FOR THE LOVE OF HAMILTON

This regular feature highlights people from all walks of life who have embraced Hamilton as their new home.

MURRAY VAN HALEM is a cityscape oil painter documenting the urban scenes of Hamilton and Toronto. He started his arts career as a commercial photographer working with large-format cameras to create images for brochures and catalogues. He then worked at the Brampton Daily Times as a photojournalist, and edited and wrote for other publications. A sharp turn in careers saw him become a real estate broker in Brampton in 1988, which he did for 25 years. Upon his retirement in 2013, he returned to his first love, painting pictures. His works, featuring urban streets, factories and harbours, are in private and public collections and he continues to paint in his Dundas studio.

What brought you to Dundas? 

My wife Bayla Fishman and I were living on Georgian Bay for 15 years. It is a beautiful place but we found it to be somewhat isolated. The closest major city was Barrie, which was 35 minutes away and seeing family was a two- or three-hour drive. We wanted to be closer to family and at our age we need to be closer to health-care facilities, doctors, and specialists. We considered Toronto but settled on Hamilton. We moved here in 2020 and are glad we did. 

What neighbourhood did you and your wife choose to live in and why? 

We wanted a condominium and looked at over 20 properties throughout the city. I needed a place that afforded studio space. We discovered that studio and storage space is a scarcity in condo living. We ended up buying a large end-unit townhouse in Dundas that met all our needs. It was simply good luck that we landed here. We love the small-town and historical feel of Dundas, yet it’s close to the city centre of Hamilton with the countryside nearby. 

Favourite hangout in Hamilton? 

I enjoy Oranje Café on King Street in the International Village. They have great coffee, scones, sandwiches and an eclectic clientele. The café has a Dutch theme and I like that they pay homage to my heritage. 

What is your favourite restaurant?

Hamilton has great restaurants but there are a couple that we frequent. One is Indian Hut on Hamilton Street in Waterdown, the other is Shehnai on Main Street near Dundurn. For Thai we go to Bangkok Spoon in Dundas with friends. However, I do like to cook at home. 

What are your thoughts of Hamilton now that you’ve lived here a few years? 

The city has beautiful neighbourhoods but there are other areas that are rugged to say the least. It will take time for these areas to turn around. I’m always surprised at the number of run-down, derelict buildings in the downtown core. The city could be more proactive in enforcing property standards bylaws, if they have them. I like living close to water and Hamilton is on a lake. I think it is natural for humans to live by the water. It's a source of physical and emotional nourishment. 

How would you describe the city as a place to work as an artist? 

Being mostly a cityscape painter there is a tremendous amount of inspirational material here. I like doing industrial themed paintings and this is the place for that! We moved here in late 2020 in the midst of COVID. Everything was shut so as a result it took a while for me to find venues and make art connections. I‘ve made some inroads, such as showing at Christ Church Cathedral during Supercrawl, the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts and the Dundas Studio Tour in October to name a few. 

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Who inspires you in your art? 

I admire the Dutch painters of the Renaissance and the Post Impressionist but Frans Hals is my favourite. He predates all of them. He has a looseness of brushstroke in his portraits that I adore. 

How has your lived experience influenced your work? 

My years as a newspaper photographer taught me how to look at the world around me with a more inquisitive eye. It also taught me the importance of design. I was printing dozens of pictures per day in a darkroom and making a design decision with each one. I was also working exclusively in black and white, which helped create a stronger image.

How would you describe your artistic style? 

People say it resembles Impressionism but the Impressionists were more detailed. I like to think of it as “Suggestionism.” 

What Hamilton arts or cultural events do you most look forward to attending? 

Last year we discovered the Fringe Festival with so many choices. The Brott Music Festival is another favourite of ours. 

What’s Hamilton’s best kept secret? 

The great library branches throughout the city. 

What does Hamilton need less of? 

One-way streets. 

What does Hamilton need more of? 

Hamilton needs more affordable housing, more building on vacant lots, more repurposing and renovation of derelict buildings. 

What is the one thing you brag about Hamilton to outsiders? I tell people about its central location and proximity to other cities such as metro Toronto, Guelph, Niagara, Cambridge, Kitchener and the U.S. border. There are many beautiful parks, waterfalls and conservation areas.

If you'd like to be featured in FOR THE LOVE OF HAMILTON or know someone who should be, please contact meredith@hamiltoncitymagazine.ca.

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