Passion painting

by SHOLEM KRISHTALKA

Group shows always have themes, but rarely do they have missions. Paint-Or-Die is a show with a mission. Organized by Mel Davis-Yiu and Gordon Cameron, Paint-Or-Die aims to refute the claim that painting is an out-of-date medium and "to provide the opportunity to exhibit new Quebec artists and painters who might not necessarily get picked up by other established galleries," says Cameron. The pair rented a space on Ste-Catherine W. and put together a jury to select the works; the result is terrific.

Davis Yiu and Cameron should consider their mission accomplished. Paint-Or-Die manages to represent a wide gamut of modern painting styles: colour-field painting, abstracts, figurative and representational styles are all here. This makes for an interesting and varied show which demonstrates, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that painting remains a contemporary medium. Highlights include Davis-Yiu's sumptuously textured "Cow Painting," Dennis Ekstedt's ephemeral "Glimmer," Sandra Goldie's "Departure No. 7," Mary Hayes' humorous "Self-Portrait with Shaving Cream," David LaFrance's "Les Petits Bruits," and Keer Tanchak's "Scrutiny." Paint-Or-Die is as passionate as its title, and passion has always made for great art. At 1946 Ste-Catherine W., until Nov. 25.

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