Spotlight On Tom Forrestall
Thomas de Vany Forrestall was born In Middleton, Nova Scotia. He attended Mount Allison University and graduated with his BFA in 1958. Since 1960, he has worked as a professional artist in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He has exhibited work throughout the Maritimes, but notably held solo exhibitions at Roberts Gallery in 1965, 1968, and 1970.
As a student of Alex Colville, he learned the medium egg tempera and has favoured it throughout his career. He remarked the medium’s “permanency and long lasting beauty,” which informs us that longevity and preservation is at the forefront of Forrestall’s mind in regards to his career.
A stranger to Forrestall’s work would undoubtably question the peculiar shape of board that Fog resides on. It could be argued that the oval shape is reminiscent of an eye and therefore is meant to lend a first-person narrative to the piece. It is apparent, upon further inspection of his work, that the shape is meant to emphasize the focus or subject of the painting. Forrestall remarked how the design of a frame is “meant to encourage the viewer’s participation.” Historically, a rectangular frame suggests a window into another space, but by creating unique shapes to account for the composition, and vice versa, that narrative is challenged and becomes much more of a personal introspection and reflection.
FOG, 17.5 x 36.25 in., egg tempera on board, 1975
A previous owner has immortalized Forrestall’s presence from the 1970’s. The reverse has been adorned with newsprint clippings of Forrestall’s international success at the time.