alisonboston.com

Photoa: Alison Boston
Robert Randall stands beside his artistic vision of Domestic Bliss. Just how ephemeral this work will be, reamins to be seen. Will Open Space paint over it when the exhibtion is over? Or will it remain as a home for visiting artists in future shows?

By far my favorite work in this exhibition showing the work of three artists (Martin Golland (Guelph ON), Karina Kalvitis (Victoria), Robert Randall (Victoria)) selected by Victoria painter and curator Roy Green.

I can’t help but be charmed by both the choice of theme, and Robert’s interpretation. When I first came to Victoria in 1990 (sixteen years ago), I was struck by the symmetry of house and front lawn - where flowers planted often match the color of paint. I started photographing the houses and wrote a grant application to do a photo study on the theme of home and homelessness. I did not get the grant and my artistic inspiration was pulled into Vancouver Island’s forests.

Both Robert’s large wall painting and smaller oils on wood, reflect something of what I saw and wanted to present in my photography. I like how he handled the theme Domestic Bliss, working from old Victoria real estate advertisements. Although those ads were from years ago, his images convey a certain idealism that still exists on the surface of many present-day Victoria homes.

I was once again attracted to the theme of ‘home’ while living Budapest, Hungary. This time, not by the immaculate exteriors of house and garden, but rather by the fastidious caretaking of some outdoor homes nested in castle wall enclaves by some of Budapest’s homeless. Once again I did a photo study. I have those photos in a box in Hungary - when I get them I’ll try scanning and posting. It’s interesting to note that I recently saw a notice about an exhibition in Quebec dealing with the theme of home and homelessness.