The Arbor Gallery is pleased to present a new exhibition featuring recent paintings by Mary Gourlay, whose work occupies the gallery’s main exhibition space, alongside works by Sinclair A. Maloney, in the Arber Room. Together, the artists offer distinct yet complementary approaches to landscape, grounded in observation, lived experience, and sustained engagement with place.
Mary Gourlay’s paintings, presented in the main room, emerge from her emotional and physical immersion in the natural world. Responding to the power, fragility, and temporality of landscape, she explores remote environments by canoe, kayak, and on foot, often working in conditions that demand attentiveness and restraint. During these journeys, she creates fragmentary records—sketches, small paintings, and photographs—that capture fleeting moments of encounter. These materials form the basis for larger studio works in which she clarifies, distills, and expresses her intimate experience of the dynamic forces of nature. Since settling in Canada in 1992, Mary has immersed herself in the landscapes of the Canadian Shield, as well as locations further afield, including the south shore of the St. Lawrence near Rimouski and the Pacific coastline of Vancouver Island. Her paintings convey both reverence for and vulnerability within these powerful environments, inviting viewers into a space of quiet attention and reflection.
In a complementary presentation, Sinclair A. Maloney contributes a focused selection of landscape and seascape paintings that extend the exhibition’s exploration of atmosphere and place. With a professional background in photography spanning 15 years, his work is informed by a strong sense of composition and a keen observational eye. Influenced by 19th-century painters such as Corot and Courbet, and often compared to Turner for his atmospheric sensibility, Sinclair’s paintings balance precision and mood, offering carefully observed scenes infused with subtle light, depth, and movement.
“We are proud to present an exhibition that reflects a sustained and thoughtful engagement with landscape,” said Annie-France Bowker, Arbor Gallery’s new Artistic Director. “Through their distinct approaches, the artists have created a meaningful dialogue between place, perception, and the lived experience of the natural world.”
The exhibition runs from February 26 to April 5, 2026. The Arbor Gallery is open Thursday through Sunday, from 12:00 to 4:00 PM. A vernissage will take place on February 28, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Open to the public, admission is always free.
Submitted images
