Gordon and Janet, In Their Garden.

Gordon and Janet, in their garden

Intaglio

30 x 22 Inches

© 2006 George Hawken

I decided to see what an intense observation of couples whom I know very well would produce. I trust my own process enough to know that if I allow it to unfold naturally, the results will have a certain integrity – which I think this series does. This portrait, of Janet and Gordon Belray in their garden, references their commitment to one another in the face of serious health issues, and the hope that comes from the garden – a metaphor of restoration and continuation. I feel that the intensity of their connection to one another and their hopes for their children are suspended in this simple examination. – George Hawken.

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Had a most lucid astral plane encounter with George last night.  We sat at a deuce visiting.  For me, I have come to realise that whenever thusly situated on the astral plane, the encounter will be languorously rhapsodic.  Our eye contact was intense and direct and we hardly said anything to each other which, incidentally, was always the case when visiting in person.

George and I were lovers, long ago, and as I was then his muse our passion inspired the lithograph, Pink Chair, which has been previously shared on this blog.  I love this piece and on my return from living in Montréal, the artist was then working on this series of portraits.  I had hoped to have been included in the series but alas it was not to be.

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.

Oreo.

Oreo

Acrylic on Canvas

126 x 100.5 cm

© 1988 Jean-Michel Basquiat

Provenance:  Private Collection as of 2005.

One of my favourite pieces in the current Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition at the AGO.  The reviewers in both the Globe and Mail and NOW magazine haven’t a fucking clue what they are talking about; certainly, in the case of the latter it is the sort of sly invidiousness that one can ever expect of Canadians in their cool animus towards Blacks and the Black artistic aesthetic.  Later for the likes of sphinctered, snow-driven dreck comme lui…

Of course, all that glorious fecund green serves as a good enough reason to say, Happy St. Patrick’s Day.  As James Joyce so deftly illustrated, we are all Irish for being possessed of imagination… we are all dreamers – I certainly am.  I love you more!

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.

Exu.

Exu 1988

Acrylic, Oil Stick on Canvas

199.3 x 254 cm

© 1988 Jean-Michel Basquiat

Provenance: Private collection

Today, I shall see this show for the fifth time.

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.

Hidden Exposure Series # 1.

Hidden exposure #1 lionel smit

Etching

43 x 48 cm

Edition: 24

© 2013 Lionel Smit.

Something about that tone of blue makes me think 0f  and puts me in the mood for John Coltrane’s creative genius.  I love this piece.

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© 2013-2026 Arvin da Brgha.  All Rights Reserved.