Canoes in art on display at Whyte Museum | CTV News - CTV News Calgary | Canada News Media
Connect with us

Art

Canoes in art on display at Whyte Museum | CTV News – CTV News Calgary

Published

 on


It’s taken 20 years to amass the rare collection of roughly 90 works of canoes in art from 48 artists that are owned by Grit and Scott McCreath. This is the first time the collection has been displayed in its entirety.

Rod Green is a friend of the McCreath family and a retired art dealer who ran Masters Gallery in Calgary. He helped them acquire all the canoe art. Green says it all started with one painting when Grit was looking for a birthday present for her husband Scott who had fond memories of canoeing with his father in Saskatchewan.

“I showed (Grit a painting by) Lucius O’Brien which is called Denizens of Ottawa from 1875,” he said. “It’s a small picture, it’s like six by eight (inches) and she thought that would be perfect.”

Over two decades Green would find art featuring canoes and show them to the McCreaths who snapped them up. And the collection is vast.

“It’s watercolors, oils and sculptures, it’s three dimensional works,” said Green. “There (are) prints, folk art, video and a couple of real canoes, they’ve never had it all together in one place.”

The works span a 200 year time frame and are presented in chronological order in a gallery at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. Anne Ewen is the chief curator at the museum and knows the family. On a visit to the McCreath home she was admiring all the canoes in art.

“At one point I was commenting, you know (saying) wow, I really liked this painting and I really liked that one,” said Ewen. “They said, well would you like to borrow them and I said, well I’d like to borrow all of them and they very generously said okay.”

CANOES PLAYED IMPORTANT ROLE

Ewen is honoured to be chosen to host the exhibit and says canoes had an important role in the development of Canada.

“The canoe was absolutely important to the discovery of western Canada, in fact it was important to Canada as a whole,” she said. “We wouldn’t have come this far (west) without the Indigenous population helping us to get here via canoe, when you think about all the settlers that came through by canoe and the trading that went on by canoe, it’s really spectacular.”

The newest piece to the collection is by artist John Fraser who was a contract artist for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

“It’s one of the finest monumental canvases of the 1880s,” said Green. “But those paintings over the last 140 years have just disappeared, there were maybe a dozen artists who were contract artists, some of them are on the walls around us right here in the 19th century selection but you can’t find them anymore.”

Green says the Fraser piece is in excellent condition and is of a camp at the top of Rogers Pass.

“The mountain is now (called) Mount Sir Donald but it was Mount Carroll and so it’s called the fishing camp,” he said “It’s really a beautiful picture, the frame’s original and it’s a real cornerstone of the collection.”

All the art can be viewed at the museum in Banff until October 2022.

“After the show closes here all the work will go back into a private collection and never, I think, to be seen again in its entirety,” said Ewen. “So I really mean it when I say it’s just such a privilege to have it.”

Learn more about the exhibit here: www.whyte.org

Adblock test (Why?)



Source link

Continue Reading

Art

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com

Published

 on


[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone  BBC.com



Source link

Continue Reading

Art

Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed

Published

 on

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”

On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”

The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.

Blaze in the West Wing

The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.

About Somerset House

Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.

Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.

Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.

Source link

Continue Reading

Art

Sudbury art, music festival celebrating milestone

Published

 on

Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.

The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.

Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”

With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.

The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version