THE LISTENING POST
One whose art is his history
LASALLE
The sky is ice blue and brushed with cold clouds. The light is brittle with winter, even
though a rogue warm breeze tantalizes memories of summer from the atmosphere.
I turn into the new section of Minto Street in LaSalle. It is a neat street of custom-built
brick homes, a place of well-kept lawns and well- dressed guests. December rushes to Christmas, so cedar boughs
and lights decorate eaves and entrances.
Minto is not the centre of Canada’s art world. It is not even the centre of the Windsor-area art world. But it is where
Dennis K. Smith lives and works and where he celebrates opening his home studio and gallery, this fine last-hoursof-
autumn day.
As soon as I step in, I read the walls to learn what makes Dennis Smith tick. On my right is a limited-edition print of
jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, cheeks puffed. On my left is a large painting of a young boy dressed in the bright
colors of west African Kinte cloth, leaning against a building, bathed in light from above — also playing a trumpet.
Rhythmic Close is the name of the painting on the wall opposite, in which a group of men variously dressed in work
clothes or dred locks make music together
Childhood memories
In the next room, the black-and- white print Take Me to the Waters recalls Smith’s childhood memories of church
baptisms in the Detroit River. And there is Mister. A lone, yet ever-present figure, Mister walks past a frame home in
one print, a row of shops in a struggling-yet-proud neighborhood in a nearby painting.
‘Art to me is my history” says the soft-voiced Smith. “It is a recording of who lam.”
Smith grew up in Harrow during the 1950’s & 60’ s. He attended school there and in Essex and Windsor.
Encouraged by skilled teachers, Smith studied at the Ontario College of Art before deciding having food on the table
meant giving up full-.time art work.
Smith returned to Windsor and a job as a spot-welder at the Pillette Road Chrysler plant. “It was Mac Simpson who
inspired me to get back into painting,” Smith says. He describes how the late founder of the North American Black
Historical Museum helped him see art was something he had to do for himself and to record his memories of our
communities. “Art is important because it gets you past the ugliness of life,” Smith says. “It has to be done.” And
who is Mister?
“Oh,” Smith says, smiling gently. “Mister is one of those men we don’t know, but we must give respect.”
Lively chatter
The lively chatter in the room lacks the annoying, ever-escalating edge of verbal competition found at most art,
theatre or political events. Instead of showing up to be seen, guests have arrived to see and support the latest
developments in Dennis’s art. Old friends from WD. Lowe Secondary School’s art program, Allen Ganton and Doug
Smith, are there enjoying Dennis’s moment and reminiscing. So are neighbors and the extended Smith family. It
seems every person who ever met Dennis Smith has come to celebrate.
There’s coffee and home-made, no- booze party punch to drink. The treats are what I call “real people” food --
chicken wings, meat pies, vegetables, candy Smith’s daughter, Nicole West, keeps the food coming, while keeping
an eye on son Marcel. Wife Linda supervises and sells. “Ten per cent off today” she reminds purchasers as she asks
after friends and relatives in common.
Fans Carl and Betty Lou Vargás collect local artists’ work. “Dennis is,, Home-grown,” Carl says.
“You can tell he’s got to work for a living.”
“Dennis doesn’t forget where he comes from,” Betty Lou agrees.
One whose art is his history
LASALLE
The sky is ice blue and brushed with cold clouds. The light is brittle with winter, even
though a rogue warm breeze tantalizes memories of summer from the atmosphere.
I turn into the new section of Minto Street in LaSalle. It is a neat street of custom-built
brick homes, a place of well-kept lawns and well- dressed guests. December rushes to Christmas, so cedar boughs
and lights decorate eaves and entrances.
Minto is not the centre of Canada’s art world. It is not even the centre of the Windsor-area art world. But it is where
Dennis K. Smith lives and works and where he celebrates opening his home studio and gallery, this fine last-hoursof-
autumn day.
As soon as I step in, I read the walls to learn what makes Dennis Smith tick. On my right is a limited-edition print of
jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, cheeks puffed. On my left is a large painting of a young boy dressed in the bright
colors of west African Kinte cloth, leaning against a building, bathed in light from above — also playing a trumpet.
Rhythmic Close is the name of the painting on the wall opposite, in which a group of men variously dressed in work
clothes or dred locks make music together
Childhood memories
In the next room, the black-and- white print Take Me to the Waters recalls Smith’s childhood memories of church
baptisms in the Detroit River. And there is Mister. A lone, yet ever-present figure, Mister walks past a frame home in
one print, a row of shops in a struggling-yet-proud neighborhood in a nearby painting.
‘Art to me is my history” says the soft-voiced Smith. “It is a recording of who lam.”
Smith grew up in Harrow during the 1950’s & 60’ s. He attended school there and in Essex and Windsor.
Encouraged by skilled teachers, Smith studied at the Ontario College of Art before deciding having food on the table
meant giving up full-.time art work.
Smith returned to Windsor and a job as a spot-welder at the Pillette Road Chrysler plant. “It was Mac Simpson who
inspired me to get back into painting,” Smith says. He describes how the late founder of the North American Black
Historical Museum helped him see art was something he had to do for himself and to record his memories of our
communities. “Art is important because it gets you past the ugliness of life,” Smith says. “It has to be done.” And
who is Mister?
“Oh,” Smith says, smiling gently. “Mister is one of those men we don’t know, but we must give respect.”
Lively chatter
The lively chatter in the room lacks the annoying, ever-escalating edge of verbal competition found at most art,
theatre or political events. Instead of showing up to be seen, guests have arrived to see and support the latest
developments in Dennis’s art. Old friends from WD. Lowe Secondary School’s art program, Allen Ganton and Doug
Smith, are there enjoying Dennis’s moment and reminiscing. So are neighbors and the extended Smith family. It
seems every person who ever met Dennis Smith has come to celebrate.
There’s coffee and home-made, no- booze party punch to drink. The treats are what I call “real people” food --
chicken wings, meat pies, vegetables, candy Smith’s daughter, Nicole West, keeps the food coming, while keeping
an eye on son Marcel. Wife Linda supervises and sells. “Ten per cent off today” she reminds purchasers as she asks
after friends and relatives in common.
Fans Carl and Betty Lou Vargás collect local artists’ work. “Dennis is,, Home-grown,” Carl says.
“You can tell he’s got to work for a living.”
“Dennis doesn’t forget where he comes from,” Betty Lou agrees.
