting some fresh air. Since spring 2013, many works of art have left their usual spots on National Bank premises and been loaned to museums and other institutions for a variety of exhibitions. This initiative, which will continue until 2014, will see a total of 21 pieces be sent all over the country and even south of the border.

Fifteen works of art from the Collection are currently on display at Moulin La Lorraine in Lac-Etchemin as part of the exhibition Paysage: Table de matière. The exhibition, which runs until September 8, 2013, showcases important works from contemporary artists, revealing the artistic reflection underpinning each canvas. By using this approach, it draws up a table of contents of various aesthetic concerns.

The work Nature engloutie (1963) by Paul-Émile Borduas will be included in the Paul-Émile Borduas, les années new-yorkaises exhibit at the Musée des beaux-arts de Mont-Saint-Hilaire.  This exhibition, which runs until September 15, 2013, focuses on the pivotal New York period of this famous Quebec painter, leader of the Automatist movement and main author of the Refus Global manifesto. Two works by fellow Automatist and political activist Pierre Gauvreau, La Méduse ensanglantée (1947) and Nocturne d'été (1962), will also be loaned to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. These two oil paintings will be on display in Quebec City from October 16, 2013 to September 2, 2014.

Lastly, the piece Untitled (Windows) (2010) by Lynne Cohen, an American-Canadian contemporary photographer, has embarked on a tour of North America. The photograph was recently exhibited at the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, and its future stops are The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John's, Newfoundland; the University Museum of Contemporary Art in Amherst, Massachusetts; and the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery in Kitchener, Ontario.

"The National Bank Collection acquires and conserves important works of Canadian art. The pieces in the Collection exhibits are greatly appreciated by museums and other institutions. By loaning artwork to various exhibits, the Bank helps make art more accessible. We want to play an active part in developing a rich and varied artistic culture across the entire country, in both urban and rural environments," said art historian Jo-Ann Kane, Curator of the National Bank Collection and President of the Association des Collections d'entreprises du Québec.

The National Bank Collection plays a major role in the Bank's commitment to arts and culture. Through its Collection and corporate sponsorships, the Bank has been supporting artists and high-quality exhibitions for several decades.  With the support of its Curator, who is also an independent member of the Board of Directors of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the working group on cultural philanthropy created by the Quebec government, the Bank also participates in discussions on the artistic and cultural orientations for our society, in order to review them and make them easily accessible.

About the National Bank Collection
With over 7,000 original works of art, the National Bank Collection currently ranks as one of the largest corporate collections in Canada. This distinctive collection reflects the history of Quebec and Canadian art from 1895 to the present and includes paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures and photographs. By acquiring artwork, we directly support artists and creators across Canada and foster a feeling of pride in our collective heritage, while shining the spotlight on Canadian talent and enriching the surroundings for thousands of employees and clients.

About National Bank of Canada
With $185 billion in assets as at April 30, 2013, National Bank of Canada (www.nbc.ca) together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups, and has been named among the 20 strongest banks in the world by Bloomberg Markets magazine. The Bank has close to 20,000 employees and is widely recognized as a top employer. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's activities via social media and learn more about its extensive community involvement at clearfacts.ca and commitment.nationalbank.ca.

Image with caption: "This work by Charles Gagnon, Table de matière VII (1993), is among the 15 works exhibited at Moulin La Lorraine this summer. Source: National Bank Collection (CNW Group/National Bank of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130826_C8230_PHOTO_EN_30128.jpg

Image with caption: "Nature Engloutie (1963), an oil painting by Automatist and political activist Paul-Émile Borduas, will be exhibited at the Musée des beaux-arts de Mont-Saint-Hilaire until September 15, 2013. Source: Musée des beaux-arts de Mont-Saint-Hilaire. (CNW Group/National Bank of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130826_C8230_PHOTO_EN_30123.jpg

SOURCE: National Bank of Canada

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