Emily Carr, Tanoo, Queen Charlotte Island, BC, 1913. Courtesy Royal BC Museum, BC Archives.
Tomorrow, the first major European solo exhibition dedicated to Canadian artist Emily Carr—curated by the UK’s Ian Dejardin and Canadian Art contributor Sarah Milroy—opens at London’s Dulwich Picture Gallery. To get a look at more than 20 images and objects in the show, click on the slideshow window above.
As many Canadians know, Carr was fascinated by the indigenous populations of British Columbia. Accordingly, “From the Forest to the Sea: Emily Carr in British Columbia” presents a selection of more than 140 works, including a number of indigenous artefacts as well as the recently discovered illustrated journal Sister and I in Alaska, in which Carr documented a pivotal 1907 trip up and down the Northwest Coast.
Displayed for the first time are the “momentary records” Carr left behind in her trunk, including the sketch View in Victoria Harbour. Also on view are masks, baskets and ceremonial objects by Haida, Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, Salish, Tsimshian and Tlingit makers.
Earlier this week, on October 28, a group of Haida also performed at the gallery in the lead-up to the exhibition. The group included hereditary chief and master carver James Hart as well as Rosemary Hart, Gwaliga Hart, Nika Collison, Desiree Wilson, Shawn Edenshaw, Ernest Swanson and Henry Crosby. A video from part of their performance is viewable on Facebook:
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“From the Forest to the Sea” aims to build on the success of “Painting Canada: Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven,” which broke attendance records at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in 2011.
The exhibition has been organized by Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Art Gallery of Ontario with the collaboration of the National Gallery of Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Royal BC Museum, BC Archives.
On April 11, 2015, “From the Forest to the Sea” will have its Canadian debut at the Art Gallery of Ontario, where it will run until July 12, 2015.
