Portrait of an Artist in Lviv

By Walter Kish

Georges Gamache is not your typical resident of Lviv.  A native Manitoban of French ancestry, Georges knew from an early age that he was destined to be an artist.  He pursued his muse initially at the University of Manitoba and later at the University of Victoria where he obtained his Fine Arts Degree.  Later, he spent time expanding his artistic knowledge and skills in Florence, arguably the world’s capital of art and the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.  In particular, it was here that he mastered the art of the frieze and the fresco, important elements that were to influence many of his future works both in the more conventional media as well as his growing forays into interior design.  Throughout the eighties and nineties, his work was exhibited widely throughout Canada, and when not busy at his easel, Georges was often to be found conducting lectures and artistic workshops on those things that he obviously loves so very much to do.

 In 1997, Georges by chance recommendation found himself visiting Lviv as just another tourist.  As cliche as it may sound, it was a case of love at first sight.  Georges was overwhelmed by the ancient city’s charm, architecture, and unique blend of history, art and culture.  When he returned to Toronto, Georges signed up for an immersion course in the Ukrainian language at St. Vladimir Institute, and next year he returned to Lviv to stay.  He bought an apartment in the centre of the “City of Lions” and made it his second home.  Since then, he has continued to commute between Toronto and Lviv, spending half of his time in each of the two cities he now calls home. Georges’ works are now exhibited not only in Canada, but also in prominent galleries in Lviv and Kyiv.

His move also spurred the evolution of a new sideline for Georges.  His artistic flair and interest in design prompted some of his better heeled new friends and acquaintances in Lviv to use his skill in renovating their flats and apartments.  Over the past decade, Georges has been the creative eye behind the renovation of dozens of residences in Lviv.  Georges strives as much as possible to restore them in the spirit of historical authenticity, while adding his own artistic overtones as well as ensuring that civilized amenities are taken care of. Georges has also become a landlord of note, buying and renovating a number of flats himself.  These he rents on a short term basis to visitors and tourists, primarily from Canada.  I have stayed in several of his flats and found the experience both comfortable as well as artistically stimulating, since most of them are mini galleries of Georges’ works.

Several weeks ago saw the launch of Georges latest endeavour, a marvelous book called Lviv, The Lion Kingdom.  The book is a wonderful photo essay on Lviv’s obsession with lions.  Anyone familiar with Lviv knows that lions are everywhere. Statues of lions stare at you wherever you may roam in the city’s historical core.  They look down at you from building cornices, moldings, window ledges and decorative facades. They grace hundreds if not thousands of monuments and even gravestones.  Georges’ photographs capture these lions in all their glory, majesty and are sometimes whimsy.  Having spent much time in Lviv in recent years, I have always been familiar with the city’s lion population, yet Georges artistic eye captures them in a way that is delightfully original and pleasing not only to the eye but to the spirit as well.  If you love Lviv, you will love this book.

The book can be purchased for the modest price of thirty dollars at many of the usual outlets that sell Ukrainian books, or directly from the author.  Should you wish to buy the book or rent one of Georges delightful apartments in Lviv, you can contact him directly through the Internet at:  lvivrent@rogers.com or write to him at 61 Richview Rd., Apt. 1907 Toronto, Ontario  M9A 4M8.