February 2004

The Bennett Boys Return

As far back as I can remember Chris and Martin Bennett have been exhibiting their art around the Hat. It started way back in elementary with the School Art exhibitions at the Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery, competitions and hallway displays. Both brothers were heavily involved in the arts around town from joining the local art club to working summer art programs and assisting in the gallery. I distinctly remember in grade nine being disappointed because Martin had once again placed higher than I in a school competition. Ah, but with such talent, it is no surprise that the Bennett boys are rapidly growing in national and international artistic fame.

Born in Winchester, England, the Bennetts emigrated to Canada in 1975, making their home in Medicine Hat. It is only natural that both Chris and Martin find themselves drawn to both countries. One need only read Martin's CV to realize this, as it clearly states, "Lives and works in Toronto, Canada and London, England" and Chris currently resides in London. They have not left Medicine Hat altogether though, this is where they grew up and this is where they return to their family, friends and people, such as Brian Snowden and Jim Jessie, who encouraged them so enthusiastically.

Martin's works are a very interesting process of manipulating photographs into a deceptively simple, yet distorted, representative painting. His works come across as serious by contrast to Chris' whimsical and playful paintings. Yet both Chris and Martin work through processes that manipulate reality into relative abstraction.

Joanne Marion, curator at the MHMAG, feels that it would be interesting for "people to come and see where they have gone with their painting and the very divergent ways of painting that they have."
"I'm excited to exhibit in Medicine Hat," says Chris. "It's satisfying knowing that there is an interest from the curators at the gallery to see merit in the work at
a critical level, and not only a nostalgic level of having grown up in the city."

The boys' resumes are impressive, however their success as siblings is a rarity, even for larger cities. Currently, the Paul Kuhn Gallery represents Chris and the TrepanierBaer represents Martin. Joanne remarks that, "When you see the list of artists that they are included with, it is quite a national caliber of artists. For two brothers to reach national caliber art is very unusual."

Moreover, this success has not changed the brothers. "I don't feel any more successful now," states Martin, "than I did when I used to have my work exhibited in the School Art exhibitions; or rather I should say that I feel as successful as I did then."

With a playful hint of sibling rivalry, Chris and Martin Bennett invite you to see their first joint showing of the world through slightly different processes. I'm Smarter - I'm Better Looking is currently showing at the MHMAG Gallery and runs until March 7, 2004.

Questions for me? Please e-mail BeKean@telusplanet.net