msvu art gallery and owens art gallery

Beauty and frailty: these are the two sides of the human condition that have informed Nova Scotian artist Dawn MacNutt’s evocative work for more than 45 years. Working throughout her career with both bronze forms and natural materials like willow, seagrass, and hemp, MacNutt creates organic, abstract forms and sculptures that resonate on a visceral level: a mother and child, a spirit within, a column that is both delicate and strong.

Timeless Forms brings together over a hundred images of MacNutt’s sculptures and textiles, weaving them into the story of her life: from growing up in rural Nova Scotia during the Second World War; through her studies at Mount Allison University under the guidance of Alex Colville; to marriages, motherhood and finding, in her forties, the courage to throw herself into art full time. Writing about her unique artistic journey with humour and empathy, MacNutt finds joy in the face of loss and resilience in the face of adversity.