VICTORIA IS CARR COUNTRY

photoIn Victoria you can’t escape the presence of our beloved Emily Carr.

Visitors coming to Victoria are often introduced to the presence of larger-than-life Emily first, perhaps, at the bronze statue by sculptor Barbara Paterson which stands on the handsomely refurbished grounds of Empress Hotel. A trip to nearby Carr House, Emily’s birthplace, on Government Street will further acquaint the visitor with Emily’s early life providing inspiration for a to visit the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, where significant Carr works are displayed.

Many artists have found resonance with Emily Carr. This past year an exhibit at Vancouver Art Gallery featured works by contemporary Canadian artist Landon Mackenzie finding relationship between her own work and that of Emily Carr. About twenty years ago my own work was shown in the Peoples Gallery at Carr House. The exhibition was called “Emily and I, Parallels and Possibities”. At that time I dressed in costume as Emily, giving tours of the nearby geography associated with Carr, as well as offering classes in sketching outside in the garden at Carr House.

So there is an ongoing Carr legacy of what moves artists to paint with passion and authenticity, but this poses several questions in my mind: How can one’s work achieve an independence from the powerful influence of style of such an iconic artist as Carr? Can one paint in the spirit of a strong artist but not copy? Is the work derivative?

What are your thoughts?