Jack Chambers

John Richard Chambers RCA was an artist and filmmaker. Chambers' painting style shifted from surrealist-influenced to photo-realist-influenced. He used the term "Perceptual Realism" and later "perceptualism" to describe his style. He began working with film in the 1960s, completing six by 1970. In 1968, he founded Canadian Artists' Representation (CARFAC), now a national organization of artists, after an argument with the National Gallery of Canada over reproduction rights and fees. In 1973 he received the Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award. His work is in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and Museum London. The 2012 retrospective of his work at the Art Gallery of Ontario has helped introduce his oeuvre to a new audience. The foundations of Chambers’ painting technique were laid during his training in Spain. Many of his paintings from that period show the influence of Surrealism. After his return to Canada in 1961 he experimented with paint application and vibrant colour. By the mid-1960s his style changed again as he worked a sense of temporal movement into his paintings. In the mid-1960s Chambers also produced his silver paintings using aluminum pigment. Between 1964 and 1970, Chambers completed six films varying in length between nine minutes and 79 minutes. Working in both black and white and colour film, his works were montages dealing on the surface with his domestic life and images of London, Ontario. They were also examinations of the contrast between nature and society. Although for the most part peripheral to the history of avant-garde film, owing to his early death and reluctance to travel with his films for festivals, Chambers' filmography and in particular his feature-length film The Hart of London have become important within Canadian film history but have also grown in stature internationally.

Creator Id: 122
Virtual Collection: Original CCCA
Beginning Year: 1931
Country of Birth: Canada
Province of Birth: Ontario
Year of Birth: 1931
City: London
Country: Canada
Type of Creator: Artist
Ending Year: 1978
Gender: Male
Living Status: Deceased
Mediums: film, painting
Add to List

Video

Chambers 22

Description: Final Paintings Chambers discusses the spiritual and mystical qualities of his last works.

Info: Final Paintings

Summary: Final Days of an Artist: The video narrates the final days of an artist who described his personal style as 'classical,' emphasizing durability and depth. His last moments are portrayed with respect to his philosophical approach to life and death, culminating in his peaceful passing in a hospital, leaving behind a legacy of gratitude for his contributions to art.

Transcription:

Chambers 21

Description: Kim Ondaatje Ondaatje talks about Chambers and his work.

Info: Kim Ondaatje

Summary: Achieving Artistic Serenity: This video highlights an artist's determination to achieve his creative goals despite battling leukemia. His illness seems to have intensified his focus, leading to the production of his final paintings, which are noted for their serene and mystical qualities, indicating a pinnacle of artistic achievement in his career.

Transcription:

Chambers 20

Description: 1970 Exhibition The success of the 1970 exhibition and the high prices it commands stuns the artworld.

Info: 1970 Exhibition

Summary: Public Recognition and Financial Success: In 1970, the video chronicles the artist’s increased public interest and financial success following a leukemia diagnosis and a significant rise in his artwork prices. One of his paintings sells for $25,000, astonishing the art world and securing financial stability for his family, though he expresses a wistful regret at not being able to afford to keep his own works.

Transcription:

Chambers 19

Description: Greg Curnoe Curnoe discusses Chambers 'tough guy' image and sense of professionalism.

Info: Greg Curnoe

Summary: Artistic Observations in a Slaughterhouse: Returning to Spain, the artist films in a slaughterhouse, capturing the stark realities of life and death. The video emphasizes his professional approach and high regard for his work, contrasting his tough demeanor with the broader, mythological and everyday implications of his subject matter.

Transcription:

Chambers 18

Description: Techniques Influenced by his film the Heart of London , Chambers explores the use of silver nitrate and collage in his work.

Info: Techniques

Summary: Synthesis in Art and Film: The video discusses how an artist uses photographs as source materials for drawings on plexiglass, blending unrelated images to create a synthesized narrative. This technique, mirroring his approach in film, achieves acclaim, particularly with his film "Heart of London," which is recognized by underground film audiences and acquired by the National Gallery.

Transcription:

Chambers 17

Description: Films Excerpts from Mosaic and other experimental films.

Info: Films

Summary: Artistic Expression Through Film: This video focuses on an artist’s exploration of life and death themes through his first film, which features contrasting imagery of birth and aging. The experience leads him to a new painting technique using silver paint, which creates a life-like, moving effect as viewers walk past his artworks.

Transcription:

Chambers 16

Description: CBC Interview with Jack Chambers, Charles Rainey and Greg Curnoe. Jack talks about using the medium of television to permit someone to publicly share their moment of death.

Info: Pub Interview (to die on TV)

Summary: Philosophical Discussions on Life and Death: The video captures a thought-provoking discussion in a pub about the right to die publicly, as seen on television. This concept is explored as a consolation for those who fear dying alone, offering a public platform as a final opportunity to be acknowledged and remembered.

Transcription:

Chambers 14

Description: Marion & Ross Woodman The Woodmans describe meeting Jack's fiancée Olga for the first time in Spain.

Info: Marion & Ross Woodman

Summary: Marital Union and Artistic Commitment: This video narrates the story of an artist whose marriage to Olga is framed by his deep commitment to his art. Despite the challenges Olga faces adapting to life in Canada, her strength complements his dedication to painting, highlighting the supportive yet complex dynamics within their relationship.

Transcription:

Chambers 13

Description: Photographs and paintings Chambers begins integrating photographs and memoriesinto his paintings.

Info: Photographs and paintings

Summary: Exploring Family Heritage and Personal Loss: The video delves into an artist's journey of discovering his own and his family’s past through preserved photographic likenesses. It also marks a poignant moment in his life with the mourning of his mother's death in August 1962, reflecting on the blend of personal history and artistic exploration.

Transcription:

Chambers 11

Description: London Ontario Chambers returns to London in 1961, discovers Greg Curnoe and a thriving arts community.

Info: London Ontario

Summary: Return to London, Ontario: The video details an artist's return to London, Ontario, after eight years abroad, during a time when his mother was very ill. His return reveals a changed city with a newly vibrant arts community that provides him with unexpected inspiration and excitement.

Transcription:

Chambers 12

Description:

Info:

Summary: Artistic Renewal and Experimentation: After returning from abroad, the artist finds freedom and inspiration in his hometown, contrasting his new experimental spirit with his past experiences in Spain and his deep-rooted Catholic influences. The video highlights how this blend of new and old influences is evident in his paintings from this period.

Transcription:

Chambers 10

Description: Tony Lyons and Antony Lopes Fellow classmates describe Chambers' style and spiritual intuition.

Info: Tony Lyons and Antony Lopes

Summary: Artistic Influence and Relationships: The video explores an artist's interactions and influences during his time teaching English, focusing on his admiration for the painter Antonio Lopez. It discusses the serene yet tormented nature of Lopez's work, reflecting the personal struggles that influenced his art.

Transcription:

Chambers 9

Description: Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation Chambers receives a $900 scholarship for helping to oppose the 'humiliation put upon classical art by modernism'.

Info: Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation

Summary: Scholarship Application and Artistic Philosophy: The video captures an artist's application for a scholarship, emphasizing his desire to support classical art against the backdrop of modernism. It highlights his letter to the Green Shields Foundation in Montreal, articulating his opposition to modernist trends in art.

Transcription:

Chambers 8

Description: The Royal Academy in Madrid Chambers fails first entrance exam, succeeds with his second attempt. Stays for five years and learns to draw.

Info: The Royal Academy in Madrid

Summary: Artistic Training at the Royal Academy: This video traces an artist's journey to become a student at the Royal Academy after initially failing the entrance exam. Motivated by rejection, he returned months later, prepared with essential drawing tools and a mindset to embrace rigorous classical training, contrasting sharply with his contemporaries who were exploring more abstract and experimental art forms.

Transcription:

Chambers 7

Description: Painting Jack Chambers discusses his theories on life and his approach to painting.

Info: Painting

Summary: Perception and Inspiration in Art: The video discusses the artist's reflections on perception in art, illustrating this with scenes from a lake that inspired him over several years. He emphasizes the straightforwardness of perception for artists and explains that his family appears in his paintings not because of direct intention but because they are part of his daily environment, influencing his artistic expression.

Transcription:

Chambers 6

Description: Victoria Hospital Chambers discusses his working methods on the 1969 painting Victoria Hospital .

Info: Victoria Hospital

Summary: Artistic Reflection on Personal History: In the spring of 1969, an artist climbs onto the roof of a studio to photograph Victoria Hospital, where he was born, setting the scene for a series of paintings that explore his personal history and the familiar landscapes of his youth. The video emphasizes the artist's mastery and discipline, suggesting that his work is a reflection of his life experiences and artistic vision.

Transcription:

Chambers 5

Description: The 401 Chambers discusses his theory of Perceptualism and describes the development his renowned 401 painting.

Info: The 401

Summary: Perceptualism in Landscape Painting: The video captures an artist's moment of inspiration while driving through Ontario, describing how the vibrant autumn landscape led to a profound appreciation for perceptual realism in painting. The artist uses photography as a tool to preserve and translate these visual experiences into paintings, emphasizing the clarity and emotional impact of accurately capturing the landscape.

Transcription:

Chambers 4

Description: C.B.C. London CBC footage of the London art scene and the Nihilist Spasm Band in performance.

Info: C.B.C. London

Summary: Cultural Hotspot in London, Ontario: This video highlights London, Ontario's emergence as a significant cultural hotspot, contrasting its traditional reputation with its current vibrant arts scene. It mentions the Nihilist Spasm Band, a notable musical group, as an example of the creative activity that is reshaping the city’s cultural identity.

Transcription:

Chambers 3

Description: Abstract Expressionism Chambers describes his painting process.

Info: Abstract Expressionism

Summary: Rediscovery of Arts Community in London: After eight years away, Jack returns to London and discovers a vibrant and confident arts community that had not existed before. The video captures his renewed engagement with local artists and his creative process, which involves dynamic and experimental painting techniques influenced by his love for rock and roll and lively cultural interactions.

Transcription:

Chambers 2

Description: Picasso Chambers scales Picasso's wall to seek advice. He is told to study art in Barcelona.

Info: Picasso

Summary: Artistic Pursuit in the South of France: The video captures a story where an artist, seeking inspiration and training, travels to the south of France with the aim of meeting Picasso. Armed with just a pound of sausage to distract Picasso's guard dog, he successfully scales a garden wall to meet the legendary artist. Upon explaining his quest to learn drawing, Picasso advises him to attend school in Barcelona but invites him to return later for further conversation. This encounter highlights the artist’s adventurous spirit and his determination to learn from the best.

Transcription:

Chambers 0

Description: Stewart Shaw Shaw describes his friendship with Chambers and their mischievous youth.

Info: Stewart Shaw

Summary: Artistic Rebellion in London, Ontario: This video explores the rebellious spirit of the artist community in London, Ontario, focusing on a period when artists used the city as a backdrop for their creative and often provocative activities. It highlights the artists' experiments and interactions with the police, as well as their interest in themes of life and death, reflecting their desire to challenge societal norms and explore deeper existential questions.

Transcription:

Chambers 1

Description: Formation of C.A.R. Jack Chambers, Tony Urquhart and Kim Ondaatje challenge the National Gallery and establish Canadian Artist Representation.

Info: Formation of C.A.R.

Summary: Formation of Canadian Artist Representation: The video discusses the establishment of the Canadian Artist Representation in 1967, which was founded to challenge the National Gallery's practice of reproducing artists' work without compensation. This movement, initiated by artists including Jack, Tony, and Kim, aimed to secure fair payment for artists for the reproduction and exhibition of their work, achieving significant progress within seven years.

Transcription:

Work by Jack Chambers

Self-Portrait No. 2

Work ID: 68265

Measurements: 68.5 x 48.3 cm

Collection: Estate of the Artist

Date Made: 1952

Materials: oil on canvas

Virtual Collection: Original CCCA