Six Decades of Bruce Head

With the same vigor he had 50 years ago, Head continues to paint for the same reason he always has—it’s fun.

“It’s like having a good game of golf when you pull off a good painting or piece—there’s a certain personal satisfaction. It’s just you and what you’re doing.”

Known for his experimentation, with form in his shaped canvas period and original “ink graphic”, Head admits he is a curious sort of guy. He can’t even walk through a hardware store without looking at things and seeing possibilities that they weren’t supposed to do.

Head continues to experiment with his current work with paper and the layering of colour and forms.

“You feel a little freer on paper once you spent a lot of time stretching a canvas by that time you not much concerned with what you’re going to put on it. Whereas with paper you can recycle it. So you’re more uninhibited when you’re working.”

One of the reasons Head agreed to do the show at the WAG was because there is a book involved. He had decided it was about time he had a book on his work. But the show ended up being a lot more fulfilling than that.

“It’s like visiting old friends. [Curator Amy Karlinsky] found stuff I had forgot I painted, and found me in collection I didn’t even know I was in… She took all these pieces lying all over Canada and putting my life back together for me.”

Head Space: Five Decades of Bruce Head will be on display from Thu September 11 – Sun November 23 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

The 6th Decade will be on display until Sat September 27 at Winnipeg’s Ken Segal Gallery. There will be an opening reception on Sat September 13.

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