The Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery (JNAAG) will celebrate First Friday on October 3, 2025, with the simultaneous opening of two significant new exhibitions featuring compelling artistic voices. Visitors can attend the opening reception starting at 6:00 p.m., where they will have the opportunity to meet both featured artists in person.
The first exhibition, "Larry Towell: Boundaries," runs from October 3, 2025, through March 14, 2026, and presents a sweeping retrospective of the world-renowned photographer who was raised in rural Lambton County. After four decades of internationally acclaimed work, Towell brings his powerful vision back home with this comprehensive showcase. The exhibition explores his deeply humanist perspective on universal themes of land, landlessness, and survival through global conflicts and everyday resilience.
"Boundaries" features carefully selected works from Towell's most celebrated photographic series, including "The Mennonites," "The World From My Front Porch," "El Salvador," "No Man's Land," "Afghanistan," and his recent work "The History War," which documents Ukraine's ongoing fight for independence. Beyond his photographic work, the exhibition includes a dedicated listening room that highlights Towell's multifaceted talents as both a poet and musician, featuring original ballads and recordings that expand his narrative approach to storytelling.
Towell will host a free two-part artist talk series throughout October to provide deeper insights into his work. The first presentation, "Walking Through Stories," takes place on Thursday, October 9, offering a guided tour of the exhibition with personal commentary from the artist. The second talk, "Life, Land and Lens," scheduled for Thursday, October 30, will be a multimedia presentation that weaves together photography, music, video, and spoken word to create a comprehensive artistic experience.
The second exhibition, "John Williams: Debwewe Giizhik – (sound in the distance) from the sky," runs from September 5, 2025, through May 31, 2026, and marks the first solo exhibition in a public gallery for this talented Ojibway artist. Williams presents a striking mural installation located in JNAAG's lecture theatre, working primarily in acrylic paint to skillfully blend realism with the iconic Woodland style of Indigenous art.
Williams' artwork explores significant themes of daily life, cultural teachings, and spiritual symbolism, creating pieces that are both contemporary and deeply rooted in tradition. His work serves the important purpose of preserving Indigenous stories and perspectives through a vivid visual language that speaks to both Native and non-Native audiences. The artist's dedication to cultural preservation is evident throughout the exhibition's powerful imagery and symbolic representations.
Visitors will have the opportunity to hear directly from Williams during "In Conversation with John Williams" on Saturday, October 25. During this special presentation, the artist will share his artistic journey from childhood sketching to completing major community commissions, while reflecting on the cultural and personal inspirations behind his powerful mural work.
All artist talks and presentations are offered free of charge to the public, though advance registration is required due to limited seating. Interested visitors can register for events or obtain additional information by visiting the gallery's website at jnaag.ca or by calling the gallery directly at 519-336-8127. The gallery encourages early registration as these popular artist talks typically fill up quickly.
