Audain Art Museum presents vast print exhibition of Dutch masters in The Collectors' Cosmos, to May 15

Opening January 28, The Meakins-McClaran Print Collection features more than 170 rarely seen works from the 16th and 17th centuries

Rembrandt van Rijn, *Self-portrait in a Cap, Laughing*, 1630, etching with drypoint, plate: 5 × 4.2 cm; sheet: 5.2 × 4.7 cm. Collection of Dr. Jonathan Meakins and Dr. Jacqueline McClaran. Photo by Denis Farley

Audain Art Museum presents The Collectors' Cosmos: The Meakins-McClaran Print Collection from January 28 to May 15

THE COLLECTORS’ COSMOS: The Meakins-McClaran Print Collection at Audain Art Museum offers a rarely seen display of Dutch and Flemish prints from the 16th- and 17th-centuries. The exhibition gives a glimpse into the making of what became one of the foremost private collections of European prints in Canada.

The compelling collection of prints evolved over the course of 40 years. The collectors, Dr. Jonathan Meakins, an officer of the Order of Canada and former head of surgery at McGill University Health Centre, and Dr. Jacqueline McClaran, the founder and first director of the McGill Centre for Studies in Aging, shared a deep curiosity about the world, according to a release. They also had an interest in landscapes and the striking beauty of the printed line against the white page.

Organized by the National Gallery of Canada, The Collectors’ Cosmos is curated by AAM director and chief curator, Curtis Collins, who wanted to bring the exhibition to Whistler because of its historical and artistic significance. Among the show’s 170-plus works are prints by such notable European masters as Rembrandt van Rijn, Hendrick Goltzius, and Jacob van Ruisdael.

“The Museum is incredibly fortunate to have a facility that can host such a valuable collection,” Collins says. “Dutch masters of the era featured in this unique selection are rarely seen in British Columbia.

“Rembrandt [van Rijn] was the leading printmaker in Europe during the 1600s and was known for his innovative use of the medium,” Collins adds. “Visitors to the Museum will marvel at the incredible expressiveness of his lines”.

A fully illustrated exhibition catalogue is available for purchase at the Museum Store and its online shop. See Audain Art Museum for more information.

Jan Sadeler I after Maarten de Vos, *The Seven Planets: Mercury*, 1585, engraving, 23.5 × 24.6 cm. Collection of Dr. Jonathan Meakins and Dr. Jacqueline McClaran. Photo courtesy National Gallery of Canada

Articles

Audain Art Museum exhibits rare drawings from the National Gallery of Canada vault to October 13

Gathered Leaves: Discoveries from the Drawings Vault features works by Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso, Elisabetta Sirani, and more

Writing, handmade tradition, and contemporary art meet in Rebecca La Marre’s Craft Parlour

Ancient and modern approaches mingle in the artist’s thought-provoking new show at Western Front

At the Eastside Arts Festival, 360 Riot Walk creates a new path through the site of a historic injustice

Multimedia artist Henry Tsang’s project allows Vancouverites to see how the city looked in 1907, when an act of anti-Asian violence occurred

At the Museum of Vancouver, chairs hold years of rich stories within wood grain and vinyl upholstery

Deep-Seated Histories exhibition features 150 seats from the museum’s permanent collection, while the show Future Makers displays new designs by KPU students

Neon Superstitions lights up THIS Gallery with glowing signs and quiet spirits, to July 12

Liang Wang’s paintings and drawings capture beliefs and rituals that tie in closely to Vancouver’s Chinatown

The Coast Mountains: Recent Works by Edward Burtynsky is at the Audain Art Museum to September 15

Photo-based exhibition showcases the intersection of beauty and environmental crisis

10 and 10: Story of Stories sparks reflections on evolution for Surrey Art Gallery's 50th anniversary

Dana Claxton, Lyse Lemieux, and more artists are featured in the exhibition that pairs works from 1975–1985 with pieces from 2014–2024

Stir Cheat Sheet: 3 ways to get your design on at West Coast Modern Week

An exhibit dedicated to Patkau Architects, a film about Arthur Erickson, and a jazz concert round out the celebration

The Polygon Gallery explores humanity on a cosmic scale with Star Witnesses

Curator Monika Szewczyk has put together a globe-spanning and symbolically rich look into the night sky

Just-released book The Place of Objects captures the extensive collection of John David Lawrence

Publication with corresponding Vancouver Art Gallery exhibition highlights the rich stories and cultural importance of B.C.’s art scene

Astro Arts Festival set to bring celebration of murals and graffiti art back to Mount Pleasant

In the spirit of the cancelled Vancouver Mural Festival, a new creative hub announces its first block party August 8 to 10

Museum of Vancouver hosts Future Makers: Chairs by New Designers starting June 20

Exhibition in partnership with Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Wilson School of Design features chairs made from decades-old mahogany

Major Bob Rennie donation sends 40 Rodney Graham works to National Gallery of Canada

Vancouver businessman and philanthropist gifts $22.8 million in art to the Ottawa landmark

Queer Arts Festival opens Portals for emerging artists and contrasting journeys

With its complex searches for identity, the celebratory exhibition at Centre A reflects the unifying theme of QAF’s latest edition

Deep-Seated Histories: Chairs from the Collection launches at the Museum of Vancouver, June 20

From lifeguard Joe Fortes’s lounge spot to a Woodward’s “Dollar Forty-Nine Day” break-room chair, every piece of furniture tells a story

Eastside Arts Festival announces program with expanded concerts and its largest number of art-making workshops yet

The main event hits MacLean Park July 26, with shows at the Rickshaw, Dance Deck offerings, walking tours, and brewery passes

New exhibition Golden Hour illuminates the Burnaby Art Gallery, June 13 to August 31

Curated by the entire gallery team, artworks investigate the cyclical nature of day and night

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre celebrates ever-evolving tradition for National Indigenous History Month

Through everything from guided tours to artist workshops, SLCC programming honours vital Indigenous heritage and creativity

Stir Cheat Sheet: 5 performers and painters to seek out among the flowers and trees at Arts in the Garden

This final edition of North Van Arts’ long-running annual event features engaging music and glowing images, all in serene outdoor settings

Artist and curator Tania Willard named to shortlist for 2025 Sobey Art Award

Six finalists are up for Canada’s largest award for contemporary visual arts

The Work of Repair: Redress and Repatriation at the Museum of Vancouver opens June 20

Exhibition digs into the institution’s efforts towards decolonization and connection with Indigenous communities

Firestarters crackles with work by Indigenous artists who defy categorization, at Fazakas Gallery to July 26

Audie Murray and Zoe Ann Cardinal Cire wield everything from glass beads to firewood and cast-iron pans in an exhibit that ignites new ways of seeing

Artist studios and sacred spaces among the stops at this year’s Doors Open Richmond

The 18th annual edition of the wide-ranging event builds thriving community by emphasizing historical and cultural diversity

Vancouver Art Gallery’s Written in Clay explores meaning of collecting, with new show and book about John David Lawrence

Long-time Vancouverite shares some of his staggeringly massive collection of B.C. ceramics, on display and in the pages of The Place of Objects

Otani Workshop’s Monsters in My Head transcends cuteness at the VAG

In Japanese ceramicist and painter Shigeru Otani’s work, adorable bunnies and sea monsters tell deeper truths

The True Story of Tamara De Lempicka & The Art of Survival digs beneath Art Deco painter’s glossy surfaces

Julie Rubio’s extensive new documentary, making its local debut at the VIFF Centre, reveals a trailblazing woman who was an outsider on several counts

$Annie Briard: Refracted Fields is now on view at Surrey Art Gallery's offsite UrbanScreen venue$