A moody exploration

One imagines his Mohawk heritage is what gives Walter Scott the keen crisp edge, for lack of a better way of describing this young man’s talent.

Yet as soon as one gazes at his boyish face and tall lean frame, one knows Walter would be reticent to agree with that: it’s not nearly so simple, or nearly or only about his background and cultural heritage against the backdrop of this interconnected, aggressive, fast-paced and youthful world of ours.

The Montreal-based artist has his first solo show up at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery right now and it is aptly named.

Mood Valleys brings the viewer to many vistas: high bright hard places where one can almost hear the clash of opposing energies; then slowly down into those valleys of the exhibit’s title where the graphics are symmetrical, the hues calming and harmonious and where, as one stands there absorbing the symmetry and harmony, a sense of great time and silence and serene tears shed descends.

There is also a video component to Scott’s exhibit called Visitations.

“Projected in the shape of a shield (which doubles as a mask), we see hockey team logos merged with snippets of branches along with floating beer cans and twin phantom figures,” noted TBAG curator Nadia Kurd. “These eerie and often disparate collaged digital images appear as a stream of consciousness across the screen. Together with the projection, Scott’s online web diary NROTH AREMICA (explores) the disjunctive emotions of youth, time and loss, but more importantly a place that has been turned upside-down and live streamed.”

Here’s what Walter said when asked about the musical dimensions of his creativity.

“I like playing drums in a punk band because it gives me the ability to communicate on my own terms. I am a shy person; so it seems like getting on stage and performing is the opposite of what a shy person would want, but in my case I control my own presence through drum playing, which is a very visceral action. So I’m simultaneously hidden and revealed.”

Same thing with a dark and beautifully balanced silkscreen series on the far wall of the gallery entitled Location of the Self (numbers 1 through 4). Looking more closely we see that Scott is in each of them: crouched, obscured and hiding? In No. 3 where are you, he was asked. “I’m at the tip of the lower lip. You can’t see me too well because it was too dark. I honestly wish I was more visible but I do welcome imperfection at the same time. So,” said with an imagined grin, “it’s ok.”

Explore Walter Scott’s Mood Valleys anytime between now and March 4, 2012. Call 577-6427 for gallery hours.