Learn about Canadian artist who designed the Loonie

Art lovers will get the chance to hear about Robert-Ralph Carmichael's portfolio of works at the ART HUB this week.

Noted author Karl Tuira will be giving a talk and slide show presentation of Carmichael's paintings, drawings and coins on May 3 from 5-7 p.m. and again on May 4 from 2-4 p.m.

Admission is by donation. 

Beverage and light refreshments will be served.

For more information, see the press release below: 

Karl Tuira, noted author, will be giving a talk and slide show presentation on Robert-Ralph Carmichael's portfolio of works - his paintings, drawings, and coins. The focus will be on images of Carmichael's works augmented by stories of his artistic career. Karl will be showing several of Carmichael's original paintings. 

The ART HUB At Spring, located at 504 Queen St. downtown in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., will host two showings. 

On Friday, May 3 from 5-7 p.m., and again on Saturday, May 4 from 2-4 p.m., admission is by donation. Beverage and light refreshments will be served.

The Art of Robert-Ralph Carmichael is an art book - a compendium of the life and works of Robert-Ralph Carmichael - a celebrated Canadian surreal, landscape and still life painter; and best known for having designed the iconic Canadian coin – the one dollar “Loonie”.

The book provides a brief outline of Robert-Ralph Carmichael’s life, and the influences on his art. Karl grew up in the idyllic old farming community of Sylvan Valley where Bob and his artist wife Gwen set up their home and studio in 1976, when he got to know them quite well, and fell in love with Bob Carmichael’s art.    

Gwen provided Karl with access to Bob’s archive. But, most importantly, Gwen, in her uniquely inimitable manner, shared stories of their life and Bob’s paintings. Many of the stories are included in the book. 

The focus of this book is showcasing Bob’s paintings. As Viktor Tinkl, a classmate of Bob’s at the Ontario College of Art and life-long friend said,  “The image speaks for itself, narrative is secondary.”

David Aurandt, a recognized Canadian art scholar and curator, and a friend of Bob’s, adds a vital art historians’ perspective on Robert-Ralph Carmichael’s works. Additional artistic perspective is provided by Miranda Bouchard, curator of Bob’s 2012 Walking Spirits show at The Art Gallery of Algoma. A far earlier perspective is provided by Philip Fry the curator of Bob’s 1972 Temptation of Aquarius: Paintings of Robert-Ralph Carmichael show at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.  

​And indeed the lack of access to his images is one of the reasons why Robert-Ralph Carmichael’s work has not received the recognition that it merits.  Bob did not allow any of his works to be replicated. One could only see Bob’s work in its original form - at a gallery, at an art show, in his studio, or in a private collection. 

​This is the first time that images of many of his works have been made available. 

While he designed many coins for the Canadian mint, his passion was painting and drawing. He was a prolific artist creating over 500 paintings and hundreds of drawings. He was a landscape and still life painter, but his passion was surrealism, or representational painting as he called it. 

Bob, Gwen and Karl talked intermittently about doing a book on his art. But it was not until he passed away that Gwen Keatley said, “Ok you must do this book. Bob’s wish in his last years was to be famous”. And so the book came to be.

Karl will sign copies of his three published books: The Karjala Story: Revolution, War, Wonder. The Art of Robert-Ralph Carmichael. How Beautiful Was My Valley.