History of the Saint John Art Club

We are going to go back in time to 1896 when a Saint John Branch of the “Women's Art Association of Canada ”was formed. From this group came the nucleus of the Saint John Art Club that included both men and women.

The Club set out its objectives very clearly. It was to advance the general knowledge of fine art. Promoting and facilitating a greater knowledge and love of art by the members of the community. The meetings were very formal and formal attire was worn. Once the Club was incorporated, a School of Art was formed which trained and launched many young artists. M.V. Paddock was its first art director; Miss Alice Hagarty guided the work of the advanced classes, while Miss E.R. Holt devoted 22 years to the instruction of junior students. Such notable artists as Ted Campbell and Miller Britain's first paintings were under Miss Holt's supervision. This school flourished until 1934. In addition to the School of Art, the club had three other main activities: the presentation of lectures; the showing of traveling exhibitions; and the acquisition of important paintings. There were no art galleries in Saint John and the New Brunswick Museum was a natural history museum, with no art department. The Club, therefore, raised funds for the purchase of paintings, with the objective of forming a collection of representative art of North America.

It was not long after the incorporation of the Club that most of the Permanent Collection was acquired. Because of the loss of the studio space on Peel Street, few paintings were added later, as the Club had no permanent home for display or storage. Some acquisitions in the intervening years were Jack Humphrey's “Head of a Girl” a demonstration work by Fred Ross; Julia Crawford's “Northwest Harbour, Deer Island” and Herzl Kashetsky's “Letter to the Artist”. “A desire to have people share in the knowledge and love of things artistic”, these were the words used to describe an energetic group of ladies of the late 1890's who formed a branch of the Women's Art Association of Canada. in Saint John . It consisted of 60 active members.

Early in the 20^th Century, it was decided to form an independent group, which would include both men and women, and the Saint John Art Club was born. In the constitution, power was given to the Club to “give instruction for the purpose for which it was incorporated and to charge for the same and employ and pay lecturers and teachers for its pupils.” The main object of the Club was “the advancement of fine arts and the promoting and facilitating of greater knowledge and love of art on the part of the public generally”. The meetings were elegant affairs with evening dress worn by the gentlemen and formal dress by the ladies. From the beginning, the Club began acquiring objets d'art and paintings by well known Canadian, British and American artists. Some were purchased with club funds and members donated others

As early as 1910 the main desire of the active membership was a place where art could be displayed. A report in 1914 states that since there had been for years a paid up membership of between 200 and 300, many of whom had valuable collections of paintings, it was regrettable that more items had not been put into the hands of the society. This appeared to be a hint to procuring an art centre or permanent home for the collection where paintings could be suitably displayed. However after researching this project and much investigation in attempting to find a philanthropist who would donate a building, it was decided only a new building would suffice.

In 1912 and for some years the Art Club was involved in creating an Art Department at the annual fall fair at the request of the Saint John Exhibition Association. Between 95 and 155 paintings were collected from London, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Sackville, and Saint John with a combined value sometimes as much as $13,500.00. In addition pottery, artistic jewelry, painted china-work, batik work, clay modeling and photography would be gathered from some of the same cities. The Exhibition gave up to $1000.00 to produce this display.

Almost from its inception the Art Club made great efforts to obtain paintings from individuals and societies in New Brunswick and other provinces in order to present exhibitions for the members and the public enjoyment and education in art. These exhibitions were hung at a studio on Peel St., the school in the Market building, or the Church of England Institute.

The National Gallery of Canada sometimes requested the Club to show exhibitions from them and some of them remained up as long as eighteen months and were used for study by the art students as well as for viewing. For several years, The Royal Canadian Academy of Artists made a yearly grant of $100.00 to the Club. During these early years, essay contests on impressions of a particular show or a painting was conducted for students. Prizes were also awarded to students for exceptional artwork in the schools. In 1919, a house to house survey of the members was carried out to ascertain what aspects of the Club they appreciated and what activities they wanted to see promoted. The members enjoyed outstanding lectures at their meetings. These included visiting speakers as well as distinguished citizens of the city. Excellent and varied programs are shown down through the years with few exceptions. A number of substantial bequests had been made to the Club, one being received in 1945, and it was at this time much research and publicity was made by the leaders and members of various city organizations in planning a community centre. This centre would provide accommodations for club and social gatherings as well as space for display and rooms for artistic endeavours. The Art Club had funds to contribute to such a plan and opened its meeting so that everyone interested in the “music and arts” part of the proposed building could discuss the project together. Eventually interest in the project fell away with the complexity in meeting the requirements of civic and Federal grants.

In Saint John in 1935, a group of people from the three Maritime Provinces met with the goal of the consolidation of the individual efforts of their art organizations. The outcome was the formation of the Maritime Art Association. After the formation, work began on an instrument of news that could go out to all the members, keeping them abreast of the latest developments in art, and as a source of communication regarding their activities. These activities culminated in Maritime Art, the association's news publication which was first published in 1940.

In 1941 three of our artist-members were given travelling scholarships to attend a conference of Canadian artists at Queen University. At this conference Maritime Art was lauded by the delegates who expressed the desire that it become national in scope. This change was made in due course, and the magazine took the name Canadian Art. A World War 11 exhibition of paintings by children of the bombed out areas in London, created much interest and this precipitated the focus of the club to gravitate toward children's art. The popular exhibition became the catalyst for the members to promote creative art in the schools.

In 1944 and 1945, the club put before the public the subject of creative art in the schools. And in 1946 held the first of several local children's art exhibitions. At the same time, a scheme to work with the school board in loaning out to school classes pictures that belonged to the club was begun. Paralleling these activities was the reorganization of the art classes. During the war there had been a lull in activities.

At the same time by 1947, the studio in the Market Building was in need of repairs. An offer by the New Brunswick Museum to allow the club space for the display of all its exhibitions as well as a place for holding most of its functions was accepted. However the art classes continued on a reduced scale in the Market Building studio. Introducing a yearly exhibition for the members of the club commencing in 1948 encouraged painting as a hobby, a universal trend of the times. The exhibition proved to be tremendously popular and brought many new members into the club. Known as Painters for Fun, the show was responsible for great improvement in the caliber of the work. The public, stimulated by the work of their friends seemed to take new interest in the travelling exhibitions brought in by the Art Club and by the Art Department of the New Brunswick Museum.

In 1949 an extensive campaign to double the membership of the club was held. A special committee sent out over 500 invitations. Christmas cards bearing original designs were produced and local firms did the photo engraving and printing. In all eight designs were put on the market. Over a six-year period the cards were a source of a fair income. As the years passed, the club sponsored more and more exhibitions of children's work from home and abroad. Lecturers trained in teaching creative art to children spoke at the club meetings and members of the club gave talks to Home and School organizations and other groups.

In 1950, the art club welcomed discussions regarding the appointment of a supervisor of child art in the city schools. By the summer of 1951, the club was sponsoring a summer class for children in a room at the Free Public Library. A Lismer-trained child art teacher came to the club through negotiations with the National Gallery of Canada. The club was responsible for her accommodations and board and she and her assistant were assisted by two local helpers.

The club made this a very special and unique project by reaching out to the Catholic and Protestant orphanages twice weekly during the summer, welcoming them as special guests. Classes continued during the winter and additional evening classes in creative art for adults were added. The publication Canadian Art reported the success of the Club's enterprising efforts as the club was added to the list of Canadian cities where a child's art centre operated. During the several years this Art Centre functioned, a substantial grant was received from the National Gallery of Canada. Art was not the exclusive interest of the Saint John Art Club.

Up to this point in time the members over several decades produced some outstanding dramatic presentations. Working together seems to have been great fun for all and very educational. There were many press releases with inspiring photographs of such functions in the twenties and the same rewarding experiences seem to have been enjoyed in the staging of the Fine Arts Balls in two consecutive years in the thirties. In addition, puppet making by the members gave much pleasure from time to time and the clever and amusing productions were always in great demand by the membership and the public.

By the year 1953 the Art Club was involved in co-sponsoring with the New Brunswick Handicraft Guild the first Art Festival of the area. It was held in M.R.A.'s large display room and included paintings by professional, amateur and child artists. Pottery, jewelry, leatherwork, needlework, iron craft, hooked rugs and stained glass was also exhibited. An extremely rewarding response to this endeavour was experienced with entries coming from several provinces. The Festival featured musical programs each day as well as the active demonstration of the artisans' works.

In 1955, the Maritime Art Association met in Saint John and the work of the Children's Art Centre was presented in a beautifully displayed show at M.R.A's under the patronage of the Lieutenant Governor and the mayors of the then twin cities of Saint John and Lancaster. In June the Art Centre project came to a successful end after five years, having radiated a whole new approach to children's art. It is interesting to note that the artwork went to exhibitions all over Canada, the United States and Japan.

In January of 1956, the Japanese Ambassador to Canada was present at a club meeting to make awards to five local children who were successful in an international competition held in Japan. Summer art classes for members were provided in both 1957 and 1958 and the club received the active support of the Tourist Bureau and the Museum in arranging a show of their work. This served to focus attention and promote the sale of paintings by the professional artists of Saint John. This show was held in the Museum's auditorium on Douglas Ave.

1908-2007

A CONTINUATION FROM ART CLUB RETROSPECTIVE 1908-1988

LIST OF PRESIDENTS

A. P. LUMSDEN 1986-88

EDWARD DOYLE 1988-90

HELEN S. HILL 1990-92

MARY K. CORMIER 1992-94

MICHAEL JAMES MARTIN 1994-95

BARBARA HORGAN-LINDA WELCH 1995-96

SHIRLEY SCOTT 1996-97

DAVID JARVIS 1997-98

LES ROLSTON 1998-99

EMMA MAY INNIS WEISSENEDER 1999-2000

JOHN NODDIN 2000 -

In Saint John's "Golden Age" of wealthy shipbuilders and merchants near the end of the 19th century, an Art School and Gallery, the Owens Art Institute operated in the Zion Church on Rockland Road. When this school fell on hard times its' collection of over three hundred works of art was transferred to Mount Allison University on condition the Owens Art Gallery be built to house it. Over the next two decades, artists and art appreciators finally came together in the formation of the Saint John Art Club. Its charter Meeting was November 13th 1908 and it was incorporated in 1912.

A 1914 report places membership between two and three hundred persons. From the beginning there were monthly meetings, open membership and a collection of paintings most of which were donated by wealthy patrons. The members dreamed of acquiring a permanent home. In 1948 the New Brunswick Museum, lacking an art department invited the Art club to mount exhibits at their Douglas Avenue building and soon provided meeting space in the King George VI Hall. This relationship was beneficial to both parties and continued until 1992.

From 1973 to 1975 the Club took over the De Forest Store space on Prince William St., for exhibition and studio space. It was called "The Paint box". In 1977 space in the Ritchie building was obtained and art lessons were offered. The Permanent collection was housed in the New Brunswick Museum until 1978, after that proper storage conservation and keeping members aware of its value became a problem. From 1992-96 meeting space was provided in the Aitken Bicentennial Exhibition Centre. The majority of works were hung at the Union Club on Canterbury Street or at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John with occasional exhibitions at the Aiken Bicentennial Exhibition Centre or at the University. The dream of a permanent gallery to house the collection became more remote. The idea of breaking up the collection was painful, however one painting from it, a Gagnon painting was put up for auction at Joyners in 1994 but did not reach the value attributed to it by the Club and was not sold. At the Annual Meeting in 1995 a motion passed to auction off the entire collection.

However in the summer of 1995, a new President and Executive negotiated with the New Brunswick Museum to accept the Art Club Collection of 38 paintings, which were appraised at $178,220.00 in 1990. The club would give the paintings to the museum as a gift. In return The NBM would slowly restore any paintings needing restoration and hang them duly noted as the Saint John Art club Collection. The Club would also have meeting space, archival storage and space for special events forever.

At this time the Museum had just opened their new venue in Market square. The Law firm of Sterling McKelvey,Sterling and Scales handled the agreement and at the same time oversaw the redrafting of the Art club Constitution. Restoration of the Permanent collection was now guarenteed and it would be kept together in New Brunswick with recognition of its' origin. With a meeting place insured and the collection hanging in the beautiful new gallery at the NBM, more time and emphasis was put on our Educational Scholarship Program.

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