Gordon Smith: Don't Look Back (Black Dog Publishing, 240 pages) $39.95
The North Shore forests hide many treasures.
You would have to know where to look to find many of them, like Lynn Canyon or Lighthouse Park.
On a quiet West Vancouver street surrounded by towering trees there is a national treasure. Living in a stunning example of Arthur Erickson's West Coast modern design is world famous artist Gordon Smith. Well into his nineties he continues to produce brilliant works of art.
In this retrospective publication we are treated to an extensive collection of his paintings, interviews with Smith, thoughtful analysis of his work and its influences, and Smith discussing in his own words the impact of his experiences in Winnipeg during his early days in Canada, and his war years. The combination of insights provides a well-rounded look at the man and his work. Smith has balanced his interest in abstraction and the natural landscape throughout his career, sometimes exhibiting one style and including both approaches in other shows.
With the abundance of paintings that appear in this book we are able to see the distinct differences in his work and appreciate how they connect.
While a book cannot provide the breathtaking impact his often enormous canvases offer, it does allow for a unique overview of a lifetime's achievements.
