UNews - Group of Seven

Lasting Images - Lethbridge Sketch Club

trevor.kenney — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:29:12 +0000

In October 1936, a small group of local artists founded The Lethbridge Sketch Club. The club held regular painting sessions in the environs of southern Alberta, where the artists rendered depictions of rolling hills, coulee valleys and mountain peaks.

During visits to the area throughout the 1940s and 50s, Group of Seven member A.Y. Jackson joined the club on a number of excursions.

With continued membership and creative productivity over the next seven decades, the club transformed into the Lethbridge Artists Club, and is presently active in the newly opened CASA arts centre in downtown Lethbridge.

Philip J. Collins, Twixt the Coulees, Lethbridge, 1961. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of Margaret S. Nelson, 2008.

Anna Mackenzie, Mount Eisenhower. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of Margaret S. Nelson, 2008.

Jean Brown, Wheatfield. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Margaret S. Nelson, 2008.

Lasting Images - Franklin Carmichael

trevor.kenney — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:51:47 +0000

Franklin Carmichael was born in Orillia, Ont. in 1890. He moved to Toronto to attend the Ontario College of Art and Design where he studied with academically trained painters such as William Cruickshank and George Reid.

Carmichael befriended Tom Thomson, accompanying him on weekend sketching trips and eventually the two shared a studio space. Carmichael was a founding member of both the Ontario Society of Painters in Watercolour and the Canadian Group of Painters, and taught at his alma mater from 1932 until his death in 1945.

Carmichael was a member of the Group of Seven – a collective of landscape painters, active from 1920 to 1933, whose works became closely linked to Canadian nationalism.

The Group's paintings were acclaimed as the first distinctly Canadian modernist art movement, and depicted the majesty of the forests, lakes and mountain peaks of the Canadian Shield region.

The members of the Group believed that by representing Canada's rugged wilderness with bold colours, stylized shapes and gestural brushstrokes, they could break from European conventions of painting and imbue their works with an essentially Canadian spirit.

This story first appeared in the October 2012 issue of the Legend. To see the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link. For a look at the full U of L Art Collection, follow this link.

Franklin Carmichael, Untitled (Forest Interior), 1933. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of an anonymous donor, 2002.

Franklin Carmichael, Untitled (Jack Pine Trees), 1940. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of an anonymous donor, 2002.

Franklin Carmichael, Untitled (La Cloche Area Landscape), 1940. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection. Gift of an anonymous donor, 2002.

Lasting Images - Painters Eleven

trevor.kenney — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:32:29 +0000

In 1952, painter Alexandra Luke organized the first Canadian exhibition of abstract painting to be assembled on a national scale in Canada. In the brochure for the show, titled Canadian Abstract Exhibition, she wrote, "Painting should not stop with the already discovered beauty but continue searching."

Due to what the viewing public misunderstood as childish and insincere, abstract painting in Canada struggled to gain acceptance, especially in comparison to the nationally supported work of the Group of Seven, CP Rail's propagated images of the picturesque and traditional forms of landscape and portrait painting.

Kazuo Nakamura, Grey Day, 1954. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Purchased in 1988.

The abstract exhibition toured Canada in 1953, however it received mixed reviews. At a panel discussion at the Art Gallery of Toronto called Why Should We Buy Canadian Paintings?, writer and critic George Robertson suggested that department stores should be encouraged to sell original Canadian paintings using typical merchandising methods. Future Painters Eleven member William Ronald was in attendance, and his design work for the Robert Simpson Company prompted an exhibition of abstract and non-objective paintings at Simpson's department store. The subsequent show, titled Abstracts at Home, was meant to persuade the general public that abstract expressionist painting was just as much at home within the everyday as in an art gallery, and the exhibit featured works from various artists displayed in furnished rooms typical of modern living.

Harold Town, Reds, Greens, Browns, 1956. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Jim Coutts, 2010.

The promotion was a success for the store and the seven participating artists, resulting in a discussion to show their work together as a group. After agreeing to invite four other like-minded artists, it was decided that a meeting would take place at Luke's studio to discuss the idea of a large group exhibition of their works. At the historic meeting, Jack Bush, Oscar Cahen, Hortense Gordon, Tom Hodgson, Alexandra Luke, Jock Macdonald, Ray Mead, Kazuo Nakamura, William Ronald, Harold Town and Walter Yarwood decided to call themselves Painters Eleven, and from Feb. 12-28, 1954, at the Roberts Gallery in Toronto, the largest crowds ever drawn to the gallery viewed work from some of the most influential artists in history.

The Painters Eleven legacy lives on in the form of artwork now held in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; an example of their influence and success. Unfortunately, after being acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1978, the same cannot be said for Simpson's department store.

William Ronald, Back Thru Autumn, 1954. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Avrom Isaacs, 1986.

Chad Patterson
Museum Studies Intern, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Gallery

This story first appeared in the Legend. To view the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Library projects have students helping students

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 21:57:39 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Library is involved in a pair of recent initiatives that highlight its commitment to student service.

A pilot project launched in early March is aimed to provide improved IT support in the library, especially on evenings and weekends. Computer-related questions are often asked at the Information & Research Assistance Desk or the General Services Desk, which are staffed by librarians and technical services staff whose expertise may not be in this area. While the library has an internal IT staff that takes calls during the day, this resource is unavailable after hours. Enter the Peer-Assisted Technology Support Students (PATTS).

A group of seven, newly-hired student assistants, several of whom have new media or previous computer experience, have been trained in both hardware and software issues that library staff often encounter. Software questions include those regarding Microsoft Office, Blackboard/WebCT and Moodle; while hardware issues they will be able to handle include printing problems, microfiche scanning and printing, projector and laptop use in group work rooms, problems with library computer stations, as well as the circulating equipment such as laptops, digital cameras, projectors and video cameras.

"The library has 176 distributed (sit-down) computer stations and 33 (stand-up) public access stations, which are very highly used," says Jeremy Pierson, the Technical Specialist in the library responsible for hiring and training the students. "The PATSS program will hopefully alleviate the number of technical questions received at the other service desks and provide not only improved service after-hours, but quicker response times during the day when IT staff aren't always available to immediately respond."

Pierson notes that students are often the best people to help their peers with technical issues, as they are more familiar with course software and can often be more tech-savvy.

The PATSS station will be in a highly visible location when entering the library, immediately beside the Information & Research Assistance Desk. It will be staffed from 1 p.m. to close on weekdays and during all library opening hours on weekends, including extended hours which begin closer to exam time.

The library also recently received nine new circulating Macintosh laptops, purchased by the ULSU through their Quality Initiatives Proposal fund. These replace the five laptops which were purchased with this fund in 2007-2008. Circulating laptops are a high-demand item, and requests for Macs especially, has been growing.

Through both the introduction of PATSS and the increased availability of student-use laptops, the library has partnered with students to continue to improve the library's technical services to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community.

Library projects have students helping students

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:48:51 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Library is involved in a pair of recent initiatives that highlight its commitment to student service.

A pilot project launched in early March is aimed to provide improved IT support in the library, especially on evenings and weekends. Computer-related questions are often asked at the Information & Research Assistance Desk or the General Services Desk, which are staffed by librarians and technical services staff whose expertise may not be in this area. While the library has an internal IT staff that takes calls during the day, this resource is unavailable after hours. Enter the Peer-Assisted Technology Support Students (PATTS).

A group of seven, newly-hired student assistants, several of whom have new media or previous computer experience, have been trained in both hardware and software issues that library staff often encounter. Software questions include those regarding Microsoft Office, Blackboard/WebCT and Moodle; while hardware issues they will be able to handle include printing problems, microfiche scanning and printing, projector and laptop use in group work rooms, problems with library computer stations, as well as the circulating equipment such as laptops, digital cameras, projectors and video cameras.

"The library has 176 distributed (sit-down) computer stations and 33 (stand-up) public access stations, which are very highly used," says Jeremy Pierson, the Technical Specialist in the library responsible for hiring and training the students. "The PATSS program will hopefully alleviate the number of technical questions received at the other service desks and provide not only improved service after-hours, but quicker response times during the day when IT staff aren't always available to immediately respond."

Pierson notes that students are often the best people to help their peers with technical issues, as they are more familiar with course software and can often be more tech-savvy.

The PATSS station will be in a highly visible location when entering the library, immediately beside the Information & Research Assistance Desk. It will be staffed from 1 p.m. to close on weekdays and during all library opening hours on weekends, including extended hours which begin closer to exam time.

The library also recently received nine new circulating Macintosh laptops, purchased by the ULSU through their Quality Initiatives Proposal fund. These replace the five laptops which were purchased with this fund in 2007-2008. Circulating laptops are a high-demand item, and requests for Macs especially, has been growing.

Through both the introduction of PATSS and the increased availability of student-use laptops, the library has partnered with students to continue to improve the library's technical services to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community.

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Culture Vulture Saturdays bring community to campus

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:57:49 +0000

Wipe away those winter blues and spend the day in the Atrium for Culture Vulture Saturday.

Art meets chemistry in the Jan. 15 edition of the popular, community-friendly program, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Using ink from berries, participants will have the opportunity to make a very unique art project.

"The month of January not only marks a new year, but also welcomes a new exhibit in the main gallery," says Rosalind Jeffrey, Culture Vulture program co-ordinator. "A Little History on the Prairies features the Nanton series of photographs by Geoffrey James and works by Margaret Shelton, which showcase the prairie landscape, a part of who we are as Canadians. The exhibit also includes sketches by Group of Seven artist, A.Y. Jackson, done during his time in Pincher Creek."

After studying these landscapes, participants take a step back in time and will make their own ink from the juice of berries.

"Art meets chemistry in this activity, which is perfect for art enthusiasts of all ages," says Jeffrey. "You'll be able to use your handmade ink to sketch your own prairie landscape. Perhaps you'll want to include a raspberry bush to remind you that spring is on its way!"

Supplies are provided and the admission to Culture Vulture Saturday is always free.

For a look at the full issue of the December Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Campus Kudos

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:39:44 +0000

Dr. Leslie Dawn (Art) lectured on Oct. 5 about Emily Carr and the Group of Seven's Accusations she was "painting against the nation" as part of Southern Alberta Art Gallery's (SAAG) Articulations III: Scandals, Scoundrels, Capers, and Cons.

Leanne Elias (New Media) is the lead artist on SAAG's Welcome to My World project, which runs until Dec. 5. Chai Duncan (Art Technician) and Glen MacKinnon (Art) were artist mentors to the students who created videos during the workshop.

Dr. Janet Youngdahl (Music) presented The Origins of the Art of Musical Notation to a history course of Dr. Friedemann Sallis at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary recently. The presentation was video-linked to the U of L.

Billy McCarroll (Art Professor Emeritus), Glenn MacKinnon (Art) and Denton Fredrickson (Art) make up one of the six collaborative teams whose work was part of SAAG's On Your Marks exhibition. Dagmar Dahle (Art) and Amanda Espezel (MFA art student) made up another team.

Dr. Ed Jurkowski (Music) will present his paper entitled, Interthematic Formal Fusion as Structural Design in Sibelius's Op. 67 Sonatinas for Piano, at the Fifth International Jean Sibelius Conference, at Oxford ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, England.

Dr. Rolf Boon's (Music) composition Waves (2007) was selected for inclusion in the New Works Calgary concert season. The Rubbing Stone Ensemble will perform Waves in their Apr. 21, 2011 concert of works for percussion and ensemble with guest virtuoso percussionist Aiyun Huang.

Michael Campbell (Art) is part of a group exhibition entitled, Nouveau Frankenstein, showing at the Trianon Gallery until Nov. 12.

Dagmar Dahle's (Art) prose piece, Painting John Brown Painting, is featured in the recent issue of Ars Medica: A Journal of Medicine, the Arts and Humanities, published by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto Press.

Col Cseke (BFA '07) was part of the collective that shared a Betty Mitchell Award for Best New Play. The Betty Mitchell Awards are Calgary's celebration of professional theatre.

Aaron Barr (BFA '02) was a character surfacer for the recently released 3D movie, Legend of the Guardians. Among numerous other projects, he has worked on two other movies – The Ant Bully and The Wild. He currently works as a surface/modeler at Image Engine Design Inc. in Vancouver.

Snap, Crackle, Pop explodes on the 2010 scene

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:03:05 +0000

The new year comes in with a bang at the U of L Art Gallery as Snap, Crackle, Pop opens with a reception on Friday, Jan. 15, at 4 p.m. in the U of L Main Gallery.

This contemporary group exhibition, curated by Gallery Director/Curator Dr. Josephine Mills, showcases the work of past and present southern Alberta artists who explore the iconography, materials and visual aesthetic of popular culture.

The works Mills has chosen for the exhibition are light-hearted and accessible, while also calling to mind current events as portrayed by modern media.

"There are disaster-inspired and macabre themes throughout the works, but with element of optimism," explains Mills. "We live in a world surrounded by doom and gloom – from the economy to global warming – but the artists in this exhibition find optimism through playing with pop culture."

The exhibit includes work by U of L alumni Shanell Papp and Len Komanac.

"Shanell works with fabric and textiles and this exhibition features her embroidered life-size human skeletons and crocheted blood-pools," says Mills. "Len's pieces depict four disasters in a trailer park such as a giant squid rising from a kiddy-pool to angry trees seeking revenge for chopping one of their own into firewood."

"Art duo Dave & Jenn create fantastic landscapes by layering paint within acrylic resin and by drawing inspiration from the Group of Seven's famous imagery," she adds.

Dave & Jenn will give a talk in Art NOW on Jan. 15 at noon in the Recital Hall.

Other featured works include Christopher Moore's sculptures of military paraphernalia covered in hot pink flocking and Lisa Brawn's highly stylized woodcarvings of Canadian icons and macho men. A series of paintings entitled Erstaz Bats by Jason Mathis references both comic book culture and pop art's devotion to multiples; each panel depicts one of Mathis' friends, dressed in a Batman costume.

Snap, Crackle, Pop is on display in the U of L Main Gallery and Helen Christou Gallery from Jan. 15 through Feb. 26. The Main Gallery is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings.

Lasting Images - Daphne Odjig

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:04:46 +0000

As an Art History/Museum studies major, I have studied numerous types of art and artists. Over the last three years, some of the most influential courses I have taken are from the Native American Studies (NAS) Department.

It was in a NAS course that I was able to view significant First Nations Métis Inuit (FNMI) works from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Gallery Collection. With the rest of my class, I was able to view works by Alex Janvier, Norval Morriseau and Daphne Odjig. All of these artists were members of the Professional National Indian Artists Inc., a group that the media famously labelled, "the Indian Group of Seven." Out of these three artists, the one who stood out the most, in my opinion, was Odjig, because of her graphic style and organic forms. As I further researched her and her work, I became aware of Odjig's positive impact on the arts in Canada.

Born in Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island, this self-taught, half Pottawatomi, half English artist is known for painting, drawing, collage and printmaking. Odjig's images depict stories and beliefs from her culture. In addition to creating art, Odjig has been branded as the unofficial Ambassador of First Nations Culture within Canada because of her constant promotion of FNMI art and artists throughout the country. Odjig owned and operated Odjig Prints of Canada and the Warehouse Gallery, and was a co-founder and recruiter of the Professional Indian Artists Incorporation. Morgan Wood has noted that Odjig's goal in life has been "to keep the stories and beliefs alive and circulating for people to come and to inspire other artists to exhibit their culture-based works." It is because of her commitment to support artists and successfully exhibit her own work that Odjig's prints are some of my favourite works in the Gallery's collection.

Emily McCormick,
Museum Studies Intern, Department of Art

UNews - Group of Seven

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