Arts on Fire: A.Y. Jackson

## About the event

Join us for a captivating evening dedicated to one of Canada’s most celebrated modern artists, Alexander Young Jackson (1882–1974), founding member of the Group of Seven and president of Montreal’s Beaver Hall Group.
Hosted and presented by Jackson’s acclaimed biographer, Wayne Larsen—artist, author, musician, professor, and former director of Canada’s Institute for Investigative Journalism—this event offers a rare opportunity to explore Jackson’s life and artistic legacy. Larsen’s 2009 biography, A.Y. Jackson: The Life of a Landscape Painter, was a Globe and Mail bestseller and remains one of the most refined and holistic portraits of the painter, grounded in extensive research, rare archival materials, and interviews with Jackson’s family.
Through an engaging presentation, Larsen will:

• Share exclusive insight into Jackson’s creative process and artistic vision.
• Review some of his most outstanding works.
• Trace his sketching journeys from Georgian Bay to Ellesmere Island, capturing Canada’s landscapes in all their diversity.
• Highlight Jackson’s struggles and triumphs, from his Victorian-era childhood in Montreal to his rise as a national figure who battled harsh conditions and critical resistance.

The evening will conclude with a Q&A session, offering guests the chance to engage directly with Wayne Larsen and gain personal insight into both Jackson’s legacy and the writing of this landmark biography.
Arts on Fire: A.Y. Jackson promises to be an inspiring journey into the life and work of a true Canadian master, guided by one of the foremost experts on his story.