This exhibition was on view at Mahtay Café & Lounge in downtown St. Catharines for the month of July 2024.
The artist’s words about his work :
‘My art explores drawing originating from my early paintings grounded within linear abstraction. My images are composed of shapes and forms constantly evolving from a highly personal visual vocabulary which started with subconscious doodling and automatic drawing. Over time I consciously incorporated external visual influences.
Often described as ‘abstract funnies’ or ‘surreal cartoons,’ my artwork straddles – and challenges assumptions about – high art and popular culture. My aesthetic is very focused upon ‘image as image’ and I believe in letting the viewer interpret and create their own narrative within the elements / components of my work.’
PECULIAR PRACTICES consists of ten broadsides that present a text by Governor General’s award winning writer Leon Rooke and an image by Tony Calzetta.
In this collaboration, Calzetta created the images and Rooke created a text to accompany it.
Much more about this series can be seen (and read) here.
More about Tony Calzetta’s work can be seen here.