Will Gorlitz, (Die Laughing) Mother, 1985, oil on canvas, 243.84 x 175.26 cm, Collection of MacLaren Art Centre, Gift of Ms. Barbara Stringer, 1998
Will Gorlitz, Water Won’t Think, 1986, oil on canvas, 152.4 x 114.3 cm, Collection of MacLaren Art Centre, Gift of Ms. Barbara Stringer, 1998
No Easy Distances features paintings from the MacLaren’s Permanent Collection, made by senior Canadian artist Will Gorlitz between 1984 and 1987. Addressing environmental conversations that started decades ago, these works remain strikingly relevant today. Through poignant imagery—like uprooted trees, fragmented skies, and uncanny landscapes—Gorlitz explores humanity’s complex relationship with nature. The exhibition’s title reflects both the temporal distance since these works were created, and the enduring divide between human life and the fragile ecosystems we shape and depend upon.
