BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Arthur Lismer

1885 - 1969

Group of Seven
Royal Canadian Academy
Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (Charter Member, 1938 - 1952)
Federation of Canadian Artists (Founding Member 1941)

Lismer was born in Sheffield, England in 1885. He arrived in Toronto by boat in 1911. As a primarily eastern artist, his connection to the art scene in Vancouver was occasional rather than regular. His influence as a member of the Group of Seven cannot be discounted, though, and he did exhibit locally as early as the 1919 New Westminster Exhibition, and in the 1932 All-Canadian Exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Perhaps a more substantial contribution to the Vancouver art scene came from the recommendations contained in his confidential report to the National Gallery in 1935.

As with other members of the Group of Seven, there is much material information available on Lismer - monographs and exhibition catalogues - which the Editor has not attempted to list.


GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION ARTWORK
1932 May - July VAG   All-Canadian Exhibition Little Haven, Georgian Bay
Fishing Village, N.S.


References - MONOGRAPHS

Refer to BIBLIO.

References - GROUP EXHIBITIONS

SOUVENIR CATALOGUE OF EXHIBITIONS OPENING THE NEW VANCOUVER ART GALLERY (refer to VAG51)

ARTE CANADIENSE (refer to NGC60)

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

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE (2008) (refer to BAG08)

References - GENERAL

THE FINE ARTS IN VANCOUVER, 1886 - 1930 (refer to THOM69)

CREATIVE CANADA - Volumes One & Two (refer to CC71)
      Includes one and a third columns of information about Lismer.

FROM DESOLATION TO SPLENDOUR (refer to FDTS77)

CANADIAN ART PRINTS (refer to CAP79)

ROYAL CANADIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS - EXHIBITIONS & MEMBERS 1880 - 1979 (refer to RCA81)

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF CANADIAN DRAWINGS
      1980, Jerrold Morris, Methuen Publications, Agincourt Ontario; ISBN 0-458-94570-6.
      192 pages, illustrated throughout in black & white.
      Lismer page 65 and works illustrated.

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

MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS - SPRING EXHIBITIONS 1880 - 1970 (refer to MM88)

A DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN ARTISTS (refer to M)
      Extensive biography of almost nine pages, with numerous footnotes.

THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA (refer to CE00)

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
      24 references cited for Lismer.

Clippings

"This can scarcely be said of the "Winter Camouflage" by Arthur Lismer with its deep blue snow and extremely green river. Both the green and the blue are exceedingly beautiful hues and regarded merely as colors they may be looked at with joy. Nor need the critic complain that he has never seen snow or water look exactly like that which the artist has portrayed, since the painter is at liberty to interpret nature as he will, say to use nature merely as a suggestion or a hint. Given this licence, the question is: Does the picture harmonize with its own scheme of color and composition? The popular answer to this question will probably be in the negative, and even to many of those who love new departures the work will appear to be a more or less unsuccessful experiment. Not even being legitimately ranged under the blessed work "decorative". The fact is that this term has been worked nearly to death so as greatly to bewilder ordinary people."
      From "Local Work is on View" by Bernard McEvoy
      Vancouver Daily Province, October 2 1919

"In enabling the West, through periodical exhibitions, to become familiar with the more distinguished work that is being done by painters in Eastern Canada, and in sending us so inspiring a missionary as Mr. Arthur Lismer to spread the gospel of art to spur us to effort and emulation, the authorities in Ottawa deserve our thanks."
      From "BRITISH COLUMBIA ART - Significance of First "All British Columbia Show" by Harold Mortimer Lamb
      Saturday Night December 10 1932

"Other painters whose pictures hav been purchased include ... Arthur Lismer with "Derelict Pier.""
      From "Toronto Art Gallery Acquires Works of British Columbians" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, August 14 1943


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