A Painter’s Journey: Volume II, 1974-1979

"A Painter’s Journey II begins in January 1974 and ends on Christmas day 1979. This book frames the five public gallery exhibitions that I had in those years—in Edmonton, Alberta; in Sackville, New Brunswick; in Charlottetown, PEI; in Stratford and in Kingston, Ontario. It records the development of my paintings and drawings and shows my on-going search for an effective descriptive language—I am not only painting my paintings, I am writing my paintings.

These are the most productive years for my small press, Seripress. I publish titles by Nelson Ball, bpNichol, David Alyward, Mike Doyle and P.K. Irwin (Page), and Stephen Scobie. And I make a portfolio of my own “fine art” prints as a Seripress title.

I write about the changing Toronto art scene as it moves in new directions, how that affects me, my work and the work of other artists. I describe visits to galleries, exhibitions, talks with dealers. My experiences are not uncommon, but my story is personal, for I expose my frustrations, my uncertainties, and my up and down relationships with friends and fellow-artists. The book is sometimes funny, sometimes dark and disturbing, and it is true."—Barbara Caruso