Madrona Gallery presents Guthrie Gloag in
Fortitude, June 15 - 29, 2024.
Opening with artist in attendance: June 15, 1:00-3:00.
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​Guthrie Gloag is interested in life cycles: large and small, in various species, including our own. He assembled the art installation called Mourn from driftwood in a remote location on a gulf island. Mourn was a life-sized replica of an American mastodon (woolly mammoth) that he constructed in secrecy. Guthrie wondered how people would react to a surprise encounter in the woods with an extinct species.  A jolt of surprise, a moment of wonder perhaps, leading to some important questions about our place in the world, evolution and time.

MOURN by Guthrie Gloag, driftwood mastodon built in 2016, dismantled in 2022, Height 8.5 feet, weight, 2000 lbs.

Completed in 2017, Mourn was disassembled in March 2022. At that time, Gloag wrote an open letter stating:
“Mourn was never meant to last forever. Let its loss be a reminder of the species that are in peril today, and an opportunity for reflection on how to protect our natural world. Keep on exploring: you never know what you might stumble upon.”

The mastodon may be gone, but visitors to Gloag’s fifth solo show at Madrona Gallery will be greeted by a variety of other evocative creatures. Madrona Gallery director Michael Warren is excited about the upcoming exhibition and the opportunity for clients to meet the artist at the June 15 Opening. Warren explains that collectors world-wide appreciate Gloag’s commitment to an exacting craft that communicates the essence of an animal in the wild. Being life-size, the sculptures create a powerful presence, he notes, and being that close to an apex predator gives the viewer a unique perspective. “It’s like being out in the mountains, the feeling you get, when all of a sudden the world gets a bit too quiet,” says the director.
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Glide, 72 x 8 x 36 in. Wood, Screws, Steel, Wire.

The title of the show is called Fortitude. “I am inspired by the strength I see in other animals,” says the artist, “whether it's the determination of a foraging bear or the social interconnections of a wolf pack.” His training as a biologist gives him access to animals in the wild. His talents as an artist allow him to capture the vitality, mood and intentions of each bird and animal.

Visitors to Madrona Gallery must look up to notice Glide. Suspended from the ceiling, hovering overhead, is an eagle with a
six-foot wingspan. Small pieces of driftwood extend like feathers giving the impression of a majestic bird soaring in space. The powerful beak and scanning eyes denote presence and the eagle’s full awareness of its dominion over the terrain below.

​Careful now, around a corner you may confront a life-sized grizzly bear called Introspection. The bruin looks warily in your direction, freezing you both in a moment of uncertain intentions. The warm brown fur springs to life in a cacophony of interlocking driftwood pieces. There are three wolf sculptures in the exhibition which show a variety of poses and attitudes. They howl, slink, crouch and direct the pack, moving silently with predatory intent.

Apology, 20 x 12 x 22 in, Wood, Screws, Rebar, Stone.

Introspection, 87 x 47 x 29 in, Wood, Screws.

​Gloag grew up in North Vancouver in an idyllic location, close to the sea and forested areas where he wandered as a child. Wandering is now part of his artistic process as he scours Vancouver Island beaches for raw materials: driftwood in various sizes and shapes. Gently rounded and sculpted by waves and wind, they are remnants and reminders of once-proud giants from our Westcoast rainforest. Driftwood tones vary from light gray and blueish to warmer browns that include charcoal.

​Back in his spacious studio on Bowen Island, Gloag uses his imagination to envision the size, shape and scale of each new creature, then gets to work bringing his ideas to fruition. He uses wood screws to adhere each piece to the next, working without an armature to piece together a complex puzzle of shapes. In Apology, the form of a raven conveys the cheeky and irreverent nature of the bird by using a gangly bunch of long thin driftwood “feathers”. Introspection uses the warm brown tones of hundreds of driftwood pieces to achieve the thick textural nature of tousled fur. A sideways glance, a moment of menace is conveyed by empty eye sockets, giving pause to the viewer.

Convey, 49 x 32 x 14 in, Wood, Screws.

Convey, Detail: 22.5 x 24 x 19 in, Wood Screws.

Lead, 59 x 30 x 15 in, Wood, Screws.

Singular, 55 x 28 x 13 in, Wood, Screws.

Salmonwolf at Wolf in the Fog restaurant in Tofino.

Guthrie Gloag with Salmonwolf at Wolf in the Fog

One of Gloag’s most famous wolf sculptures, Salmonwolf, can be found at the Wolf in the Fog restaurant in Tofino. The artist appears to have a special relationship with wolves, and recalls being much moved by the sight and sound of a wolf howling in the wild. As pack animals, wolves communicate in complex ways to hunt and survive. The artist catches these subtleties in a variety of poses with the three wolves in the show. Convey suggests the depth of emotion found in the chilling howl of a solitary wolf. Lead shows the sense of conviction and strength found in pack leaders. Singular has a crouching menace and pointed snout that suggests an arsenal of teeth.

​Guests at the Opening on June 15 were delighted by Guthrie’s stories and insights about his sculptures. Below is Guthrie’s photo with one of his favourite friendly bears. Visitors and fans offered accolades in praise of the exceptional talent, integrity and tenacity of Guthrie Gloag.

​Madrona Gallery, 606 View Street, Victoria, B.C. V8W 1J4
​Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-5:30. 1-250-380-4660.
Visit Madrona Gallery website HERE

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History in Art degree and Public Relations certificate from 
​the University of Victoria
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