24 January - 19 February, 2006

Laurel Smith | LS is More - painting | review

> opening Saturday, January 28 | 2 - 6pm

Kerf 631C5483C:811CR | 8” x 24” Acrylic/Plexiglass 2005

installation view

Kerf 631C5483C:811CR 8” / 24” Acrylic/Plexiglass 2005
Kerf 144C317C:811BL 8” / 24” Acrylic/Plexiglass 2005

installation view

Laurel Smith, 2005 Canada Council award winner and 2004 RBC Investments/Canadian Art Foundation Eastern Canada winner will be exhibiting a new body of works in two major shows in Toronto and Calgary. Her Toronto show titled, "LS is More" plays on the phrase "Less is More" frequently used by architect Mies Van Der Rohe. 1970's conceptual artist Les Levine appropriated the idea in his "Les is More." For this show, Laurel Smith has, tongue in cheek, reduced the phrase even further to her initials "LS is More." The Peak exhibition marks her solo debut in Toronto.

Smith's new paintings are exquisitely crafted surfaces of over twenty glazes of paint applied onto Plexiglas. The transparency of the works are reminiscent of early Venetian glass. Since 1996 Smith has been credited for paintings that reflect color up onto the wall. In this body she continues the idea making the painting surfaces appear to float as if they are lit from behind. Smith says. I am excited to be one of the few female minimal painters in a historically male dominated field. I believe that minimal painting today is more vibrant and relevant than ever before."