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Leslie Hossack

Crayola

Digital chromogenic print
30 x 24 in. / 76 x 61 cm 
Edition of 5
Custom framed or Unframed
2022

CONSTRUCTED RECOLLECTION is a series of images inspired by childhood memories of colour. For anyone growing up in the 1950s, what could possibly say colour more than Crayola?“Purple had the starring role in my very first memory of a colour. It was 1953. Toward the end of the school year, our kindergarten teacher often spoke to us about Queen Elizabeth’s upcoming coronation. One day Miss Balson gave each of us an illustration of a crown; it looked like a page out of a colouring book. She then showed us a coloured photo of the crown. We were each given a box of six crayons and instructed to colour our crown. I diligently studied the coloured photograph. I liked the purple velvet fabric in the centre and determined that I would start with that. I dutifully dumped my crayons onto the tabletop but, to my dismay, there was no purple crayon. I was outraged that I had been given a task but not the necessary tools to complete the job. In the end, I coloured the purple cap with the red crayon. A week or so later, we were given a fresh copy of the same crown and told to colour it. I remember being annoyed that we were being asked to do the same thing over again. As before, the boxes of crayons had only six colours: green, yellow, brown, red, blue and black. No purple. I attacked the purple velvet cap first, this time with the blue crayon. (It would be a long while before I realized that I could have used the red and blue crayons to make purple.) Only in Grade One did I receive a box of eight crayons, the additions being orange and purple. This box of eight was the inspiration for Crayola.”
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Frequently asked questions

We represent emerging, mid-career, and established artists with a focus on contemporary art.

We handle custom framing on behalf of our collectors. We work with trusted framers based in Ottawa. Framing takes 2 to 3 weeks. Quotes are provided before fabrication.

We offer a complimentary service to deliver, hang, and install artwork for collectors in Ottawa.

For all other major Canadian cities we have a list of recommended art handlers.

We provide both domestic and international shipping. Quotes are prepared on a case by case basis depending on the size, weight, and medium of the artwork as well as its destination.

We are located in the heart of the Glebe neighbourhood at the intersection of Bank Street and Fifth Avenue. Metered street parking is available infront of the gallery and 1-hour parking on the residential streets surrounding the gallery.

de Montigny Contemporary Inc. is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the unceded and unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.

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