The arts contribute magnanimously to what makes a culture what it is. For Mothers Day, thanks to Matti McLean and his “The Human Canvass Project,” three generations of women got to be expressions of Matti’s living, beautiful, colourful paintings!
Canvass: Shawna
Playlist: a mix of Ani DiFranco, Ingrid Michaelson, and the Petty Victories (who Matti recommended. I am now a fan.)
None of us knew what to expect. Matti, whose studio is in the Danforth part of Toronto, made it easy for us newbies to participate. It was a collaboration in many ways. His paint, our bodies. His ideas, our colour choice. His openness, our willingness to engage.
Canvass: Alexis
Playlist: Amber Hunter
The first thing we needed to do was make a playlist of 10 songs. Matti had a lot to choose from. Each of ours was different and a reflection of our personalities…at least in that moment. The rules? Matti paints until the last note plays on the last song. However we look, that’s the masterpiece.
Mother/daughter snapshot for Mother’s Day
Why do this? Because it’s a celebration of the bodies we live in. It’s an experience; an expression. Frankly, it’s downright fun, and the brush strokes are as relaxing as getting a facial massage. I only wish it lasted longer than 10 songs!
Canvass: Heather
Playlist: The Canadian Tenors
Why else? Because The Human Canvass Project by Matti McLean is an achievement of milestones. Today, Matti McLean painted his 200th “canvass,” which happened to be my mom, Heather. He also painted his first child, my daughter, and his first multi-generational canvass! It was also an achievement for each of us “canvasses” as we stepped out of our comfort zones and into a studio we’d never been to before to be painted by an artist we agreed to hand creative control over to.
On our way to the studio, my daughter had envisioned what she wanted her painting to look like. I tried to encourage her to let Matti do what he does best, and just enjoy the process. My mom then reminded us both that God is referred to as the potter and we the clay. Our Creator is the Artist. He doesn’t force us to participate. But He welcomes our engagement. If we accept, He will paint us with His brush strokes until the last note of our song has played. Then, the world will see the masterpiece He was painting throughout time.
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For more information about The Human Canvass Project, please click here.
To watch a video of Matt McLean talking about whether or not he remembers his “canvasses,” click the video below.
(I can’t help but watch this video and wonder if that’s how my Creator thinks of me…)
To watch the canvasses Matti paints in the Petty Victories Concrete and Rosy Cheeks video, click below.
What a mothers day this turned out to be!!! We’ll never forget it. I love you mom!
