True North Gallery (also known as The Music Gallery of Fine Art), founded in 2016 by Geoff and Brooke Kulawick,Jefferies, Brenda. “Waterdown’s True North Gallery Rocks the Cultural Scene.” The Flamborough Review, March 31, 2016. https://www.flamboroughreview.com/news-story/6414141-waterdown-s-true-north-gallery-rocks-the-cultural-scene is an art museum and gallery in downtown Waterdown, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to showcasing visual art by professional musicians, it claims to be the only art gallery of its kind.Rockingham, Graham. “Art of music: Gallery celebrates visual craft of musicians.” The Hamilton Spectator, March 30, 2016. https://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/6411368-art-of-music-gallery-celebrates-visual-craft-of-musicians It is located at the head office of True North Records and Linus Entertainment. The gallery is privately owned and offers free admission.“About Us.” True North Gallery, accessed February 24, 2019. https://truenorth.gallery/about-us
History
In 2015—seven years after purchasing True North Records from its original owner, Bernie Finkelstein—Geoff Kulawick moved the label's head office from Burlington to Waterdown, Ontario. Kulawick credits his wife Mabruka (Brooke), a visual artist, with the idea to use the new space as a place to display artwork by professional musicians. Brooke noted that some True North Records signees including Buffy Sainte-Marie and Murray McLauchlan were visual artists. Of the concept, Kulawick claimed, "The more research I did, the more it sounded like something brilliant that nobody else is doing."Krewen, Nick. “Kulawicks’ Art Gallery Expands True North Brand For Artists.” FYI Music News, March 28, 2016. https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2016/03/28/kulawicks-art-gallery-expands-true-north-brand-artists
The gallery has hosted open house events featuring musicians/artists, including Buffy Sainte-Marie and Murray McLauchlan (at the grand opening in March 2016), Greg Smith and Jon Langford (May 2016),Rockingham, “Art of music." Louie Pérez (January 2017),Jefferies, Brenda. “Los Lobos musician Louie Pérez charms fans at Waterdown’s True North Gallery.” The Flamborough Review, January 31, 2017. https://www.flamboroughreview.com/news-story/7094670-los-lobos-musician-louie-p-rez-charms-fans-at-waterdown-s-true-north-gallery and Joe Crookston (January 2018).Lovett, Julia. “Waterdown’s True North Gallery event to weave together music, written word, art.” The Flamborough Review, January 8, 2018. https://www.flamboroughreview.com/whatson-story/8038184-waterdown-s-true-north-gallery-event-to-weave-together-music-written-word-art
While pieces such as limited-edition prints by John Lennon and a charcoal self-portrait by David Bowie remain part of the Kulawicks' private collection, many originals are on consignment from the artists.Rockingham, "Art of Music."
See also Waterdown, Ontario True North Records Linus Entertainment
References
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