- Jack Chambers
:"For the Canadian linguist, see
Jack Chambers (linguist) ."John "Jack" Chambers (
March 25 ,1931 –April 13 ,1978 ) was a Canadian artist and filmmaker.Born in London,
Ontario , he spent eight years (1953–1961) studying inEurope after studying atH.B. Beal Secondary School and theUniversity of Western Ontario . While in Europe he metPablo Picasso , who suggested he continue his studies inMadrid . He called his own work "perceptual realism," a kind ofsurrealism based on his own dreams and memories and the existentialist philosophy ofMaurice Merleau-Ponty . When he returned to London he worked with fellow London nativeGreg Curnoe . During this period he also made some shortfilm s, which influenced his painting (for example, painting on film negatives). In 1969 he was diagnosed withleukemia . For the rest of his life he painted more realistically, often depicting sites in London and the surrounding area. An example of this is "Toward London No. 1" (1969), a view of Highway 401 heading westward towards London.In 1967 he founded
CARFAC , now a national organization of artists, after an argument with theNational Gallery of Canada over reproduction rights and fees.His work can be seen in the National Gallery, the
Art Gallery of Ontario , andMuseum London . An elementary school (and the streets surrounding it) are named for him in London, and a tree was planted in his memory in Gibbons Park after his death.Books about Chambers
*"The Films of Jack Chambers" (Cinematheque Ontario Monograph, ISBN 0-9682969-4-7; 2002;), edited by Kathryn Elder
External links
* [http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/cinematheque/publications_chambers.asp The Films of Jack Chambers]
* [http://www.carfac.ca/ Canadian Artists' Representation]
* [http://www.filmreferencelibrary.ca/index.asp?layid=46&csid1=12&navid=46 Canadian Film Encyclopedia]
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