Volunteer/Moore Galleries, Second Level
Frayed, unfurling rope; gleaming coloured glass and a fluffy, handmade quilt; a powerful thunderstorm; a boy and his dog; a knowing look. What do these things have in common?
They all relate to objects—artworks and artifacts, from the distant past and the present day—found in Museum London’s permanent collections, together revealing what creative people have always known: when we closely attend to our surroundings, both ordinary and extraordinary, we encounter an infinite source of fascination and inspiration. Borrowing its title from a work by notable London artist Bernice Vincent (1934-2016), All Around Me, All Around You underscores the relevance and resonance of our regional artists’ critical impact on a broad scale. This exhibition centres curiosity, delving into Museum London’s art and history collections to demonstrate the ways our surroundings stimulate and reflect creativity over time.
The exhibition addresses the many ways we engage with creative energy and splendour every day. We encounter inspiration through our relationships to other beings—both human and non-human—through our travels through space, in the clothing we wear, the tools we use and the food we eat: all things that aid and nourish us bring beauty into our lives. We find inspiration in raw sensation, in how colour and texture make us feel and relate to the world around us. Surrounding us all the time, intangible memories, beliefs, language and symbols impart substance and meaning to our everyday lives. Each of these components sit at the core of our human experience.
With all of this in mind, we invite visitors to engage with All Around Me, All Around You in different ways, each complementing the exhibition’s very essence. Dig deep into our online database of collection holdings, satisfy that tactile urge at a designated touch station, and listen to audio interviews with featured artists discussing their works. Revel in the beauty of the world all around us.
This exhibition is made possible thanks to generous support from the John H. & Elizabeth Moore Acquisition Endowment Fund, with additional support from the Museum London Board of Directors.
Audio Interview Excerpts
Artist Jamelie Hassan recounts discovering a ceramic bench in Spain, and how photography and memory came together in her recreation of it.
Artist David Bobier describes how borrowing 17th-century illustrations can reflect on deafness, communication, and shared human understanding across time and place.
Musician Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth chats with Museum London’s Cassandra Getty about Greg Curnoe’s influence and the influence of Regionalism in art and music.
Artist Raymond Boisjoly describes his creative process with Museum London’s Cassandra Getty, highlighting his motivation to keep learning new skills.
Artist Andy Patton shares how getting lost in the process of painting and negotiating text and color fuels his creative expression.
Art Historian Sarah Stanners explores how Jack Bush used colour and composition in Blue Spot on Green to express emotion through abstraction.
Artist David Merritt discusses his use of unconventional materials, and how he expands a “sense of drawing” into sculpture and installation.
Art Historian Christopher Varley reflects on his grandfather Frederick Varley’s work, comparing Mimulus, Mist and Snow to other notable Group of Seven pieces.
Artist Jessica Karuhanga speaks to the complexities of belonging as a diasporic artist, and how she reconstitutes ideas of “home from elsewhere” in her work.
Curator and Art Historian Judith Rodger breaks down the materiality of Beverley Lambert’s Red Window, from its frame to its layered canvas and blind.
Artist Kent Monkman talks about his work Nativity Scene, exploring the Church’s impact on Indigenous communities and ideas of economic disparity.
Artist Sandra Brewster dives into the development of her Blur series, revealing how movement and material choices help express identity, memory, and time.
Panya Clark reflects on her grandmother Paraskeva Clark’s artistic legacy—from her European training to her new life in 1930s Canada.
Curator Mirelle Eagen unpacks the emotional depth of a “Mary Pratt Moment” with Museum London’s Andrew Kear, where beauty, pain, and everyday sensuality collide.
Museum London’s Amber Lloydlangston traces George Curdick’s life through census records, revealing skilled careers in farming, gardening, and craftsmanship.
Museum London’s Amber Lloydlangston highlights the blend of hand-carved and factory-made elements in a Victorian-era Upper Canada-style sideboard.
Museum London’s Amber Lloydlangston reflects on the melodeon’s role in Canadian homes—an instrument that brought people together in song and spirit.
Related Events
PA Day Camp: Ordinary to Extraordinary
Curator-led Tour of All Around Me, All Around You
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