Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven Touches Down in London

The West Wind

by Tom Thomson

The Canadian Media is buzzing today about the arrival of Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven in England.  And, its a huge collection.

Roy McGregor of the Toronto Star writes:

There are 123 paintings on loan from such institutions as the National Gallery, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the McMichael Canadian art collection and such private collectors as David Thomson. They include works by Thomson, A.Y. Jackson, J.E.H. MacDonald, Fred Varley, Arthur Lismer, Lawren Harris, Franklin Carmichael and Frank Johnston. Three of the Group – Lismer, Varley and MacDonald – were born in England, which may explain some of the interest, yet the clear star of the show is Thomson, who died under mysterious circumstances in 1917, three years before the Group was formed.

A collection of that size is nothing to sneeze about.

The Jack Pine
by Tom Thomson

The showing from my viewpoint is long overdue and its good to see that it will be moving on to Norway and to the Netherlands.

As a Canadian who has travelled in the UK it doesn't take long to realize how Canada is indeed a big country with a lot of unknown space - particularly in the minds of most of the English.  And, any Canadian who has travelled in England, will nod their heads in understanding when I write that you are instantly overtaken by the fact that Canadians are taken for Americans.   Canadians, for the most part have to accept that this goes with the turf with living between two countries who are big players on the world stage.

But, all that aside, the time is long overdue and welcomed for Canadian art to be recognized in England.

Please click here to read Rob McGregor's article in The  Star.