Lot 89: GREG RICHARD CURNOE 1936 - 1992

GREG RICHARD CURNOE 1936 - 1992 HOMAGE TO POST PAINTERLY ABSTRACTION inscribed with lettering by the artist on the front SHE'S STOPPED MORE RUBBER THAN TURK BRODA; titled homage to post painterly abstraction and dated June 1964 by the artist in pencil on the back of the frame, titled on two labels and dated on one on the reverse oil on masonite 88.3 by 88.3 cm. 34 ¾ by 34 ¾ in.

Toronto, The Shape of Colour, Excursions in Colour Field Art, 1950 - 2005, 2005, no. 8, illustrated in colour on p. 48, quote cited on p. 48

Estate of the Artist

Private Collection, Toronto

Homage to Post Painterly Abstraction was painted by Curnoe in June of 1964 as a reaction to the exhibition Post Painterly Abstraction organized by the influential art critic Clement Greenberg. This exhibit crystallized an art movement of colour field painting, embraced by some of America's finest abstract artists including Helen Frakenthaler, Morris Louis and Jules Olitski. Of major importance to Canada was the inclusion of three Canadian artists: Jack Bush, Ken Lochhead and Art Mckay.

This work was included in the Art Gallery of Ontario's 2005 exhibition The Shape of Colour, Excursions in Colour Field Art, beside the artists in Greenberg's momentous show. Ben Portis comments "The off-colour remark stamped under the upper arc is Curnoe's provocative and profane response to language with which the Modernists surrounded their art." Curnoe's double entendre on rubber refers to Walter 'Turk' Broda, the storied goaltender of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team from 1936 to 1952.