“Canadian Tapestries 1977: an exhibition of 23 tapestries designed by Canadian painters and sculptors”, Art Gallery of Toronto, 1977, page 5, reproduced page 19
The 1977 exhibition of Canadian Tapestries was a collaboration of some of the country’s foremost painters and sculptors and the works were exhibited almost simultaneously across Canada. The project was imagined in 1975 by Fay Loeb of Toronto, upon reflecting on the need for public art within commercial and public buildings. Marie Fleming, the exhibition organizer, notes: “A solution was perceived in the possibility of artist-designed tapestries – works of art that could bring not only life, by way of the creative talents of painters and sculptors, but visual and physical warmth.” These tapestries would become art for the public, to be appreciated and widely seen. A group of twenty-three artists from across Canada developed sketches of their textile designs, which were then transformed by skilled artisans in a workshop. According to Fleming, “The tapestries are not simply paintings transposed. The tapestries have their own characteristics, their own textural richness.”
The mastery of Jack Bush is evident in this work, in which he has played with the interaction of the ground and the shapes on top, similar to the technique displayed in his iconic canvases of this period. Beginning in late 1974, the artist was inspired by music. The lively contrast of irregular, playful ’feathery arcs’ articulated in vibrant colours that vibrate across the surface of this tapestry is akin to this musical association, and point to the establishment of a new kind of unity in his artistic oeuvre. This tapestry was based upon the painting, “Swing and Sway”, created in April 1976. Bush had the opportunity to discuss the tapestry project with Fay Loeb in 1976, however, he only saw the first proof and provided colour change instructions at the time. Bush never had the opportunity to view the completed project, as the tapestries and exhibition were produced after the artist’s death.
We sincerely thank Kim Bush of LoveJack.ca for providing her assistance with this artwork.
