Donald Andrus

This exhibition, SARDONYX, consists of abstract paintings primarily from 2018 that feature the use of mediums such as a fresco slip, acrylics and gel pen on canvas. These paintings accentuate a kind of dualism in imagery, separating one zone of detailed and repeated patterning from another of open, atmospheric space, but combining both zones in terms of a kinetic activity of particulate matter.

SARDONYX is used as a title for the largest of the works in the exhibition that is a triptych, 4 feet tall and nine feet wide in total. The name derives from a number of sources: It was given to an electric guitar used by, amongst others, John Lennon when recording Double Fantasy with Yoko Ono in 1980. Sardonyx is also a semi-precious stone: banded onyx featuring alternating stripes of carnelian (sard) and white onyx. In the language of stones, it is associated with courage, joy and clear communication and is thought to lend charismatic qualities to the owner and to give extra power in particular instances. Sardonyx is also the name of a gel pen produced by the Japanese company, Sakura. It is now extremely difficult to find in Canada. It is one of the mediums featured in many of these new paintings.