RICHARD McNEILL


News Biography Exhibition Images Contact 2020–Ongoing 2015—2019 2010—2014 2000—2009 1990—1999 1980—1989 1970—1979 1967—1970 Medallic Works	1980–1989 FROM OUTLOOK TO DOORS OF PERCEPTION The commissions for development sites in Toronto and Mississauga came to an end as the first significant exhibition of Gazer sculptures and drawings was presented in 1982 at the Koffler Gallery in the city of North York, now part of Toronto At this point, Gazers ranged in size from mere inches to the very large conspicuous commissions; their penetrating and intense aspect, their searching gaze became, and remains, the unifying physical, psychological, and philosophical factor. Although worked stylistically from near realism to very abstract, this linkage has remained intact. In mid-decade, the first Portal/Pathway works were created with premiere showings at Harbourfront Gallery, Toronto in 1985, ‘86, and ‘87. Worked in a variety of multi-media materials, the pieces combined various degrees of figurative abstraction within structured environmental systems. The Wraiths and Distortions appeared; they were set into constructivist settings, openings and doorways of change, opportunity, or possibility. Fossilized bases were first used on Portal of Identity and soon became a fixture of visual vocabulary. And the Portal Master Dances won a Best of Show award at the Pauline McGibbon Cultural Centre, Toronto in 1986. FUSION GAZER – ERECT 1980 bronze alumina fibreglass cement 112 x 16 x 18 inches FUSION GAZER – SEATED 1980 bronze alumina fibreglass cement 50 x 60 x 45 inches left: WALL GAZERS 2 1981 bronze alumina fibreglass cement 96 x 45 x 024 inches right: FUSION GAZERS 1982 bronze alumina fibreglass cement 97 x 36 x 24 inches left: GAZER WITHIN 1982 bronze, aluminum 12 x 7 x 3.5 inches right: FUSION GAZERS 1982 bronze on marble/oak 26 x 12 x 6 inches GAZER BEYOND THE NOW 1982 gypsum, wood, enamel 72 x 18 x 30 inches SPLIT GAZER TEMENOS 1982 gypsum, wood, enamel 72 x 24 x 24 inches left: GAZER DRAWING 8 1982 carbon pencil on paper 30 x 22 inches right: GAZER DRAWING 10 1982 conte & acrylic on paper 30 x 22 inches GAZER PASSAGE 1982 bronze, limestone 17.5 x 20 x 6 inches TENSILE GAZER 1982 bronze, steel, sandstone 22 x 14.5 x 11 inches left: GAZER INTEGRATION 2 1982 bronze, plastic, limestone 5 x 9 x 6 inches right: GAZER INTEGRATION 1 1982 bronze, soapstone, walnut 23 x 8 x 5 inches PORTAL OF IDENTITY 1985 alumina cement, steel, bronze, stone 96.5 x 122 x 64 inches GUARDIAN OF THE PORTAL PASSAGE 1 1988 bronze, wood, stone, jute, concrete 92 X 67 X 72 inches left: AND THE PORTAL MASTER DANCES 1986 bronze, steel, alumina cement 68 x 20 x 30 inches right: CONFRONTATION ON THE PORTAL PATH 1 1986 bronze, steel 74 x 28 x 26 inches AND NOW RECUR THE PORTAL RITES 1986 bronze, steel, wood, limestone, bone 82 x 48 x 24 inches SEER LODGE 1 1989 alumina cement, bronze, steel,wood, stone, jute, oil colour 90 x 56 x 50 inches Return to top