A surreal conversation starter

Some time ago, Nandy Heule, now based in Ottawa, Ontario, purchased the painting ‘Cowboy Landscape,’ from Timothy deVries, a painter in Hamilton whom she had met at First Christian Reformed Church in Toronto. After reconnecting by email in July 2024, Timothy invited Nandy to participate in an art collector interview. Following a number of questions about the painting, the interview turned to the subject of collecting art from emerging Christian artists.

Timothy deVries: What was it about this particular painting, ‘Cowboy Landscape,’ that drew you in?

Nandy Heule: If I recall correctly, you and I were part of the same book club in Toronto. We also did some work together for Oikocredit Canada. Either way, I saw your work online and really enjoyed your flat, bold painting style and use of surreal imagery. I think, Timothy, you have developed a unique visual language that is highly expressive.

I love the imagery. It has fascinated me from the start and I still get intrigued by it. For a long time, the piece hung above our fireplace in our living room in Toronto prior to our move to Ottawa. Consistently, the painting was a big conversation starter. What does this work mean? What’s the artist trying to tell me? Those types of questions. No conclusions! Some people love the piece; some scratch their heads.

Maybe it’s satire around cowboy culture. Maybe it’s a statement about colonialism. For me, it’s excellent surreal imagery that keeps raising questions. That’s a good thing. I always think that an artwork that generates conversation is an excellent work of art. 

deVries: Have you always been a collector, Nandy, or is this something that you have grown into?

Heule: Both are true. Almost 45 years ago my husband Nick Overduin and I asked a group of university friends at Calvin College & Theological Seminary (now Calvin University) in Michigan to buy us a painting as wedding gifts – a wonderful work we still own. Many of our early pieces were acquired in similar ways. For example, when Nick left his chaplaincy job at Brock University in St. Catharines his employer wanted to buy him a gift. We received a gorgeous print by George Langebroek from St. Catharines, Ontario. My brother bought us a Morrisseau drawing for our 40th wedding anniversary. That’s very special, of course. It’s quite sad how the legacy of this incredible Indigenous artist is being threatened by the fraudulent copies of his paintings now in circulation. We purchased a few pieces during the pandemic, including a work by Toronto painter Bogdan Luca.

deVries: What has guided your choices in building a collection of art?

Heule: Generally, I buy art from artists I’ve met or know personally. Buying art as an investment, for example at auction, is beyond my budget. In terms of the aesthetics, I’m not generally interested in traditional figurative art; mostly it’s about what I love to look at and where I imagine I can place a piece.

deVries: Is there anything else you would like to share about supporting artists – especially emerging Christian artists – by purchasing their work?

Heule: Buying original artwork doesn’t have to break the bank. Mostly, in terms of cost, it compares to buying a small piece of Ikea furniture that probably will be in a landfill long before you get tired of a work of art you purchased for your living room. Second, if you enjoy seeing professional art at museums, art shows, galleries and so on, remember that every famous artist was initially supported by ordinary folks in their communities buying a little piece of their work. Many artists who are now very famous relied almost exclusively for years on selling their work to family and friends.

Artists have to sell once in a while to be able to afford making art. I’m an artist myself and it gets frustrating when people enjoy my work in an exhibition, for example, by taking movie clips and many photos to post on social media. Yet, those same folks don’t spend a dime on buying even a small piece of work from any artist at a community art fair. Would you take a series of photos at a bakery, post them on Instagram, but not buy a loaf of bread or pastry? Exactly! That’s what I’m talking about.

deVries: What advice would you give for supporting the artists in one’s own extended church network?

Heule: Just do it! Even if it’s simply buying a handmade card. Why not make an effort to support that young person in your church who wants to be an artist? It’s tempting to question a teenager’s choice to go to art school and desire to become a professional artist. Why not buy a drawing instead? Why not encourage that young person to submit an art piece to the next fundraising event? Or to make a church bulletin cover?

God is our Big Creator. Could it be our highest calling to become little creators?