A research project that circulates through complex personal, social, and art histories cannot be undertaken without the cooperation of individuals, institutions, and organizations. I am indebted to the ongoing support and commitment of the Art Canada Institute; my thanks go to Executive Director Sara Angel and Commissioning Editor Anna Hudson, and to the staff members for their important and invaluable editorial support and diligence: Steven Boyle, Stephanie Burdzy, Laura Carusi, Lara Hinchberger, Natalie Hume, Beverley Mitchell, Michael Rattray, Rosemary Shipton, Meg Taylor, Kendra Ward, and Simone Wharton.
My gratitude goes to the staff of the Art Gallery of Ontario, in particular Amy Furness, Marilyn Nazar, and Donald Rance from Library and Archives for their continuing assistance during my research, and access to Fonds and files. Many other individuals generously provided important insights and recollections of Iskowitz. Among them, from Toronto, were Adele Freedman, Gerard Jennings, Harry Malcolmson, David Moos, Ruth Ann Podeswa, and Daniel Solomon. I must also express my gratitude to the many individuals from galleries, museums and organizations across Canada, Europe, and Australia who responded to my seemingly bottomless well of questions. Even the most casual exchange, the simplest of queries, can open the door to valuable insights.
Finally, I must thank the Gershon Iskowitz Foundation for their support of the project as well as access to Iskowitz works held by the Foundation. Some included in this publication are being reproduced for the first time.
From the Art Canada Institute
The Art Canada Institute gratefully acknowledges the generosity of Maxine Granovsky Gluskin and Ira Gluskin, the Title Sponsors of this book. The ACI also extends its appreciation to the Gershon Iskowitz Foundation, Sponsor of this publication, and to the Donors Alistair Mitchell and Naomi Margo.
The Art Canada Institute gratefully acknowledges the other sponsors of the 2018–2019 Canadian Online Art Book Project: Anonymous, Alexandra Bennett in memory of Jalynn Bennett, Consignor Canadian Fine Art, Kiki and Ian Delaney, The Sabourin Family Foundation, Karen Schreiber and Marnie Schreiber, and Sandra L. Simpson.
We also sincerely thank the Founding Sponsor for the Art Canada Institute: BMO Financial Group; and the Art Canada Institute Patrons: Butterfield Family Foundation,* David and Vivian Campbell,* Connor, Clark & Lunn Foundation, Albert E. Cummings,* the Fleck family,* Roger and Kevin Garland,* Glorious and Free Foundation,* Charlotte Gray and George Anderson, The Scott Griffin Foundation,* Jane Huh,* Lawson Hunter, Gershon Iskowitz Foundation,* Alan and Patricia Koval Foundation, Phil Lind,* Nancy McCain and Bill Morneau,* John O’Brian, Gerald Sheff and Shanitha Kachan,* Stephen Smart,* Nalini and Tim Stewart,* and Robin and David Young.*
We thank our Lead Benefactors: Alexandra Baillie, Alexandra Bennett and the Jalynn Bennett Family Foundation,* Grant and Alice Burton, Kiki and Ian Delaney,* Jon S. and Lyne Dellandrea,* Michelle Koerner and Kevin Doyle,* K. James Harrison, Sarah and Tom Milroy,* Partners in Art,* Sandra L. Simpson,* Pam and Michael Stein,* and Sara and Michael Angel.*
*Indicates a Founding Patron of the Art Canada Institute
The ACI gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre (Leah Cox, Jennifer Nicoll); Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (Stephen Topfer); Art Gallery of Hamilton (Christine Braun); Art Gallery of Ontario (Eva Athanasiu, Amy Furness, Debbie Johnsen, Tracy Mallon-Jensen, Marilyn Nazar); Art Gallery of York University (Allyson Adley); Art Museum at the University of Toronto (Heather Pigat); Canada Council Art Bank (Martha Young); Canadian War Museum (Fiona Anthes); Consignor Canadian Fine Art (Rob Cowley); David Zwirner Gallery (Chris Rawson); Estate of Alex Colville (Ann Kitz); Estate of Dr. Luigi Rossi; Estate of John Reeves (Beverley McGhee); Gershon Iskowitz Foundation (Nancy Hushion); Kelowna Art Gallery (Nataley Nagy); Macdonald Stewart Art Centre Collection at the Art Gallery of Guelph (Robbyne MacKenzie); McMaster Museum of Art (Julie Bronson); Miriam Shiell Fine Art (Simon Bentley); Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Marie-Claude Saia); Musée National d‘art Moderne Centre Pompidou; Museum London (Janette Cousins Ewan); National Gallery of Canada (Raven Amiro, Véronique Malouin); Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art; Podeswa Family Collection (Howard Podeswa); Simon Fraser University Galleries (Christina Hedlund); The Cahén Archives (Maggie Cahén, Michael Cahén); The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery (Blair Swann, Melanie Lowe); University of Lethbridge Art Gallery (Andrea Kremenik); Vancouver Art Gallery (Danielle Currie); Winnipeg Art Gallery (Nicole Fletcher); and Rebecca Belmore, Valérie Blass, Shary Boyle, AA Bronson, David Burnett, Brandon Clarida, Stan Douglas, Adele Freedman, Toni Hafkenscheid, Brian Jungen, Evaan Kheraj, Maryse Larivière, Isadora C. Marinier, Christinne Muschi, Birthe Piontek, Michael Snow, Françoise Sullivan, and Christopher Wahl. The ACI recognizes the numerous private collectors who have given permission for their work to be published in this edition.
Image Sources
Every effort has been made to secure permissions for all copyrighted material. The Art Canada Institute will gladly correct any errors or omissions.
Credit for Banner Images
Biography: Gershon Iskowitz, Self-Portrait, c.1955. (See below for details.)
Key Works: Gershon Iskowitz, Uplands H, 1972. (See below for details.)
Significance & Critical Issues: Gershon Iskowitz, The Wall, 1952. (See below for details.)
Style & Technique: Gershon Iskowitz, Orange Yellow C, 1982. (See below for details.)
Where to See: Installation view of Staging Abstraction at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, 2017. Left: Jack Bush, Black Velvet, 1963, oil on canvas; Centre: Gershon Iskowitz, Uplands K, 1972, oil on canvas; Right: David Diao, Pick Up, 1972, aquatec on canvas. Photograph by Daniel Hutchinson.
Sources & Resources: Self-Portrait, 1980. (See below for details.)
Untitled (Sketch for Septet), c.1984. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Cover of the 1972 Venice Biennale catalogue for the Canadian Pavilion, Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Detail of Uplands K, 1972, installed at the Art Gallery of Hamilton for Staging Abstraction, 2017. Photograph by Daniel Hutchinson.
Feldafing Displaced Persons Camp banknotes.
Gershon Iskowitz in Feldafing, date unknown, photographer unknown. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Gershon Iskowitz in Feldafing verso, date unknown, photographer unknown. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Gershon Iskowitz Gallery Moos invitation, 1966, Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto (LA.156125). Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Gershon Iskowitz in front of his Tecumseth Street studio, 1981, photographer unknown. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Gershon Iskowitz in Toronto, winter c.1948–49, photographer unknown. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Gershon Iskowitz: Painter of Light catalogue by Adele Freedman.
Gershon Iskowitz with painting design for a limited edition AGO umbrella, 1986. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Gershon Iskowitz with portrait of Isaac Leib Peretz, Feldafing, 1946, photographer unknown, Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Gershon Iskowitz, Kazuo Nakamura, Tony Urquhart, and Madeline Mary Jennings at Isaacs Gallery, c.1961–62, photograph by Tess Taconis. E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Gershon Iskowitz painting outdoors, date unknown, photographer unknown. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Guests at the Venice Biennale, 1972, photographer unknown. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Installation view of Exhibition of Contemporary Paintings by Seven Canadian Painters from the Canada Council Art Bank at Harbourfront Art Gallery, 1976, photograph by David Lloyd. Courtesy of The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery Archives.
Pamphlet for Iskowitz: New Paintings, September 15–October 2, 1961, Here and Now Art Gallery. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Parents Zisla Lewis and Jankel and children Yosl, Gershon, and Itchen, c.1924, photographer unknown. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Gift of the Gershon Iskowitz Foundation, 2009 (LA.SC114.S1.f2.2). Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Plate 57 from Los Desastres de la Guerra / Disasters of War, plates produced between 1810 and 1820, from the first edition, 1863, by Francisco Goya. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa (4180).
Temporary travel document, military Government for Germany, issued in Munich, May 3, 1948. Gershon Iskowitz Fonds, E.P. Taylor Library and Archives, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. Gift of the Gershon Iskowitz Foundation, 2009 (LA.SC114.S3.2). Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
The Gershon Iskowitz Prize: 1986 to 2006 catalogue, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto.
![Art Canada Institute, Gershon Iskowitz, Not titled, n.d. [1987]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/art-books_35_gershon-iskowitz-untitled-undated-1987-contextual.jpg)
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