This exhibition brings together works by former School of Art instructor Robert Nelson, his students, and several alumni who have been influenced by Manitoba’s regional surrealism. Nelson came from Chicago to Winnipeg in 1953 to teach at the School of Art. He was the only surrealist among a cohort of abstractionists, and was relatively close in age to his students. He became close friends with many of his students – they would babysit for him, and he would occasionally have to bail one of them out of jail. He took them to Chicago, giving many their first opportunity to see major artworks in person. Nelson was an influential figure in the artwork of Ivan Eyre, who went on to inspire another generation of surrealist artists at the School of Art. This exhibition, which features works by Robert Nelson, Ivan Eyre, Ernest Wilson, Kathleen Coburn-Donnelly, Kelly Clark, Esther Warkov, and Jack Sures, among others, sheds light on the impact a teacher can have on students – stylistically, and personally.

Curatorial Essay: Beginning a Surrealist Legacy

[Video] Exhibition Tour: Surrealist Suggestions

Photo Documentation by Karen Asher

Events

Film Screening: A Snowstorm in My Heart – Surrealist Shorts from Winnipeg (August 21, 2021)
Curated by Lindsay Inglis
Presented in partnership with the Winnipeg Film Group
Free streaming at Cinematheque at Home

A selection of surrealist short films featuring works by Drew Christie, Guy Maddin, Mike Maryniuk, Lasha Mowchun, Alan Pakarnyk, Matthew Rankin, Diana Thorneycroft, and Gwen Trutnau.

Film Screening: My Winnipeg by Guy Maddin (August 28, 2021)
Presented in partnership with the Winnipeg Film Group
Free streaming at Cinematheque at Home

A feature-length “docu-fantasia” blending realism and surrealism, incorporating archival footage, history, re-written memories, interviews, and dreams to create a portrait of Maddin’s hometown.

Curatorial Talk: Surrealist Suggestions with Lindsay Inglis (September 15, 2021)
On Zoom and livestreaming on the School of Art Gallery, University of Manitoba YouTube channel

Curator and art historian Lindsay Inglis discusses her research on former School of Art professor and surrealist painter Robert Nelson, exploring his lasting influence on Winnipeg artists, including School of Art alumni Ivan Eyre, Esther Warkov, and Marcel Dzama.