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West Wind

1944 21 min
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This short documentary features a visual tour of legendary Canadian painter Tom Thomson's favourite natural landscapes. The film traces Thomson's career, which began in Toronto, where he worked as a commercial artist. Later, Thomson's weekend sketching trips in the country turned into longer journeys farther north, and he finally settled in northern Ontario's Algonquin Park. Thomson spent less than four years as an artist and was barely 40 when a canoe accident ended his life. Fellow artists Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson and Arthur Lismer pay tribute to this genius, who, in Jackson's words, "contributed more to Canadian painting than any …

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West Wind

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This short documentary features a visual tour of legendary Canadian painter Tom Thomson's favourite natural landscapes. The film traces Thomson's career, which began in Toronto, where he worked as a commercial artist. Later, Thomson's weekend sketching trips in the country turned into longer journeys farther north, and he finally settled in northern Ontario's Algonquin Park. Thomson spent less than four years as an artist and was barely 40 when a canoe accident ended his life. Fellow artists Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson and Arthur Lismer pay tribute to this genius, who, in Jackson's words, "contributed more to Canadian painting than any other artist."

  • director
    Graham McInnes
  • producer
    Graham McInnes
  • script
    Graham McInnes
  • camera
    Judith Crawley
  • editing
    Judith Crawley
  • narrator
    Allan McFee
  • music
    John Weinzweig

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Education

Ages 14 to 17
School subjects
Students of Art History are presented with an in depth portrait of famed Canadian artist Tom Thomson. Students will study Thomson's influence on the Group of Seven specifically, and Canadian art generally. Another theme to be explored is the role of the artist in forging our national identity in the early 20th century. Students can choose an artist and research their artistic, cultural, or political influence.
West Wind
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