Cline House Gallery Presents – ‘Homage’

July 23, 2025

CORNWALL, ON- ‘Homage’ brings together two major projects by artist Fred McSherry- after 1914 (2006-2014) and Suffragette (2011-2025)- in a reflective tribute to the individuals whose acts of courage, conviction and resistance played pivotal roles in shaping a new political and social order in the early 20th century.

Working primarily in painting and etching, McSherry draws from archival photographic portraits and historical newspapers, transforming ephemeral documentary images into stirring visual narratives. His works do not merely replicate the past- they reframe it, inviting contemporary audiences to contemplate how individual lives intersect with sweeping historical change.

In after 1914, McSherry revisits group photographs of World War I witnesses and propaganda posters from the period. Through carefully rendered brushstrokes and precisely etched lines, the collective image is broken down into distinct portraits, emphasizing the humanity and individuality of those subsumed by history’s broader narratives. By isolating faces from the crowd, McSherry underscores the personal cost and singular contributions of those who experienced war firsthand.

The most recent collection, Suffragette, focuses on the early feminist movement, specifically the Manchester-based Women’s Social and Political Union (WPSU). Sixty-plus small-scale portraits make up the installation that commemorates key figures involved in the struggle for women’s suffrage. Alongside prominent leaders are depictions of lesser-known allies, critics, and contemporaries involved in reform efforts, offering a broader view of the era’s complex social landscape. Though small in scale, the paintings demand reflection upon the slow, often painful work of social progress- and the individuals who risked much to push it forward. McSherry’s nuanced imagery renders these historical actors not as distant symbols, but as dynamic participants in a collective movement still resonant today.

‘Homage’ is both timely and timeless, an invitation to consider how history is recorded, remembered and reimagined. Together these works blur the line between historical record

and artistic interpretation, leaving a lasting reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and the enduring impact of civic action.

Additional Information

‘Homage’ is on display at the Cline House Gallery, 204 Second Street East, from August 14 to September 6, 2025 every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Opening Reception is August 16 at 1pm.

For more information, please visit the Cline House Gallery website.

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