The work is titled "Flipside/Behind-the-Seen" and tackles a theme I've tackled before: the ritual of the wedding or, more correctly, in this case, the wedding photos. However, to put a different spin on it, I've painted the scene from behind and onto the BACK of the canvas, no less. That's why you can see the edge of the canvas and the staples.
As with most of my work, this one is satirical and there's a lot going on when you get up close. The bride went to the washroom and didn't check her gown from the rear...the groom is very busy at the rear...so is the best man. And I wonder if the maid of honor is happy about what he's doing? And can you imagine their faces? All smiling happily, not letting on what's really going on!
I also had another revelation while painting this. Naturally, I've drawn on the wedding traditions from my own culture and upbringing. But I realized that, with most churchyards, when you sally forth onto the church steps for the pictures, you stand there facing the... gravestones! How cheerful! (I suspect this is one reason many couples choose to go to the park to have their photos taken!)
The show runs from August 6-21, 2011 at TWIST Gallery at 1100 Queen Street West. (near Dovercourt). (AWOL Gallery, on Ossington, is undergoing renovation).
Hours are Wed-Sat 12 noon to 7p.m. and Sun 12 noon to 5 p.m.
The opening reception starts at 7 p.m. on August 6 but be warned: line-ups of 1,000 people stretching round the block are common for this show! One consolation: this area of Toronto includes the hip Ossington Strip and West Queen West areas, so lots of great restaurants and bars if you find you cannot get into the show.
Post Scriptum, August 21, 2011: Just went and collected the canvas. One of the show organizers told me: "Actually, this work generated quite a lot of discussion among us, as to what was going on..." And a show visitor emailed me: "It is even cuter in real life than on the email."
Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer
