The Sisters are taking centre stage.
While it won't be for another two years, 18 pieces of art, including an early Emily Carr painting given to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria from the Sisters of St. Ann, will be featured in an exhibition in 2013. While the wait may seem long, some have waited decades to see the Sisters finally getting the recognition they deserve.
B次元官网网址淚 think they are a vital piece of the whole story of art and culture in our community and in B.C.,B次元官网网址� said Art Gallery of Greater Victoria chief curator Mary Jo Hughes. B次元官网网址淚t is a part of the story people don't know about.B次元官网网址�
The four nuns, sisters Marie du Sacre Coeur Valois, Marie Angele Gauthier, Marie de la Conception Lane and Marie Lumena Brasseur travelled from Quebec and became the first nuns to arrive in British Columbia in 1858. Upon arrival they promptly turned a modest log cabin into a school for children and care home for the sick B次元官网网址� eventually expanding their facilities over time to care for orphans and teach art to hundreds, if not thousands, of young girls.
B次元官网网址淚f we do want to present the history of art-making and appreciation in the province this really adds a piece of the story we didn't touch upon before,B次元官网网址� Hughes said. B次元官网网址淚t is also important to the history of womenB次元官网网址檚 art in B.C. Other than Emily Carr, we often just hear about the men in historical art. These were pioneer women artists that really made a difference in the community.B次元官网网址�
That difference was providing health care to the community which eventually led them to CarrB次元官网网址檚 sister Elizabeth, who suffered from cancer. As a thanks to the Sisters who helped her, the artist gifted Wild Lillies, a painting she completed when she was 20 B次元官网网址� which now resides in the AGGV as the oldest Carr in the collection.
The SistersB次元官网网址� vision eventually grew to include St. Ann's Residence (a care facility), Queenswood (a retreat centre) and national historic site St. Ann's Academy. After selling the academy to the province in the 1970s and closing Queenswood after 43 years, showing the art became more and more challenging and the society gave the AGGV first dibs on the entire collection.
B次元官网网址淭here is a certain nostalgia turning it over to the public but that is far outweighed by the assurance they will be well cared for and made available into the future,B次元官网网址� said Sister Marie Zarowny, provincial leader for the Sisters of St. Ann. B次元官网网址淭here is no point having them and having them hidden in a cupboard. We felt they would provide really good stewardship of our paintings and provide them to the public in a way that was advantageous for the paintings, and make our legacy with regards to the art to the community known.B次元官网网址�
Other works from the collection include a SisterB次元官网网址檚 rendition of Raphael's Virgin and Child. Also included are local scenes of Clover point, Beacon Hill Park, the Gulf Islands and the Malahat B次元官网网址� all from more than 100 years ago. Zarowny however, hopes the enduring memories will be of their influence on womenB次元官网网址檚 art.
B次元官网网址淚 would hope that what comes across is, even in pioneer times the recognition of creative expression being integral to the life of a human person is very important,B次元官网网址� Zarowny said. B次元官网网址淭he importance of women artists B次元官网网址� being recognized as valuable artists throughout history."
