Tom Thomson: North Star, an exhibition extraordinaire, is in its final week at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinberg, Ontario. The show which opened June 24, 2023, and includes more than 130 pieces of oil sketches and paintings, will close this Sunday, January 14, 2024. This is the first major exhibition of the work of Canada’s iconic artist Tom Thomson, and includes pieces from the McMichael permanent collection, the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario as well as other museums and private collections.

For information on the show click here.

There are also some very informative videos on the McMichael Youtube page. 

Visiting this exhibition occupied space on my to-do list since I first learned of the exhibit. I held two reasons for wanting to see this showing. First, I love the work of Tom Thomson, and second, I was contacted some time ago by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection to see if I would provide them with one-time publishing rights to my photograph of the Tom Thomson memorial and totem pole on Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park. They said they were going to use it in the promotion of the show. I wanted to see how they used it. 

On January 3rd I drove to Kleinberg to see the show. The first thing I did was check the literature for my image but there was no sign of it. They had told me they were going to send me a copy of the brochure but it never came and not seeing my image on any of the literature I concluded they had changed their mind and decided Thomson’s painting Jack Pine was a better promotional piece. I sure couldn’t argue with that. 

I walked up the ramp to the second floor of the gallery. The exhibit Tom Thomson North Star began in the second room. The North Star exhibit occupied gallery rooms 10 through 12. I began by watching a video in the Founders Lounge and then spent the next couple hours being mesmerized and educated by the genius of this iconic Canadian treasure. 

Notice the perspective difference between the “oil sketch” and the finished painting. The sketch is horizontal whereas the finished painting is vertical, almost square. The far shore of Grand Lake appears to be closer in the finished painting. When I visited this site I had difficulty identifying the background in the painting to the shoreline and now I understand why. 

You can read about my journey to the location of “The Jack Pine” here

Before leaving I went into the galley store where I debated purchasing a copy of their book Tom Thomson North Star. I decided it would be great for reference and educational value. I made the purchase and headed for home.

I told Jan about the book when I got home and together we sat down and went through it. You cannot possibly imagine my delight when we turned a page and found a full-page image that looked familiar.

The exhibit closes this Sunday, January 14th and if you have the opportunity I encourage you to make the time to take in this showing. It has been 20 years since a display of this magnitude has been shown of Thomson’s work. Who knows when there might be another? Do it now.