The Nortammag Archives at Magic Pony

by | Mar 26, 2008 | Writing | 0 comments

My friend Leah has been telling me about this upcoming show at Magic Pony that’s opening next week. It features mainly oil paintings by Stephen Appleby-Barr, a member of the illustration collective Team Macho.

The images just came out yesterday and they’re really stunning:

Stephen Appleby-Barr, 2008, courtesy the artist and Magic Pony

From what I understand, Appleby-Barr uses archival or historical imagery and then tweaks them slightly, sometimes incorporating portraits of his own friends, in order to appropriate them and turn them into documents from this mysterious and fictive Nortammag Archive.

Stephen Appleby-Barr, 2008, courtesy the artist and Magic Pony

Leah’s been telling me they’re the best work she’s seen at the gallery in a while and now I can see why. I’m thinking it will be one of those shows where all the work sells out before or five minutes into the opening.

I’m actually really partial to this one, which is being used for the invitations. It reminds me vaguely of one of those Canadian Heritage Minutes, probably about the invention of basketball or some inspiring hockey coach who invented mouthguards or something.

Stephen Appleby-Barr, 2008, courtesy the artist and Magic Pony

I still have to go pick up my Melinda Josie cat print from there. Maybe I do know what to do with my tax return after all…

The opening of The Nortammag Archives is happening Thursday April 3, from 7-10pm with the artist in attendance and the show continues until May 4th at Magic Pony (694 Queen St. West).

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