IMPERISHABLE: Deconstructing Ukrainian Embroidery Patterns

The Shevchenko Museum, 1604 Bloor Street West, Toronto, cordially invites you to the opening of IMPERISHABLE: Deconstructing Ukrainian Embroidery Patterns, an exhibition of paintings and media art by artist Rob Gill, on Friday, November 7 at 6pm.

Mr. Gill attended Queen’s University in Kingston for a Bachelor of Fine arts specialising in painting and has been a professional media artist for nearly thirty years. About a decade ago, the artist moved from Muskoka to Toronto and about eight years ago, to the west end by High Park, where he discovered a large Ukrainian population.

As a second generation Ukrainian on his mother’s side, and having been raised with the language, the cultural traditions, and the rich craftwork, he is particularly fascinated by ancient Ukrainian geometric embroidery patterns and the meanings they contain.

In this exhibition, Rob Gill seeks to engage with that ancient, sacred art, uncover some of its spiritual content, and explore his Ukrainian heritage by applying various of his own processes to the patterns via painting, print, computer animation, software design, and audio. Many of his animations are joined by music drawn from the Ukrainian Art Song Project which runs through software to produce the accompanying audio.

The artist will be selling his original paintings, as well as inexpensive inkjet prints, and limited edition giclee prints. Accompanying each painting is an audio album as well. 10% of all sales will be donated to the Ukraine war effort.

Doors open at 6pm. Artist’s slide-show talk and live performance of digital art with music at 7pm. Light refreshments will be served.

This exhibition will be on display until November 28, 2025.

Gallery hours: Mon, Tues, Weds, Fri: 10 a.m.-4p.m., Thurs: 12-7 p.m.,
and weekends by appointment