By Ken Pastushyn
LaSalle artist Roy James captivated Windsor audiences with his evocative solo exhibition, The Solitary Man, at the Common Ground Art Gallery in Mackenzie Hall Cultural Centre from November 6 to 22. The opening reception on November 9 drew a crowd of art lovers keen to experience James’s unique blend of visual art and poetry, making the event a highlight of the local arts calendar.
James, both painter and poet, drew inspiration for the exhibit from his own poem “Solitary Man.” The exhibit featured twenty paintings capturing moments in the life of a solitary man, many produced during the pandemic lockdown. The poem’s concluding message—“search for identity”—echoes throughout the collection, reflecting James’s own journey as an artist.
A signature piece of the show was Solitary Man #2 & His Cat, an acrylic on canvas depicting the imposing skyscrapers of a modern city. “The concrete, glass, and steel is very dehumanizing, and I was overwhelmed by it,” explained James, 84, who taught visual arts for 19 years in Windsor and Essex County schools. His approach leans toward abstraction, drawing inspiration from Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, and architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
The cityscapes in Solitary Man especially resonated with Toni Wells, board member of the Arts Society of Kingsville and an artist herself. She admires the unique perspectives and elongated forms of James’s buildings, a testament to his “love of geometry.” James, who also taught math and science, incorporates this passion into his art, most notably in his piece Solitary Man with Cat and Dandelion. This abstract cityscape, the third in the series, features a dandelion in the lower left corner. For James, the dandelion—often maligned as a weed—is both a symbol of life’s persistence and a nod to its culinary uses, from salads to wine.
The dandelion, with its bud, flower, and seed, also represents James’s three sons—Christopher, Jason, and Glendon—who attended the opening. “They are all in this picture because they are an extension of me,” James remarked.
Another recurring presence in the exhibit is Boots, James’s late tabby cat. Boots appears in four paintings and originated from drawings James made while mourning the loss of his second wife. “This little fellow, I call him a colleague, a partner,” said James. “I can have a conversation with him, and I’m convinced he could answer back.” His drawing My Consoling Friend with Boots the Cat showcases detailed hatching and shading techniques, reflecting both grief and companionship.
Adjacent to these works hung Tears of Glass, an abstract painting with shards of glass affixed to the canvas. The accompanying poem, also written by James, addresses environmental concerns, expressing the idea that humanity needs nature far more than nature needs humanity. “Sometimes the poem inspires the art, and sometimes the visuals inspire the poetry,” James said. He often performs his poetry, drawing on his teaching experience to give readings that emphasize voice and pacing. Many of his poems have been published in anthologies.
James’s playful side shines through in Vodka Coffee: Solitary Man at His Window Snowed-In, which was featured on an anthology cover. The cartoonish painting depicts James rising early, pouring vodka into his coffee, and preparing to write in his pajamas—a scene inspired by his affection for comic books like Batman and Superman. “Art doesn’t have to be somber. Art should be fun,” he remarked.
Yet, James’s work also explores loss and memory. The painting Whirlwind, inspired by a poem written by his late friend Joe Patterson, presents a surreal blue and violet seascape, capturing the emotional turbulence of grief and remembrance.
Throughout his career, James experimented with numerous mediums, including wax pencils and acrylics. Upon retiring, he became a docent at the Art Gallery of Windsor, where his passion for teaching continued through guided tours for students.
The exhibit’s narrative arc concludes with I Am the Solitary Man: Self-Portrait on Abstract Background. “I wasn’t interested in photo-realism for my self-portrait,” James explained, favoring instead a more expressive and abstract approach that resists easy categorization.
Toni Wells, who also curates for the Arts Society of Kingsville, admires James’s willingness to blend fine art techniques with an illustrative sensibility. “First you learn the rules,” she said. “Then you learn how to break them.”
