Thaddeus Holownia - The Man with the Steel Glasses

Thaddeus Holownia wears striking steel glasses for a practical reason. They don't break if he falls asleep before taking them off. (TED PRITCHARD / Local Xpress)

The only thing I regret about being one of the thousands of Thaddeus Holownia's students, is not being able to see his most recent exhibit at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, in Halifax.  Maybe, just maybe I'll find a way down there between now and May to see this amazing exhibition.

A life long friend Chris Sears, who himself is a talented photographer living in Toronto, posted a wonderful article about The Nature of Nature entitled, Photographer Holownia's keen perspective on display in 40-year retrospective, written by the talented and creative writer Elissa Bernard. I've read all the most recent articles about Thaddeus Holownia's exhibit but this is the one I really love!


 Maybe I'm biased because I was friends with Elissa's sister at NSCAD and we took painting together, sharing a studio space, but I don't think I'm wrong in saying, Elissa is a very gifted, thoughtful, perceptive and insightful writer and in her article she's composed an excellent reflection of the essence of Thaddeus's art work, the kind of artist he is and why he's very much admired by many, especially by his former students.

I loved these quotes by Thaddeus, which I think truly embody his philosophical ideas about art, creativity and what it means to be an artist. He's passed on his ethics of integrity and professionalism onto those students who recognize the importance and significance of what he's saying. The wise ones have incorporated his philosophy it into their own creative values and disciplined process.

“You live every day through who you are, and if you're active and awake, you make work or you don't do anything."

“I feel sorry for the people who didn't find their voice. I tell my students, 'Don't be lazy. This is a golden opportunity to make something happen, and time is the most precious commodity.' ”

Thaddeus Holownia

http://holownia.com - Photo credit: Denis Duquette

Below is a post I saw yesterday written by Michael de Adder, a fellow Mount Allison Alumni, who also like me and many more are very happy to be celebrating the exhibit and work of Thaddeus Holownia, called The Nature of Nature at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
 
"In my life there were a few artists I looked up to as mark makers or painters. But only one artist almost tempted me to consider another art form. That was my former professor of photography Thaddeus Holownia. In the newspaper business I've been lucky to have met the best photographers in the world, many of whom inspired me to draw an image. But only Thaddeus inspired me to want to take a photograph.

Now at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia: Thaddeus Holownia: The Nature of Nature (Halifax)�
February 4, 2017 to May 28, 2017
�Curators: David Diviney and Sarah Fillmore�
This career overview offers insight into Holownia’s photography from the late-1970s to the present day, providing the most comprehensive critical analysis of this Maritime artist’s practice to date."

Michael de Adder's brief item is very poignant to me in it's meaning.
 Thaddeus Holownia was also my former professor and photography teacher, mentor and I'm proud to call him friend. I doubt I'd been able to graduate without his generous, encouraging and ongoing support when things got really difficult for me as a mature student, who'd been out of University for 30 years.

What Michael de Adder has stated about how Thaddeus inspired him, is no doubt a deeply shared sentiment by numerous students that have ever been fortunate enough to study under him. His intimate knowledge of and passion for photography are second to none.

Thaddeus is what I would call one of those rare Heuristic teachers, and I've been very blessed to have been one of his many students.