12/03/24
September 24, 2007
Canadian artist Ken Danby dies at 67: Danby is best known for his 1972 painting, At the Crease. His famous sports images include The Great Farewell, painted for Wayne Gretzky, when he decided to retire from playing hockey. In the 1980's he prepared a series of watercolours on the Americas Cup, and on Canadian athletes at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo.
posted by tommytrump to culture at 02:04 PM - 4 comments
Here's "The Great Farewell." And here's another image I kinda liked while sifting through an image search for Danby.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 10:45 AM on September 25, 2007
I feel like I grew up looking at In the crease. It seemed to be everywhere in my childhood. I'm surprised Danby was so young - I thought he was much older.
posted by Philfromhavelock at 08:23 AM on September 26, 2007
>"She said that she had long had a print of it in her home and really enjoyed it. I thanked her, but also explained that, 'It isn't an image of Ken Dryden.' Looking puzzled, she replied, 'Yes it is.' I responded, 'No it isn't.' After a long pause, she loudly exclaimed, 'Yes it is!' I quickly apologized, with the sudden realization that she was right. It's really whomever one wants it to be."
posted by Philfromhavelock at 06:35 PM on September 26, 2007
A print of "At The Crease" hung over my bed through most of my childhood. I still have it. Most of his stuff was only okay, but yeah, his few hockey pieces really are arresting.