6/15/2011 7:20:30 PM

June 9, 2011

Remembering the Howards: Colborne Lodge's first artist in residence exhibition

City of Toronto historic site Colborne Lodge is pleased to announce a new exhibition by James Ridyard, the site's first Artist in Residence. Entitled "Remembering the Howards", the free exhibition will be on display in the museum's Coach House from June 10 to 26. John and Jemima Howard are the couple who founded High Park; John, one of the City's first architects, built Colborne Lodge in 1837.

"We are excited to have James as our first Artist in Residence because of the importance of art in the Howards' lives and the significance of their original watercolours to the Lodge's interpretive collection," said Cheryl Hart, Colborne Lodge's Museum Coordinator. "His proposal offered the museum the opportunity to explore the Howards' lives and draw upon the Lodge's stories from an artistic perspective."

Exhibited alongside James' pieces will be some of John Howard's original watercolours. Howard was also a civil engineer, surveyor and a well respected artist whose works can still be seen at Colborne Lodge. This exhibition brings Colborne Lodge's history to life by combining Howard's art pieces with Ridyard's present-day work.

Ridyard, a self-taught visual artist holding an active studio practice in Toronto, had always looked for an opportunity to employ history into his artistic practice. Living in the High Park area and knowing Colborne Lodge, he knew it would provide a wonderful lens to the past. He approached Colborne Lodge and their first Artist in Residence program was born.

Artistic practices like research, drawing, and painting from memory aided Ridyard in producing original work devoted to Colborne Lodge, the owners and their lives. Through his art, the world of Colborne Lodge is experienced - how the estate functioned, as well as what role the Lodge continues to play in High Park.

The public is welcome to attend the exhibition opening on June 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. The show will continue from June 10 to 26, with open hours Tuesday to Sunday, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. "Remembering the Howards" exhibition is free; however donations to Colborne Lodge are welcome.

For more information call 416-392-6916 or visit http://www.toronto.ca/colborne. Colborne Lodge, one of 10 historic museums operated by the City of Toronto, is located at 11 Colborne Lodge Dr.