November 17, 2011 Arts » Book Reviews

Pin It
Share

More by Dave Hayden

  • Critics' picks: music

    Our picks for the best tunes of 2012 show off a lot of local love, a healthy serving of big names and way too many hours spent alone with earbuds.
    • by Trevor Savory, Ryan McNutt, Adria Young, Dave Hayden, Matthew Ritchie, Doug Taylor, Stephanie Johns and Tara Thorne
    • Dec 13, 2012
  • More »

Nova Cantabrigiensis 

By John Devlin (Island)

by
click to enlarge nova-review.jpg
On the cusp of adulthood and hopeful days ahead, Devlin set out to study theology at the University of Cambridge, only to suffer a mental breakdown which derailed his career forever. The devastation lingered upon his return to Nova Scotia, and idealism and rose-coloured nostalgia led Devlin to create Nova Canatabrigiensis---a series of drawings representing not only an idealized reflection of his time at Cambridge but a whole community that was to be built on the shores of the Minas Basin. Followers of Art Brut/Raw Vision will appreciate the drawings, rife with codes and keys, sequences of repeated motifs and hieroglyphs that adorn corners or float in isolation. This is the work of a beautiful mind who grasps at youthful dreams unfulfilled, seen through the looking glass of the future. You don’t need to know John Devlin’s backstory to appreciate his lovely vision, but it adds depth and contextualization to these Utopian blueprints.

more articles in Arts »

  • By John Devlin (Island)

Comments (1)

Showing 1-1 of 1

Add a comment

 
Subscribe to this thread:
By Email
With RSS
Showing 1-1 of 1

Add a comment

Latest in Book Reviews

In Print This Week

Vol 20, No 52
May 23, 2013

Cover Gallery »

Guides

© 2013 Coast Publishing Ltd.