Artful : The Gallery opens the 2022 exhibition series with a curated collection of four exceptional Vancouver Island artists; Leonard Butt, Gary Dillon, Bill Friesen and Jeff Hartbower.

Each presents their own vision of man, through sculpture and painting. Utilizing the rich context of history, archetypes, memories and lifespan, each piece speaks volumes on how men, at least these men, are reflecting on what it means to be a man.

The word paradigm originates from the Greek 鈥榩ara鈥� - which translates to beside and 鈥榙eiknynai鈥� which means to display or show. That鈥檚 exactly what鈥檚 happening at Artful; men displayed side by side, in conversation with themselves and with their viewers.

From Leonard Butt鈥檚 noble-intentioned men, unexpectedly caught in their underwear and still managing to maintain their dignity, to Jeff Hartbower鈥檚 satirical carvings and assemblages, poking at the often-ridiculous underbelly of man鈥檚 cultural representations, expectations and failures.

From Gary Dillon鈥檚 boldly beautiful Our Gods trilogy, the figures hinting at the recovery of, perhaps the last-ditch survival of, the 鈥楤ig Stories鈥� of man (religion and mythology) seeking the fugitive Holy through the apparition of Tonantzin (Our Lady of Guadalupe) to Bill Friesen鈥檚 raw depictions of man鈥檚 mortality, wizened and darkly haunting.

In general use now, a 鈥榩aradigm鈥� means to provide a pattern or a model that can be copied, a theory or group of ideas about how something should be made, done or thought. Currently, paradigms of man are being usefully questioned and challenged. This collection of work speaks to many paradigms of man, including the good man. Men who are willing to wade into the muck and murk of manhood, carrying both the shadow and the grace of their naked vulnerability.

There are many themes explored in this body of work: materialism, gender-based violence, religion, sexuality, mortality, heroism, nobility, and humility. These paradigms of man stand for examination. Come join the conversation!

The show runs until April 2. Artful : The Gallery is located at 526C Cumberland Rd., Courtenay,and is open from noon-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

Follow Artful : The Gallery on Instagram at @artfulthegallery or visit their website at www.artfulthegallery.com for more information about the artists.