Don Maynard is a Kingston-based artist whose work positions dozens of aluminum airplanes nose-first into the wall above the dining room. This piece creates a flurry of activity within the space, as if the planes were a flock of birds arrested mid-flight. Interested in the manipulation of space, Maynard is drawn to the aesthetic qualities intrinsic in the materials he uses. In this way, the work and materials have meaning in themselves both aesthetically and conceptually. Maynard’s concern with the environmental effects of human life is evident as his work combines the concept of nature with man-made planes in a juxtaposition of the two opposing forces.
Maynard’s practice encompasses a variety of media including painting, sculpture and installation work. His art pieces can be found in the collections of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the University of Toronto (Toronto), and the Canada Council Art Bank (Ottawa). He is represented by Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art, Calgary.