Galerie McKenzie Marcotte in Wakefield Quebec is pleased to present Sublimation: Trees of Many Colours, an exhibition of watercolours by Chelsea artist Rebecca Mason.
In this latest series of paintings Rebecca has returned to painting the forest and trees. Drawing upon their strength and vulnerability, she does not attempt to recreate them but rather to revisit memories of hallowed places where she has found peace, tranquillity and understanding. This journey of recollection draws upon both the conscious and unconscious to gain insight and to express in colour, line and emotion the preciousness and the fragility of the natural world.
Mason's process in the studio is Zen like. Throughout the year she stores her memories of the natural places that have moved her. Before going into the studio, she distills these ideas into strong, defined images then lets the memories, thoughts and feelings flow into her brush. The act of creating these paintings is accomplished quite quickly although the process itself can be years in the making. The medium of watercolour leaves no room for error as she leaves marks on the delicate yet strong paper. Every brush stroke is firm, exact and permanent. The result is a direct, deep and profound emotional response to the world around her.
The paintings in Sublimation typify Rebecca Mason's balancing of hope and doubt. Mason's choice of pigment, paper and liberal use of life giving water can be seen as a metaphor for how, when balanced, the flora will thrive in the cycle of rain and sun, winter and summer. However there is a subtle undercurrent here, that of a tenuous balance, a fragility that belies the majesty of the forest. A transparent old growth maple floats gracefully in an ethereal place between sky and earth. Colours from the surrounding forest stream through and into the maple and it seems to absorb this iridescent energy. It is significant that Mason has painted a single large tree that overshadows its misty smaller companions. This clear and optimistic evocation of regeneration is tempered by the uncertainty of new beginnings, the threat of toxic waters, and the imminent inexorable sprawl of humans. Although doubt sometimes does weigh heavily on her soul, these paintings make it clear that hope for Mason is more enduring. "I take strength from their trunks, energy from their roots, hope from their crowns and, most of all, understanding from the time I have spent in their thought provoking shadows."
Biography
Rebecca Mason was practically born in a canoe. Daughter of renowned Canadian author, painter, canoeist, filmmaker and OSCAR nominee Bill Mason, Rebecca was raised with her older brother on the shores of Meech Lake in West Quebec. Rebecca spends her summers teaching canoeing and also travels the country giving paddling workshops and captivating slide shows. She does most of her painting during the winter but also finds time to occasionally write for canoeing magazines and books and is very involved as an environmental activist fighting for the rivers, forests and causes she is passionate about.