by Emily Carr in London
British Columbia’s own beloved artist Emily Carr (1871-1945) is well known in Canada but not so much in England. Now a large body of her work is on exhibition there for the first time, at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London.
Our Vancouver Art Gallery has a large collection of her work, some of which is in the London exhibition along with collections from other Canadian institutions. They have a website on Emily with link to a timeline and images of her work:
Emily Carr, born in Victoria, British Columbia, is one of Canada’s most renowned artists, significant as a landscape painter and a modernist. The most important BC artist of her generation, she is best known for her attention to the totemic carvings of the First Nations people of British Columbia and the rain forests of Vancouver Island.
I have been very fortunate in seeing so much of her work here and in Victoria. The Vancouver Art Gallery always has some of her work on display for the pleasure of revisits, sometimes along with a contemporary artist with the aim of provoking discussion about differences and similarities in approach or spirit. I love most her late period works of our magestic trees painted in a free expressionist fashion.
A Guardian review of the Dulwich exhibit calls Emily Carr Canada’s very own Van Gogh. Some images to be enjoyed here as well.
This 2006 review in the Vancouver Sun might also be of interest.
I am now recalling a superb exhibition in 2002 called Carr, O’Keeffe, Kahlo: Places of Their Own accompanied by a wonderful book by Sharyn Rohlfsen Udall which I recommend highly, if it is still available and you are interested.
Above image: Emily Carr: Corner of Kitwancool Village, c. 1930 – Oil on Canvas
© McMichael Canadian Art Collection, scanned from a card
Later: just found this in today’s Vancouver Sun newspaper
November 3, 2014 in Art Exhibitions, Other artists by Marja-Leena
This is one of the many exhibitions on in London at present which I am giving a miss. It’s a case of trying to avoid indigestion. There is so much excellent choice that I am having to limit my indulgence.
After just seeing the Anselm Kiefer exhibition, I’m sure you have had your fill for quite some time! I notice that this show is on ’til early March 2015 so you might have an appetite by then. Like you I have to take exhibitions in small infrequent doses, which is hard if you are only in town for a week!
It’s interesting to know she was so poor she thinned her paints with gasoline and painted on brown paper. The emotive power of her brushstrokes comes shining through despite (maybe even because of) the materials. Most of all I love her skies.
Susan, yes, she was quite poor and had difficulty fitting into Victoria society of the time. She was happiest in the woods and amongst the First Nations people. I too love her skies. I must get my hands on her book Klee Wyck – it’s been decades since I read it.
She was a great artist. I think of her being so sick in London and saying that she should have gone to France to study instead of to England. And she studied in San Francisco, hardly an art center at that time. She had a lot to overcome. So much to say about her and think about her, too. She was an eccentric but very steady,and she made a home for herself and took care of people.
Hattie, I’m delighted that you know Emily so well. Yes, she was all that you say. If I recall right, I didn’t know about her until we moved to Vancouver. Part of that had to do with the male dominance in the art world in Canada but her friendship with some of members of the Group of Seven opened some doors for her in her later years.
Somehow I missed that excellent Guardian review and I’m also ashamed to admit I didn’t know much about Emily Carr. So thanks for this post, Marja-Leena, I will certainly try to see this exhbition. In the last few days I saw Kiefer at the R.A. (just posted about it) and Rembrandt at the Natl. Gallery (will post later) so I’m dazzled. This year has been generous with magnificent shows – Matisse and Malevich, and now these! I’m so grateful to be living within a bus or tube ride of such treasures.
Natalie, don’t feel bad that you were not too familiar with Emily Carr, that problem is now being corrected. You are indeed fortunate in living in a city that has so many major art galleries and museums. I still remember how overwhelming that was when we visited London, also Paris, for it is hard to take in so much in a short time. I shall check out your post on Kiefer now, and look forward to more on the other shows you visit.
A San Francisco blogger has written about an exhibit that I actually may be able to visit in January. It’s Roads of Arabia, at the Asian Art Museum. I am absolutely starved for art and culture.
That sounds interesting, Hattie, hope you are going to be able to see it! Should you be near Vancouver again, there is an exhibition called ‘The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors’ at the Vancouver Art Gallery that might interest you. Maybe we could see it together?
Oh, I do like Emily Carr! And know several women artists who are fans as well. I hope she’s getting good conservation work, considering some of her materials… I know everything eventually crumbles into dust, some time, but some things faster than others…
Marly, most of her work seems to be in museum collections and they are aware of conservation so that is a good thing. Pleased to hear you are a fan!