TOM THOMSON TOPS GIFT LIST THIS SEASON

The Late Great Canadian Artist Is Inspiration For Christmas Gift List At The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Klienburg, Ontario.

The West Wind -  Tom Thomson

Tom Thomson cup

During his brief, but brilliant career, Tom Thomson was profoundly influenced by the Canadian landscape and his influence on Canadian art has become invaluable; it is astonishing to know that Thomson’s patron, Dr. McCallum, would receive sketches from the artist with a request to try and sell them for $10 or $15 each! Bargain gift hunting these days for Thomson originals may prove somewhat challenging, but don’t fret or frown—the McMichael Gallery Shop has plenty of Tom Thomson gifts for all your friends and family this season!

A Treasury of Tom Thomson, $24.95, paperback, 160 pages with 62 colour illustrations. (Douglas & McIntyre, October 2011). Art historian Joan Murray has constructed a beautiful, intimate treasury of Thomson´s “best paintings,” as chosen by these artist friends and later major collectors, and has written an insightful commentary on each one. Knowing the story that lies behind Thomson´s great works helps us to view these paintings with new insight and appreciation. We understand what makes these works special.

Northern Light: The Enduring Mystery of Tom Thomson and the Woman Who Loved Him, by author Roy MacGregor, $22.00, softcover, 356 pages. (Random House Canada, 2011). MacGregor breaks new ground, re-examining the mysteries of Thomson's life, loves and violent death in the definitive non-fiction account. As Roy MacGregor's richly detailed Northern Light reveals, not much is as it seems when it comes to Tom Thomson, the most iconic of Canadian painters. Philandering deadbeat or visionary artist and gentleman, victim of accidental drowning or deliberate murder, the man's myth has grown to obscure the real view—and the answers to the mysteries are finally revealed in these pages.

The West Wind, Giclee Reproduction, $200.00, 18.5 x 21.25 inches, unframed, or
The Jack Pine, large reproduction, $25.00, 16 x 20 inches, unframed. Two of Thomson's most popular paintings are currently on tour in the highly acclaimed European exhibition Painting Canada: Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, organized by Dulwich Picture Gallery in London, England. Giclee reproductions are a unique method of fine art reproduction. Using archival dye based inks, and archival watercolour papers, they are properly matched, and will last from 50-200 years. Image quality, sharpness, and colour saturation, place Giclee reproductions in a league of their own.

Right in the first room you are faced by two of the most totemic and radical images...Tom Thomson's Jack Pine and The West Wind from 1916, are set against the water and hills of Algonquin Park, the brash and windy wilderness he made his own.
 -- The Independent, London, UK

Wildflowers Silk Scarf, $40.00
Tom Thomson painted Wildflowers as an oil on board in 1915 and it is now a part of the McMichael’s permanent collection, gifted by Mr. R.A. Laidlaw. Designed with the Wildflowers image, these beautiful 100% silk scarves come in two different styles, with a yellow or green border. The scarf is a magnificent article of Thomson art, sized at 34 x 35 inches (88 x 85 cm). Dryclean only.

McMichael Membership with McIntosh® Tom Thomson Campfire Set of Mugs. Give the gift of a McMichael Membership and receive 25% off a McIntosh® Tom Thomson Campfire Set of Mugs to top off your gift...or treat yourself! With the purchase of an Individual Membership, receive a McIntosh® Tom Thomson Set of 2 Campfire Mugs for only $18 ($25 retail value). With the purchase of a Family Membership, receive a McIntosh® Tom Thomson Set of 4 Campfire Mugs for only $30 ($40 retail value). Presented in a keepsake box, each mug is four inches high and holds 360ml and is microwave and dishwasher safe. These special Gift Memberships may be purchased in person at the Gallery Shop or by calling 905.893.1121 ext 2207. For details, please email us at membership@mcmichael.com or visit www.mcmichael.com.

The McMichael Gallery Shop has a wonderful selection of gifts for everyone on your list. To place your order, call 905.893.1121 or toll free 1.888.213.1121, ext. 2237, or shop online anytime, day or night, for art reproductions, books, exhibition merchandise, placemats, calendars, and more at www.mcmichael.com.

About the McMichael Canadian Art Collection

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of more than 5,500 artworks, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, First Nations and Inuit artists. The gallery is located on Islington Avenue, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in Kleinburg, and is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors/students and $30 for families. There is a $5 fee for parking. For more information about the gallery, visit www.mcmichael.com.

For further information or to receive High Res images, contact:

Stephen Weir, Publicist
Gallery: 905.893.1121 ext. 2529
Toronto Office: 416.489.5868
Cell: 416.801.3101
sweir@mcmichael.com