Gershon Iskowitz: Difference between revisions
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He became associated with [[http://www.gallerymoos.com |Gallery Moos]], Toronto in 1964. It was the first of many one-man exhibitions at Gallery Moos from 1964 to 1988. |
He became associated with [[http://www.gallerymoos.com |Gallery Moos]], Toronto in 1964. It was the first of many one-man exhibitions at Gallery Moos from 1964 to 1988. |
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In gratitude for the value that artistic grants had given to his career he established the Gershon Iskowitz Foundation in 1985. Its mandate was to award the annual Gershon Iskowitz Prize, in association with the Canada Council, of $25,000 to mature artists. |
In gratitude for the value that artistic grants had given to his career he established the Gershon Iskowitz Foundation in 1985. Its mandate was to award the annual [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gershon_Iskowitz#Winners_of_the_Gershon_Iskowitz_Prize |Gershon Iskowitz Prize]], in association with the Canada Council, of $25,000 to mature artists. |
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In 1988 Gershon Iskowitz passed away in Toronto, Ontario. |
In 1988 Gershon Iskowitz passed away in Toronto, Ontario. |
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Revision as of 14:04, 9 July 2010
Gershon Iskowitz was born in Kielce, Poland, on November 21st, 1921 [1].`` He never saw a painting until after the end of WWW II yet he began to draw at the age of four. He had little formal education and, with the exception of a six month association with Oskar Kokoschka, was a self taught artist.
"The Jewish environment in the Tsarist Pale of Settlement from the end of the eighteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth was one long series of economic, cultural, political and economic oppression. These deprivations had deep effects on the physical, spiritual, and emotional life of the people." [2]
Early Life [3]
At the age of four he attended the Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva. All the children's activities took place in the same big rooms. This constant noise greatly disturbed Gershon. After a year and a half he begged his father, Shmiel Yankl, to be allowed to return home and was given permission to do so.
He was tutored in Polish and placed in a public school. However the principal was the secretary of the Polish Nazi Party - Narodowa Demokracja. Thus Gershon was often bullied at school. He only lasted two and a half years at the school. This pattern of disconnection with educational institutions and self instruction continued throughout his life.
At the age of nine he offered to exchange original art posters for free admission to one week night screening and the six hour Saturday matinee at a local Jewish Cinema. The cinema owner agreed. Twice a week Gershon would take his sister, Devorah, to the movies. The owner of the second Jewish cinema asked for posters as well. This time Gershon charged a fee. After purchasing art supplies and ice cream he turned the balance over to his father.
Internment during WW II
He registered at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw in 1939. But war broke out and he was forced to return to Kielce and put to forced labour. In September of 1943 the Kielce Ghetto was liquidated. Gershon and his brother, Yosl, were sent to Auschwitz. The rest of his family was sent to Treblinka where they perished.
Gershon painted or drew at night only after every one else was asleep as this was a forbidden activity. He said that it helped him deal with the hunger and the suffering. He was transferred to Buchenwald in the fall of 1944. Near the end of the war he tried to escape but was shot in the knee and broke his hip. After the April 11th liberation of Buchenwald he was sent to recuperate in hospital. Unable to walk he painted and drew.
From January to May of 1947 he attended the Academy of Fine Arts Munich and had private study with Oskar Kokoschka. He was expelled from the Academy for sneaking into a life drawing class instead of doing the still life projects assigned him. His defence was that he ate fruit and drank from bottles (the still life subjects) but drew people. He was reinstated at the school.
Life in Canada
In 1949 he emigrated to Canada as he had some relatives living there and settled in Toronto.
In 1952 he attended Artist's Workshop, Toronto (until 1959-60)and began sketching trips to Markham and Uxbridge.
In 1953 he taught part-time at Holy Blossom Temple and the YMHA. First trip to Lake Simcoe.
In 1954 he had his first exhibition with the Canadian Society of Graphic Artists. He also did some part-time teaching at McKellar Lake.
1957 saw his first one-man exhibition at Hayter Gallery, Toronto
In 1960 he had his first one-man exhibition with [|Here and Now Gallery], Toronto. Associated with the gallery until it closed in 1963.
He had his first solo exhibition at Victoria College, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario in 1961.
He moved to his own studio on Spadina Avenue, Toronto.
He became associated with [|Gallery Moos], Toronto in 1964. It was the first of many one-man exhibitions at Gallery Moos from 1964 to 1988.
In gratitude for the value that artistic grants had given to his career he established the Gershon Iskowitz Foundation in 1985. Its mandate was to award the annual [|Gershon Iskowitz Prize], in association with the Canada Council, of $25,000 to mature artists.
In 1988 Gershon Iskowitz passed away in Toronto, Ontario.
One-Man Exhibitions
Group Exhibitions
Winners of the Gershon Iskowitz Prize
| Year | Artist |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Brian Jungen |
| 2009 | [|Shary Boyle] |
| 2008 | [|Françoise Sullivan] |
| 2007 | Mark Lewis |
| 2006 | Iain Baxter |
Bibliography
References
- ^ Gershon Iskowitz: Painter of Light, by Adele Freedman, Merritt Publishing Company Limited, 1982, ISBN 0-920866-16-7
- ^ Yiddish Folksongs from the Ruth Rubin Archive, edited by Chana Mlotek and Mark Slobin, published in 2007 in cooperation with the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, ISBN 978-0-8143-3258-0, p. xii
- ^ Catalogue of an exhibition held at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ont., Jan. 23-Mar. 7, 1982, and other museums. Curated by Burnett, David. ISBN 9780919876828