Lone Tratt’s solo exhibition, There’s a Crack in Everything, which was inspired by the lyrics of Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem,” is at Zack Gallery until Aug. 10. (photo from Lone Tratt)
Lone Tratt’s current show at the Zack Gallery, There’s a Crack in Everything, was inspired by the lyrics of Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem.”
“There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in,” Cohen wrote in 1992. His adherence to hope and optimism in the face of bleakness resonated with Tratt, even though the poem was published more than three decades ago.
“Every word of this song is still relevant,” she said in her interview with the Independent. “Sadly, there are wars and suffering all around the world. Our world is not in good shape. Lots of darkness. But I wanted to focus on the light. Light is possible. That was what Cohen said, and I believe it.”
Every painting in the show is a celebration of light, a statement of possibilities. And there are cracks in each image, just like in Cohen’s song, allowing the light to burst in, to suffuse the pictures. With her artwork, Tratt explores not only pain and loss, but the chances of healing as well. Sunny yellows and cheerful blues smile at viewers from the abstracts on the gallery walls – all part of the artist’s interpretation of the famous song. She has even printed the verses and attached the printout to the wall to augment the exhibition, which is her personal tribute to the great Canadian icon.
“I’m a positive person,” she said. “Have been all my life. With this show, I want to convey my positivity to others. I want to spread joy, despite all the ills of the world today. I feel it is my duty as an artist to tell people that there is light in our lives, to lift people’s spirits.”
Like many Canadians, Tratt wasn’t born in Canada. She is a transplant from Denmark. She came to Vancouver at 23, planning to be here for a little while, and she’s stayed, also living in Montreal for some years. She raised her children in Canada, studied art in Canada and has taught art here for many years. Through the Dundarave Print Workshop on Granville Island, she still offers occasional printmaking classes. “I love teaching,” she said, “love helping people create their art, express their vision. It is my way of giving.”
Another way of giving for her is that she often donates her artwork. A few years ago, she was deeply affected by the war in Ukraine. She wanted to help, to contribute, and the only way she knew how to do that was through her art. “I put up an auction of my paintings for 50% off the original prices. I realized $5,500 and sent the money to Ukraine via Red Cross.
“I also frequently donate my paintings to hospitals,” she said. “People need positivity there, and not only the patients. Once, a big local hospital had a reception for artists who donated their art. A doctor came to talk to me. He said it was important to him after a hard day to walk along the corridor and see our paintings. They made his job easier.”
Occasionally, like everyone else, Tratt needs a renewal of spirit and creativity, and her native Denmark is often the source of such a rejuvenation.
“I visit Denmark every year or two,” she said. “I love it there. I have family and friends there. A dose of Danish is always welcome. Besides, Denmark is good for artists. My brother is a sculptor in Denmark, and so is his wife. They both have always been able to make a living with their art. In Denmark, by law, every public building has to dedicate 5% of their building budget to art. There is art everywhere, in every school and every office, and not only donated either. I wish it was the same in Canada.”
Tratt found her own ways of dealing with the financial challenges. One of those ways was teaching. Another was offering her art for rent.
“I participate in the Vancouver Art Gallery Art Rental program,” she explained. “It is a great way to make people aware of my art.
“I also do commissions. I like them. It is a collaboration” she continued. “People who commission my paintings already know my style. That’s why they come to me. We speak at length. They tell me what they want. And then I invite them to visit my studio halfway through the process, so they can see how the painting develops, tell me what works for them and what doesn’t. Once, I worked on a commission for a client and I didn’t like what was emerging. She came for a visit, and she didn’t like it either – then, she saw another painting on the other side of my studio. It was already finished, and she loved it. She asked to buy it instead.”
Tratt’s paintings are mostly abstract, a compilation of colours and shapes and light, although there was a period in her life when she painted huge flowers. “They sold very well,” she said.
During the interview, a woman came into the Zack Gallery to view the exhibition. She approached Tratt. “I adore your art,” she said. “I have a couple of your paintings, the flowers, in my house. Bought them years ago. When I learned you have another show at the JCC, I knew I had to see it. Beautiful.”
Tratt grinned. “I love such moments,” she said.
There’s a Crack in Everything is on display until Aug. 10. To learn more, visit the artist’s website, lonetratt.ca.
Olga Livshin is a Vancouver freelance writer. She can be reached at [email protected].