Michael Forster
To Celebrate a Childhood - The Rains, abstract
circa 1980

About the Item

To Celebrate A Childhood-The Rains pulses with rhythmic movement. There are faint suggestions of dancing figures or forms that have been blended into a vibrantly textured haze, reminiscent of the Surrealist works of his close friend Rufino Tamayo from the years Forster spent in Mexico. The painting is framed in a white gold frame with a blue float inside and outside edge - lovely frame complimentary to the work. Dimensions listed are framed dimensions and the canvas measures 36 x 53 inside the frame. Forster in this example has carefully built up his colors layer by layer until the lustrous surface is complete. All of the introspections, musings, and nostalgic remembrances of the artist are on display. The title potentially harkens back to Forster’s childhood spent in India, known to experience torrential downpours of rain that often result in floods of epic proportions. The allusion to rain is further enhanced by the choice of a blue-green palette with the slight incursion of yellow that potentially reflects the optimistic hope for the returning sunshine. Here there are no evident forms. Rather the color has become the form, suggesting the mood, the time, and the atmosphere. Forster’s paintings do not fit neatly into any one movement or style of painting. Rather they are a result of his myriad international travels, homes, and experiences. What unites all his works is his dedication to the pursuit of Modernism and his own personal search for his identity as an artist. It is important to note that Michael Forester’s work that began in Canada has now come full circle after all his travels and back home again to Canada where he painted this picture. Forster was active in Canada for more than forty-five years. His contributions to the development of Canadian art are only now receiving the attention they so richly deserve.

Creator:

Michael Forster (1907 - 2002, Canadian)

Creation Year:

circa 1980

Dimensions:

Height: 37.25 in (94.62 cm)Width: 55 in (139.7 cm)

Medium:

Canvas,Acrylic

Movement & Style:

Abstract

Period:

1980-1989