An exhibit by a North Bay artist asks questions about rural and northern masculinity

A man sits on a snowmobile with blood on the windshield, while he holds an axe menacingly. The painting, called Death Dealer (After Frazetta) is part of a collection by North Bay, Ont., artist Colin Davis that is now on display at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

Davis's exhibit, called Steel, Grease, and Gasoline, is meant to explore ideas of northern and rural masculinity.

Davis says his goal with his work isn't to push his own views on masculinity.

"I'd rather people just take a moment to look at the work and think about their own beliefs about what we expect of men," he said.

He says around half the pieces in his collection are inspired by fantasy artwork from pulp magazines and Dungeons and Dragons illustrations.

His painting of the man on a snowmobile is a take on a piece called Death Dealer, by artist Frank Frazetta. In the original a figure with red eyes sits on a black horse with a hellish backdrop.

Davis says characters like Conan the Barbarian present the trope of a "lone man against the world."

"I was wondering if there was a parallel between these images being presented to young adults and kids and how that affects our ideas of masculinity and sense of duty or responsibility as adults," he said.

Davis moved to North Bay from southern Ontario in 2018.

As a relative newcomer to northern Ontario, he says he's fascinated by rural symbols of masculinity such as snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles.

He adds that he's glad people in northwestern Ontario will have a chance to see his work in person.

"I was really pleased when the curator, Penelope, reached out and asked to bring the show to Thunder Bay because this is specifically a northern work," he said.

The Steel, Grease, and Gasoline exhibition is at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery until Jan. 5, 2025.