William Kurelek’s The Maze

On Friday, October 19, an exclusive engagement, Workman Arts and St. Anne’s Church presented the Toronto premire of William Kurelek’s feature-length documentary film - The Maze.

Brothers Nick and Zack Young produced, restored and reimagined their father’s unseen 1969 film about renowned Canadian artist, William Kurelek to bring this inspiring documentary to life.  This screening launched the 20th Anniversary of Rendezvous with Madness and was held in conjunction with the 150th Anniversary celebration of the founding of St. Anne’s Anglican Church, 270 Gladstone Ave., Toronto.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion exploring issues of art, mental health, and faith. Panel participants in the discussion on faith and mental health were:  Dr. Kwame McKenzie, Rev. Gary van der Meer, visual artist Lisa Walter, filmmaker Nick Young, and William’s son Stephen Kurelek.

William Kurelek’s The Maze is dramatically told through the artist’s paintings and his on-camera revelations. The film takes an intimate look into the life of one of the 20th Century’s most fascinating artists, his struggles with attempted suicide, and a self-professed “spiritual crisis.” Kurelek describes The Maze as “a painting of the inside of my skull which I painted while in England as a patient in Maudsley and Netherne psychiatric hospitals.”

William Kurelek’s The Maze is a timeless film about an artist, his creations, his inner demons and the external influences - both good and bad - that shaped his work.

Prior to the screening, guests had a rare opportunity to learn about the magnificent art that graces the walls and ceilings of St. Anne’s Church created by members of the Group of Seven and their contemporaries.

For more information, please visit: http://www.themazemovie.com and
http://www.workmanarts.com/index.php/themaze/aa