The ECH launches online exhibit in tribute to Bob McKaskell

We are honoured to present this spectacular online exhibit  "A Guest + A Host = A Ghost," curated by Hamilton-based Ihor Holubizky and designed by Oliva Mossuto to celebrate the life of our good friend, independent curator and writer Bob McKaskell. It was one year ago today that Bob passed away on June 30, 2020. 

Holubizky has conceptualized this multi-layered project and has written that it " is a tribute to Robert McKaskell and his professional facets as art historian, curator and educator. Rather than memorialize what he did, it is better to channel the spirit and active intelligence, and embody how he thought. Marcel Duchamp is the armature for this exhibition-orchestration.  Robert was a Duchampist, although he and I never spoke of Duchamp directly—and perhaps because one never knows who’s listening.  In the mid-1980s he devised an “Homage to Marcel Duchamp on the occasion of the centennial of his birth,” mounted at the McIntosh, Forest City and (then) London Regional galleries."

Special thanks to Hugh Barrett, Kelowna Art Gallery, Museum London, and the Art Gallery of Windsor. We also thank all the artist-contributors.  All works are courtesy and copyright of the artists, with exceptions and additional credits as noted.

• Lois Andison (Canadian)
• Dianne Bos (Canadian)
• Lynn Dreese Breslin (American)
• Hyang Cho (Canadian, b. Republic of Korea)
• Paul Collins (Canadian, French)
• Christos Dikeakos (Canadian, b. Greece)
• Aganetha Dyck (Canadian)
• Wyn Geleynse (Canadian, b. Netherlands)
• Dave Gordon (Canadian)
• Richard Grayson (British)
• Brad Isaacs (Mohawk and mixed heritage)
• Suzy Lake (Canadian, b. U.S.A.)
• David Merritt (Canadian)
• Ken Nicol (Canadian)
• Gary Pearson (Canadian)
• Alexander Pilis (Canadian, b. Brazil)
• Eric Robertson (Metis/Gitxsan)
• Michael Snow (Canadian)
• Gary Spearin  (Canadian)
• Christine Walde (Canadian)
• Jinny Yu (Canadian, b. Republic of Korea)

Before he passed, Bob was living between Port Dover, Ontario and Oaxaca, Mexico. While in Oaxaca he decided to study Spanish and he had just initiated a program of curating exhibits of Oaxacan artists in his apartment located in the centro historico of Oaxaca. We have created a page that highlights the work Bob had begun in Oaxaca within our project called Intercambio/Exchange with Oaxacan artist Lissette Jiménez Díaz, and text written by Marnie Fleming.

Bob taught Contemporary Art History for many years at Western University. He was a huge supporter of both Canadian and international artists and had a commitment to challenging art practices  which included conceptual art, performance works and independent artists' projects. While in London, he was involved in programming at the Embassy Cultural House, the Forest City Gallery, Museum London and the McIntosh Gallery. He also worked at the Art Gallery of Windsor, the Winnipeg Art Gallery and and the Glenbow Museum in Calgary where he built strong friendships and made contributions to the arts community across Canada. We have so many fond memories of Bob - especially close to our hearts is the survey exhibition he curated Embassy Cultural House - 1983 - 1990  at Museum London in 2012.