Today, Bob stopped by the Art Gallery of Ontario to take in the David Blackwood: Myth & Legend exhibit — a deep dive into the haunting and heroic imagery of Newfoundland’s seafaring history. As soon as he walked into the darkened gallery, he was met with a massive mural of crashing waves and icebergs, setting the tone for what was inside: stories of resilience, myth, and memory carved into copper plates and pulled into prints.
The Art of Ice and Memory
Bob moved through the first room, studying the delicate etchings of ships, whales, and icebergs. One image that caught his attention showed a massive whale rising from icy waters — first as a simple etched outline, and then again as a fully realized print, its deep blue tones glowing under the gallery lights. He paused there for a while, appreciating how Blackwood’s work transforms something stark and cold into something full of spirit and movement.
Echoes of Home and Loss
Another piece, January’s Visit Home, depicted a vast and silent landscape. The ice and hills stretched out endlessly, capturing both the beauty and isolation of life on the Atlantic edge. Bob imagined the chill of the wind and the courage it must have taken to live through those winters. Nearby, smaller works like Lost Seamen and Great Whale told stories of tragedy and endurance — people facing the power of the sea with quiet determination.
The Seabird Sets Sail
In another room, Bob stood before Barbour’s Seabird Leaving Newtown, a striking image of a schooner sailing out into dark seas, its flags bright against the stormy sky. The geometric sails and sharp lines gave the ship a proud, stoic energy — a perfect symbol of Newfoundland’s connection to the sea. It reminded Bob of how Blackwood’s art balances realism with myth, transforming ordinary vessels into icons of courage and adventure.
Observing the Legends
At one point, Bob watched another visitor leaning in close to one of Blackwood’s prints, hands folded behind his back in quiet concentration. It was a moment that captured the whole spirit of the exhibit — one of reflection, respect, and fascination with the stories these images tell. Each piece seemed to pull viewers into the world of Newfoundland’s past, where every wave, iceberg, and lantern light carried a story.
The Artist at Work
At the end of the exhibit, a large photograph showed a young David Blackwood at his printing press — his hands ink-stained, lifting one of his early etchings. For Bob, it was a reminder of the craft and patience behind every artwork. The photo felt timeless, bridging the mythic worlds of his prints with the very real labour that made them possible.
A Maritime Story Told in Lines and Shadows
As Bob left the exhibit, he thought about how Blackwood’s Newfoundland felt both far away and familiar — a world of ice, ocean, and endurance that still resonates in Canadian identity. It was the kind of storytelling Bob loves: visual, emotional, and deeply human.
He took one last glance at the bold wall that read “Myth & Legend.” For Bob, it summed up the show perfectly — a blend of history and imagination, captured forever in ink and paper.
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