For over 70 years, Ann MacIntosh Duff painted the landscapes and everyday moments of her life. She had studios in both Toronto and Georgian Bay, where she worked primarily in the difficult medium of watercolour. She excelled at capturing the very essence of things, from weather to the simple objects we display around us.
This is our first exhibition since MacIntosh Duff’s passing last year. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy of paintings, many of which are now in the collection of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection following a major acquisition of over 200 works. Our exhibition will coincide with the first installment of MacIntosh Duff’s small survey at the McMichael opening on July 8th.
Much of the work in both exhibitions is centered around MacIntosh Duff’s life in Georgian Bay. Until very late in her life, Ann returned annually every summer to her beloved Scotch Pine Island where she lived by herself for about three months, watching, listening and painting.
Each summer I return to the island with anticipation and thanksgiving. My arrival and unloading intrudes on the accepting solitude of the island, but at last the taxi leaves making a foaming wake as it disappears, its racket diminishing to silence. Then the marvelous sounds of solitude begin again - the song sparrow, the chickadee, the rustling and soughing of the wind in the trees. Waves break endlessly on the shore and my existence begins to be absorbed into the life of the island.
- Ann MacIntosh Duff
