Design by Rob Grey
The exhibit hightlights Mr. Gordon Macpherson's oeuvre in bookplate design - a less spectacular technicque than his heraldic paintings, but profoundly important aspect of the artist's career, in which ihis interests in heraldic design and in drawing find best expressions. Featuring the works created between 1960 and 2008, the selection celebrates the artist's career.

Roderick Gordon Murdoch Macpherson, FRHSC, is the most prominent Canadian heraldic artist and designer of the last 40 years. He gained international recognition through his bookplate designs which sought to bring heraldry to the more popular use in Canada. In his bookplates of the 1960s and 1970s, Gordon Macpherson developed his own imagery and technique, which featured stylized black & white representations of the coats of arms. During his early years, Gordon Macpherson drew uon the heraldic design innovations inaugurated in Toronto by Alexander Scott Carter. Young Gordon adopted his design principles and studied his technique. His mature bookplates are formally distinctive; characterized by bold heraldic figures and expressive rich mantling, his works also feature decorative borders framing the centrally situated armorial bearings.

Click here to view Gordon Macpherson's biography distributed at the Official Opening (pdf format).
Official Opening and Reception, April 26, 2008

Exhibit Catalogue available for $20
On a very pleasant, sunny and warm Saturday afternoon, between 4:30 - 5:30pm, almost 40 people were present to experience the official opening of the bookplate exhibit. The entire Society's Executive Committee was present, as well as other Board members and Society and Toronto Branch members, as well as Dr. Claire Boudreau, Canada's Chief Herald. The display of the bookplates were suspended on the glass enclosing the library immediately on one's left when entering the library, but visible in the foyer of the library, thus not disturbing the students reading within the library's glass walls. The display included glass cases on the floor, depicting relevant and colourful heraldic books and an interesting display depicting the "process" of creating a bookplate from line sketches to the final product.

The MC for the event was Society's member, Neil Fraser who introduced the John M. Kelly Library's Anna St. Onge, Interim Head, Special Collections, who was instrumental in helping setup the dislay. , SHA and Toronto Branch president and an heraldic artist as well, received accolades from all who were in attendance. Ilona also organized the publication of the exhibit's excellent bookplate exhibit catalog (depicted on the right). Gordon was happily signing a good number of the catalogs purchased by the attendess (catalogs - $20). Photos taken at the opening are displayed below. Click on any image below to view a larger image of the same.

 
Official Opening Photos
west wall display #1 west wall display #2 west wall display #3 south wall display
attendees examing the display floor case #1 floor case #2 floor case #3
Ilona Jurkiewicz, Gordon Macpherson, Dr. Claire Boudreau Neil Fraser, Dr. Claire Boudreau, Gordon Macpherson David E. Rumball, Dr. Peter Swan, Allan Bird David E. Rumball, Gordon Macpherson, David M. Cvet
Prof. D'Arcy Boulton addressing the visitors Anne St. Onge, David M. Cvet Neil Fraser addressing the visitors Gordon, Nancy, Dr. Peter Swan
 
For additional details and presentation uploaded in 2004 of Gordon Macpherson's bookplates online under the "ART OF HERALDRY" area of this website, click here.

 
Released: April 28, 2008