WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT

WESTMOUNT INDEPENDENT – March 19, 2008 – 11Westmount Art SceneRon Jamieson Jr.: A breed apartBy Heather BlackFor over 6,000 years,artists have depicted themajestic greyhound. Risingto the challenge of portrayingthis magnificentbreed, local artist RonJamieson has recentlycompleted 13 canvases.Currently on display at Han Art Gallery,this “greyhound series” will delight art enthusiastsand dog lovers alike.While dogs as art subject is not uncommon– Hockney’s pet dachshunds orTitian’s royal hounds spring to mind –each artist’s approach is unique. Portrayingtwo greyhounds Roma and Horacelarger than life, his realistic execution capturesboth the beauty of the breed andtheir soulful presence.Although greyhounds are commonlydepicted as companions to the pharaohs(Egyptian tomb, c. 4000 BC), or as workingdogs (Uccello’s “The Hunt in the Forest”,c. 1470), Jamieson’s impetus lies inthe physical attributes of the breed — thethin yet powerful legs, the fragile but deepchest. Setting his subject against a darkDawson rows for Proudfoot’s Lou Gehrig fundbackground, the artist’s focus is on form.An experienced designer, Jamiesonclose crops the image to draw attention tothe form — the head and legs of a restinggreyhound in one, in another, a hind quarter.This is not the Covillesque compositionof his previous paintings of dogs ordogwalkers, but a powerful technique thatstops the viewer short, to observe the elegantgreyhound anew.Composition is central to the artist. Bypositioning each subject off-centre,Jamieson creates an aesthetic symmetry oflight and dark, the lighting itself conveyinga powerful dignity. But it is also thisduality of asymmetric symmetry that expressesthe tension between action andmovement that reflects the greyhound’srestless attentiveness.Delicacy of techniqueThe artist’s deft use of quick, finebrushstrokes also conveys the breed’s restlessnessas well as contributes to the painting’selegance. By applying thin acrylicwashes followed by increasingly opaquestrokes, he creates the thin-skinned, finehairedrealism.This technique also accentuates the luminousvigilance of soulful eyes. Thatwatchfulness, the artist explains, is not unlikehis own. We “invade their environment”and trigger a quick attentiveness.But Jamieson, by painting oversized portraits,turns the table so that Roma or Horacepervades the viewer’s consciousness.The result is an increased awarenessand respect for these quiet, delicate creatures.And, by effectively capturing theirgraceful presence and gentle spirit, the“what is not there”, Jamieson has earnedour respect.The exhibit continues until April 6 atHan Art Gallery, 4209 St. Catherine St.(www.hanartgallery.com) 514.876.9278.St. Patrick’s ParadeFront row from left: Samantha Lipton, Gabrielle Murciano, Zoe Artinois, Laura Meagher, Megan Lydon,Nassiba Idebdou, Caroline Morissette, Elliot Silber (foreground), Nathalie Liu and Nelson McGregor.Middle row: Réjean Beauregard (head coach), Alanna Elliott, unidentified at press time, Ellen Ward,Lydia Dunton, Roxanne Heavysege, Colleen Ryan, Matt Caron and physical education teacher BrianMorin (coach and head organizer). Back row: Max Button, Tomasz Stowowski, Liane Ykema, AdamKingsland, Charlie Brenchley, Christina Clark, Julia Quigley, Laurence De Mondehare, Matt Lawtonand former phys. ed. teacher Tony Proudfoot, a former Montreal Alouette.A fundraiser by the Dawson Collegerowing team February 23 generated a reported$7,000 in aid of team activities andthe Tony Proudfoot Fund for the ALS Societyin the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease.Proudfoot is a former Dawson phys.ed. teacher afflicted with the disease.The event at the Dawson gym involvedteam members, parents, staff and othersupporters in friendly competition on therowing machines.“Everyone was very pleased with theoutcome and we will definitely be doing itagain next year,” said team memberGabrielle Murciano, a Westmount resident.Being able to fund raise for the TonyProudfoot Fund “gave us all a clear goal,”added team member Adam Kingsland,who helped spearhead the event.A part of the contingent who turned up to accompany Westmount’s parade float on March 16. (Fromleft) Front: Ayden Langlois, Kaelan Felcarek, Devin Langlois and Zachary Kirkpatrick. Middle: JessicaKearney, Lynn Kirkpatrick and Maureen Langbo. Top: Kevin Dawson, Tommy Fogarty and VirginiaElliott, Westmount’s assistant community events coordinator. Elliott explained to the Independent thatthe city chose not to have balloons on its float this year for ecological reasons.