BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Allan Whitcomb Edwards

January 15 1915 - 1991

Canadian Institute of Associated Arts
West Vancouver Sketch Club
Federation of Canadian Artists


Allan Edwards was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1915. He was a pupil of John Russell in Toronto, Ontario. At the age of 16 he received an award for the most outstanding portrait at the Canadian National Exhibition. He also exhibited his work with the Michigan Artists, Detroit, and was an instructor at the Meinzinger Foundation in Detroit.

After arriving in British Columbia he exhibited with the Island Arts and Crafts Society in 1938. He exhibited two paintings with the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, one in 1939 and one in 1942.

Edwards was a long-time member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, ones of its first signature members, and was also President of the organization.

He exhibited work in the VAG annual B.C. Artist exhibition in 1962.

He taught at the Canadian Institute of Associated Arts in Vancouver, and also gave private instruction in art. The 1938 Prospectus for the school noted that he "studied at John Russell School, Toronto, and at the Art Institute, Chicago. On staff of Meinzinger Foundation Art School, in Detroit, for two years. Society painter in Ottawa, Toronto, and Chicago. Fashion Illustration work for Sak's Fifth Avenue, New York' Marshall Fields, Chicago; J.L. Hudson's Department Store, Detroit; "Vogue" magazine, "Detroit News" and "Vancouver Sun" newspapers. Also Magazine Illustration at Radio Station "CBR."

He was a member of the West Vancouver Sketch Club in 1976.

He wrote Another Voice in the Wilderness in 1991.


SOLO EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION LOCATION
1938 Sept. 20 - Oct. 2 Watercolours VAG
1939 June 6 - 18 Portraits in Oil (9 paintings) VAG

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION ARTWORK

References

ART AS YOUR CAREER
    Canadian Institute of Associated Arts Prospectus, 1938

WHO'S WHO IN NORTHWEST ART (refer to WWNA41)

Federation of Canadian Artists - Winter Exhibition 1977 (refer to FCA77)

ROYAL CANADIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS - EXHIBITIONS & MEMBERS 1880 - 1979 (refer to RCA81)
Two paintings listed by Edwards: "Mrs. Thomas C. Leighton", "The Black Hat".

ARTISTS IN CANADA 1982 - UNION LIST OF ARTISTS' FILES (refer to AIC82)

A DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN ARTISTS (refer to M)
      Half page biography with references.

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
      2 references cited for Edwards, including WWNA above (but not RCA).

ISLAND ARTS AND CRAFTS SOCIETY - List of Exhibitors

VISIONS OF THE WEST COAST - ROBERT ALLER & HIS COMMUNITY (refer to UVIC05)

VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY - B.C. ARTISTS FILES (refer to VPL)

WEST VANCOUVER SKETCH CLUB - LIST OF MEMBER 1947-1977 (refer to WVSC)

Clippings

"Canadian Artist Exhibiting Work"
     Vancouver Province, June 6 1939

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