CALEDONIA—Those who enjoy great, locally made artwork should make it a point to head over to the Dundas Valley School of Art (DVSA) before March 2 to take in 15-year-old McKinnon Park Secondary School (MPSS) student Callum MacInnis’ solo exhibit, ‘Tacit’.
DVSA’s website refers to Callum as an “emerging young artist with a vivid imagination.”
Following several DVSA classes, including Teen Painting and Graffiti and Street Art, Callum submitted his work for the exhibit after seeing an open call for submissions. Out of 50 applicants, he was one of just two selected to have their art displayed.
Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, art has been a passion for Callum his entire life, with a recent focus on painting and sculpture.
“My art is usually focused on faces or characters as the main framework. I’ve always made-up characters in my head,” he said of his work. “I just really like making it. It helps ‘cause it’s a lot less limited than other things.”
CALEDONIA—An example of Callum’s emerging talents as a sculpture artist. —Submitted photos. 
CALEDONIA—A central theme in Callum’s artwork is animals, dogs in particular. 
CALEDONIA—Callum’s mom Lee described this self-portrait: “To me, it has a haunting quality about it that makes me wonder what is going on in his brilliant mind.”
MacInnis’ mom, Lee, said that it was one drawing Callum made when he was just 8 that stood out and showed her son’s potential.
“He did a drawing of a pug that was so well done and detailed. I was surprised and impressed that he didn’t trace or copy it and it came from his imagination,” she recalled. “He also worked on a comic book with a friend when he was about 11 and was very invested in all the details. They even dressed up as their characters for Halloween.”
Art has a near daily presence in MacInnis’ life. Lee said, “I think it is his way of expressing himself and letting the rest of us see what is in his creative mind. He is not much of a talker and finds it difficult to express himself other than through his art.”
Watching MacInnis flourish in his abilities has been “amazing” for his family to watch unfold.
“I am pleasantly surprised by Callum’s confidence in his ability. He says he knows that his career will be as an artist. He lacks confidence in many areas of his life, but not when it comes to his art,” added Lee. “He just keeps getting better and we will keep supporting him and watching him grow.”
Callum said much of his work is inspired by movies and photography. Asked what he hopes people take away from it, he said, “Whatever they want. I’m not really trying to say anything.”
His mother, however, shared, “I think that viewing art is a personal experience and the meaning depends on the eye of the beholder. Many of his pieces have very different styles and moods. He has some that are more fun and colourful and others that are dark and moody. He is passionate about animal welfare (especially dogs) and I think several have messages about the relationship between humans and animals.”
She added, “He also has several pieces with people or characters with very expressive features such as open mouths or lots of teeth. To me these represent the way he sees others, being louder and more expressive than himself.”
While he said many artists have impacted him along the way, his aunt Erin McFadden has been his main influence. An artist and muralist herself, Callum and his aunt have enjoyed many ‘art days’ together over the years.
Lee described a piece of her son’s art that is particularly powerful through her eyes.
“He created a self-portrait that was very realistic and looked just like him. I complimented him on it, and in typical teen fashion, he completely changed it! Now his self-portrait is quite dark and brooding with the focus on his eyes. To me, it has a haunting quality about it that makes me wonder what is going on in his brilliant mind.”
Callum came up with the title of his exhibit, ‘Tacit’, himself. It means ‘understood or implied’. Those interested in seeing Callum’s work for themselves can do so at DVSA, located at 21 Ogilvie St. in Dundas. His work will be on display, with paintings and sculptures available for sale, until March 2.
