Episode 19: Stories from the Hockey Room.
“To me, these hockey card paintings are a bit like Canadian Pop Art.”
In this video artist Jeremie White talks with his youngest son about Lou Reed, Andy Warhol, Pop Art and why he paints hockey cards. Warhol often said everyone would have their 15 minutes of fame. Painting what he loved from his childhood, Jeremie celebrates the hockey careers of the stars and those who only had their 15 minutes of fame.
In 1990 Lou Reed and John Cale, both formerly of the Velvet Underground, recorded the album ‘Songs for Drella.’ The album pays homage to their friend Andy Warhol, who died during routine surgery in 1987. The songs tell Warhol’s story and the unspoken words Reed and Cale wished they had told their mentor. Andy was at the center of the Pop Art movement, featuring imagery from popular culture and everyday mundane objects.
“You ought to make things big,
People like it that way.
And the songs with the dirty words – record them that way.”
A fan of Warhol’s artwork, these lyrics resonated with artist Jeremie White. His bold raw painting style, inspired by Pop Art, amplifies the small bubble gum cards from Jeremie’s childhood.
Over the years, the series of hockey card paintings have featured stars like Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Dryden, Stan Mikita, Guy Lafleur, Denis Potvin, Phil and Tony Esposito. The artist loves honoring his 1970’s favourite Vancouver Canucks like Gary “Suitcase” Smith, Bobby Lalonde, and Pat Quinn. The collection of hockey card paintings has also featured Jacques Plante, Steve Shutt, Darryl Sittler, Tim Horton, Borje Salming, Ron Ellis, Phil Myre, Terry Harper, Henry Boucha, Todd Ewin, Greg Polis, and Leo Boivin.
See the full gallery of Jeremie White’s Hockey Card Painting’s here:
sportsart.ca/gallery/jeremie-white-cards/