Nature’s Influence On The Great Canadian Artists

In this episode, the life of legendary painter Tom Thompson, who died mysteriously, is explored through the relics of his life.

"Secrets of the Exhibit" explores the sinister crimes, wild tales, strange findings and shocking twists of history that altered the world. From dinosaur fossils to stolen paintings, Cold War shelter to Mayan ceramics, "Secrets of the Exhibit" goes beyond the surface to delve into centuries of art.

Subscribe and click the bell icon to get more arts content every week:

Perspective is YouTube's home for the arts. Come here to get your fill of great music, theatre, art and much, much more!

From "Secrets of the Exhibit"

Content licensed from Blue Ant International to Little Dot Studios.

Any queries, please contact us at:

[annascott]

I wasn’t familiar with these artists by name before I watched this, stunning works of art.

[nikkia]

I'd never heard of Tom Tomson or the Group of Seven. I don't think I've heard of any Canadian artists, which is how publicity works, I suppose. I'm now slightly in love and need to go find out more. Thank you.

[elizabethbrauer]

I get a Van Gogh-like vibe coming through THOMSON's work, as well as Varley.
Thomson's painting, "Byng Inlet, Georgian Bay" is a stunning example of Impressionist painting.

[andywood]

Annie Fraser had confessed to a friend, Daphne Crombie, that Tom fell against the fireplace hearth in a fight with her husband, Shannon Fraser. Tom struck his head and was killed. Daphne believed Annie because she was not one to ever lie. They moved Tom's body to his canoe and Shannon took him from the lodge, then down river to leave him. Annie Frasier repeated this story on her deathbed.

[conniemcconnell]

While I enjoyed the information about the gallery, I was watching for a delve into Tom Thompson. He was a side note. Please put more appropriate titles on the documentaries.

[cathybuxton-gosnell]

I was nt familiar with any of these artists whom i found extraordinary, thank you for the discovery.

[David--.]

I used to love cycling from our Etobicoke suburban home to Kleinburg to visit the gallery when I was a boy. Wonderful place, wonderful art, and a lovely memory.

Like others, though, I found this a frustrating documentary which never could decide what it was really about. Pity.

[musicartgeek]

A good 20 minute documentary about the McMichael Collection and Tom Thomson - unfortunately it’s 55 minutes

[theeaselrider]

It looks like the film company that produced it left the research to the resident High School Intern. Not that any of the information was terribly incorrect ( although Tom was never a "Artistic Superstar" while he was alive. All that happened long after he was gone), but the whole thing seemed to be dumbed-down for an audience that has the attention span of an adolescent .
They said when they dug up Tom's grave, the found the body of a "Native American" ? Why did they think he was American?
It's too bad it was put together like it was. The people they were interviewing were all experts in their fields, which meant we could have learned so much more. Instead we had 52 minutes of very repetitive video that seemed to be aimed more at the audience that watches shows about Ancient Aliens, as opposed to people with a genuine interest in art.
Frankly, by the time most Canadian kids finish High School, they know more about Tom Thomson & the Group of 7 than this video told us.

The McMichael though is by far the nicest and most interesting gallery I have ever been to.
If I lived closer, I would be there any free time I had.
Spectacular Gallery,
Crap Video.

[williamh.ensign]

Thankyou, very inspiring!
About the buildings longevity, there needs to be a secondary roof running from the roof crown to about 2 feet up on the center of the roof side of chimney. So water isn't leaking through

[luiscuixara]

Just CALL it a documentary about a nice rich couple's log cabin home, which has been turned into a museum. To house their collection. At some great expense. With modern methods and materials. Insulation. Dark glass. UV protection. High-tech lath. Art preservation. I am interested in a few of these subjects. I didn't think I was going to learn much about Tom Thompson and his art, beyond the repeated showing of a few of his paintings, old photos & newspaper clippings. I left the program two thirds in. I'll go look for him elsewhere. My time is valuable. To me.

[susanandrews]

I'm a Canadian and I've watched many docs on Tom Thomson, and basically though they always mention his natural talent, being an expert outdoorsman and canoeist, all of which I have mad respect for - they very rarely if ever touch on the fact that he was a womanizer. On that basis alone, the murder theory makes perfect sense. Coshing him over the head like you would a fish, then entangling his legs in fishing line and drowning him is, to me, the work of at least one very angry spouse, not only getting revenge but also making a mockery of his expertise.

And to echo many other commenters....make this doc about the struggling painter and the Group of Seven, not about rich people leaving behind a museum in the wilderness. Big misstep there.

[NemanjaNemanic]

Great paintings... the two of them had a good eye.
But this story smells to me like scam of Barnes foundation and art :D

[mikegurney]

This was quite the Click Bait, I ended watching a documentary about the McMichael Art Collection and Building, just short passages about Tom Thomson. Excuse me but this was disappointing. As great as the Collection and Museum is, this was very much in the line of gotcha you to click. At least I have my books about Tom.

[s.leeyork]

The title is misleading -- you spent more time discussing the museum than you did Tom Thompson. I wish you had discussed his pigments and techniques in depth as that would have been noteworthy. Thank you.

[TrevSligo]

This looked like it might be a good documentary - and it had good moments - but my God, it was ruined by all the tedious detail about the damn humidity and moisture, the temperature, the shrinking and expanding of the logs, the plaster, the bad insulation. It was mentioned 3 times early on and then returned to at boring length. Pity.

[musicartgeek]

And it's Thomson, not Thompson :)

[katmandudawn]

I think these is the same group who did a video on an art heist that wasn’t really the focus at all. Very disappointing.

I would love to see more of the art and a history of the artists and collectors

They need to title them “ Details of Small Canadian Art Museums”

[colinfew]

well Tom Thomson came paddling past, I'm pretty sure it was him....

[jonathansoko]

click bait, this isnt an accurate title this is just an ad for the McMichael Art Collection and Building