We knew she was good but now the extent of her talent is no longer a local secret. On Saturday, April 18th, the Art Gallery of Peterborough held its Opening Event for an exhibition by Jo Ellen Brydon called Elizabeth Thompson Advises. The event drew more than 230 visitors, and another 100 showed up the following day. What was the fuss about? A creative, interactive homage to Jo Ellen’s late mother, Jean Armstrong Brydon, and the exhibit did not disappoint.
Scattered around the main exhibition hall in the gallery were eighteen original works of art depicting a story found in one of Jean Brydon’s advice columns published over a twelve year period in the national news-paper, the Globe and Mail. To ensure the source and nature of the story is clearly appreciated by viewers, the original column-the letter and the advisor’s response- are mounted beside the work. Occasionally, original letters are on display, reinforcing the authenticity of the exhibit and the voices of the troubled letter-writers.
These stories depict advice Jo Ellen’s mother provided in a column that ran from 1966 to 1978. The letters and her responses reflect social, personal and family conflicts that epitomize the culture of that time. From complaints about shoddy housekeeping – from daughters about their mother- to concerns about aging, retirement, alternative lifestyles, social isolation and loneliness, these letters express timeless, universal concerns that haunt individuals and families to this day. Their struggles are captured in bold acrylic and oil pastels and interactive displays that show and tell the stories behind the letters.
This was not an easy project for the artist. Sorting through the trunk full of clippings, letters and memories Jo Ellen received on her mother’s passing unleashed a range of emotions. Taking her time, Jo Ellen slowly digested the material, finding compassion for the many of the quandaries expressed by those seeking advice and generally impressed with the modern approach offered in response by her mother, which ranged from compassion to admonitions to the writers to grow up. Looking back on her work, she is satisfied that she has done justice to her mother’s legacy- both personal and professional.
The exhibition uses a variety of techniques to share the stories in the letters of those seeking advice and her mother’s direct and insightful replies. While canvases depict the personal and emotional conflicts of the period, this is not simply a visual display. Most panels include an audio component accessed through a QR code, while others rely on recordings accessed through a dial-up telephone. There is also a short video portraying a scene from one of the letters.
This was truly a family project, inspired by a mother and blossoming into a family project where it soon became one with “all hands on deck”. Daughters collaborated, provided voice and acting performances, sons-in-law contributed talents as sound and equipment technicians, partner Don Maynard created props, and friends leaned in contributing as well.
In a full circle moment, the exhibition curator Rhona Wenger described her personal relation-ship with Jean Brydon years ago when they both worked at the Peterborough Art Gallery. At the time, Rhona was unaware of Jean’s former journalism work. Now retired, Rhona supervised the first display of this exhibit at the Grimsby Public Art Gallery last fall and was convinced to help Jo Ellen with one last show in Peterborough.
The next event in this exhibition is an Artist Talk on May 9th at 2pm at the gallery where Jo Ellen will discuss her work and likely face the unavoidable question: What next?