Atlantic Magic Realists and the "Mummy Bunny" School

Accessibility. The "Atlantic Magic Realists" (from the Maritimes-Yay!) all made their work accessible to the public instead of simply to a minority. The images were realistic and of ordinary subjects but the overall effect goes beyond visual cliché.

It suits our area well. Have you noticed art and music are the first programs to get cut in school? Did you even have music and art in school? Makes it hard for most to develop an interest. Sometimes the art itself can be another barrier. The realists make it easy.

In the book Mary Pratt by Sandra Gwyn, Pratt (one of the magic realists) got a kick out of doing her own thing and ignoring the intellectual fashion at the time. I loved the part where as a student she challenged Alan Jarvis, director of the National Gallery- big time art elite in the fifties.' "He told us how wonderful ugly art was, " she recalls. "I jumped up and said, "I haven't led an ugly life. Do I have to go out and find one in order to paint?" Jarvis retorted, as Mary remembers it, "Oh well, if you want to join the Mummy-Bunny School." '

Hee, hee. Still, ouch. Did she let that change her into meekly following the fashion? No. In the end fashion wasn't at all important. She ended up doing something new because she enjoyed making her art accessible. Pratt rebelled, stuck to her vision, and became part of one of the few famous Canadian art movements. No matter what your style, doesn't that attitude inspire?

Here's one of my favorites of hers- "Red Currant Jelly." What's with the photo above? What with the "Mummy Bunny" comment, how could I resist? ;)