John Hartman: Cities

Paul Kuhn Gallery
Calgary AB – Nov 8–29, 2008

John Hartman, Chicago From the Sears Tower (2007), oil on canvas [Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary AB, Nov 8-29]

John Hartman, Calgary, Looking East (2008), oil on canvas [Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary AB, Nov 8-29]

John Hartman, Montreal From Above the Victoria Bridge

Ontario artist John Hartman frequently travels across North America and Europe to sketch, photograph, and document landscapes, cities and their stories. His panoramic paintings of countryside and cityscapes are created from a birds-eye view and reveal fascinating interconnections of mountains, rivers, highways, hills, city centres, bridges, railways and outlying regions.

In addition to the writhing, energetic lines and shapes of the familiar ports and isolated cities, Hartman often incorporates historical references and events. Working with photos and sketches made on site, he builds densely-knit narratives in his studio. His quickly-sketched colour drypoints and his
dramatic paintings expose the idiosyncracies of topology in such cities as Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Boston, Cornerbrook and Goose Cover in a lively, three-dimensional manner impossible to capture on film.

John Hartman lives and works in Penetanguishene, Ontario. He exhibits with the Paul Kuhn Gallery in Calgary as well as Mira Godard in Toronto. Hartman has had numerous public and corporate collections, awards, reviews and articles to his credit since the 1970s. The current exhibit will showcase nine paintings and eight drypoints.

www.paulkuhngallery.com

Mia Johnson