Contemporary drawings by a New York-based Canadian artist are on display in the next exhibition at Burnaby Art Gallery.
Jeff Ladouceur: Pearl Path runs June 15 to Aug. 19 at the gallery. An opening reception is set for Thursday, June 14 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Ladouceur, in his first solo exhibition at a Canadian art museum, will exhibit contemporary drawings featuring what a press release terms “old-timey comic-inspired characters: droopy elephants, big-nosed salesmen, and bubble babies rendered with a dizzying level of detail.”
The release notes that more than 80 artworks feature humorous, strange characters ranging from “blundering buffoons” to sympathetic souls traversing the world in misery and happiness. Ladouceur says the works are all about “the slow path through life.”
Burnaby Art Gallery curator Jennifer Cane, who has known Ladouceur for many years, says: “His world is more of an interior than a reflection of what’s around, changing only ever-so-slightly over time, populated by distorted versions of characters from cartoons and comics, off-kilter semblances of Dumbo, Popeye and Barbapapa, the Michelin Man and Felix the Cat. Ladouceur’s longstanding characters have become so entwined with who he is as a person that I sometimes find it difficult to distinguish Jeff Ladouceur from the characters depicted in his art.”
Ladouceur, who’s originally from Victoria, has shown internationally for many years, with solo and group exhibitions in L.A., Paris, Brussels, New York, Mexico City and more. He divides his time between Vancouver and New York.
Burnaby Art Gallery is at 6344 Deer Lake Ave. It’s open Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Admission is by donation, with suggested donation of $5. See www.burnabyartgallery.ca or call 604-297-4422 for more information.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The gallery has planned a number of special events in connection with the exhibition. Among them:
Opening reception – Thursday, June 14, 7 to 9 p.m.: Free, all welcome. The evening will feature opening remarks, followed by a reception with live music from the beat-based synth quartet Hot Towers. Ladouceur will be in attendance.
In the BAG Family Sunday – Sunday, June 17, 1 to 4 p.m.: Free, drop-in, all ages. Visit the gallery and then get into the studio to make your own family-friendly art project on the theme of Cartoon Creatures.
Tea and Tour – Tuesday, June 19, 2 to 3:30 p.m.: The tour, for those 55 and up, costs $7.50. Join gallery staff for a guided tour and then have tea and treats in the Fireside Room. Call 604-297-4422 to register.
Artist talk – Sunday, June 24, 2 p.m.: Free, all welcome. Ladouceur will talk about his exhibit Pearl Path, the largest number of works shown by the artist in one institution to date.
Drawing Jam with Jeff Ladouceur – Saturday, July 7, 1 to 4 p.m.: Free, drop-in, all ages. Drop in and bring your imagination to join Ladouceur as he guides participants to create nonsensical and hilarious drawings.
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