BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS |
She exhibited with the B.C. Society of Fine Arts from 1923 to 1930.
She exhibited paintings with the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1931, 1932, and 1933.
Also, per card file at Vancouver Art Gallery Library:
Island Arts and Crafts Society: 1928.
Vancouver Exhibition: 1930.
Additional information gives an exhibition range between 1927 and 1932 with the Island Arts and Crafts Society. She is listed in Who's Who in Northwest Art, but only her name and address are given.
Macdonald and Harper note that she also exhibited paintings in the Paris Salons in 1932 - 1933, and at the Royal Academy in England in 1931. She also exhibited a total of 17 paintings in the Spring Exhibitions of the Art Association of Montreal from 1932 to 1943.
She exhibited in the Seattle Art Museum's annual Northwest Artists exhibition in 1937.
She died in Vancouver in 1945.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
DATE | EXHIBITION | LOCATION |
1938 Oct. 25 - Nov. 6 | Flower Paintings (51 artworks) | VAG |
DATE | EXHIBITION | ARTWORK |
1923 May 12 - 19 | BCSFA 15th Annual Exhibition | The Rivals |
Home from the Flower Show | ||
Heralds of Spring | ||
Study of Roses | ||
1924 May 3 - 17 | BCSFA 16th Annual Exhibition | Single Asters |
Beauty Protected | ||
Red Tulip | ||
Pink Chrysanthemums | ||
From Different Climes | ||
1927 June 10 - 25 | BCSFA 19th Annual Exhibition | A Vancouver Rose |
Zanias | ||
1930 Aug. 6 - 16 | VanExh Oil Paintings & Water-colours | The Jug from Normandy |
Gladiolii | ||
1930 Aug. 22 - Sept. 6 | CNE Water Colours | Just from the Market |
1932 Oct. 5 - 30 | VAG B.C. Artists 1st Annual | Peonies, Victoria |
1933 Sept. 22 - Oct. 15 | VAG B.C. Artists 2nd Annual | A Variety of Peonies |
Bowl of Roses | ||
1940 Sept. 20 - Oct. 13 | VAG B.C. Artists 9th Annual | An Inspiration |
Favorites | ||
1941 Sept. 26 - Oct. 19 | VAG B.C. Artists 10th Annual | The Golden-Banded Lily of Japan |
1950 April 25 - May 14 | BCSFA 40th Annual Exhibition | Red Poppies |
WHO'S WHO IN NORTHWEST ART (refer to WWNA41)
THE FINE ARTS IN VANCOUVER, 1886 - 1930 (refer to THOM69)
EARLY PAINTERS AND ENGRAVERS IN CANADA (refer to H70)
Includes short reference to Aitken.
ISLAND ARTS AND CRAFTS SOCIETY - List of Exhibitors
ROYAL CANADIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS - EXHIBITIONS & MEMBERS 1880 - 1979 (refer to RCA81)
ARTISTS IN CANADA 1982 - UNION LIST OF ARTISTS' FILES (refer to AIC82)
BRITISH COLUMBIA WOMEN ARTISTS 1885-1985 (refer to AGGV85)
MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS - SPRING EXHIBITIONS 1880 - 1970 (refer to MM88)
A DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN ARTISTS (refer to M)
A half page biography with six references listed.
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
11 references cited for Aitken.
B.C. VITAL STATISTICS ON-LINE death (refer to BCVS)
"On the principle of "ladies first," I may begin by
saying that Melita Aitken's flower pictures are
very splendid, very striking, and that they show no falling-off in her ability
in this line. They are fine examples of what can be done with flowers by means
of water color."
From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts" by
Diogenes
Vancouver Province, November 13 1930
"To have one of her paintings hung by the Royal Academy, London, England, was the
coveted honor won by Mrs. Melita Aitken, of Victoria, B.C. ... "
From "Academy Honors Canadian Artist"
Montreal Gazette, May 16 1931
"Melita Aitken's much praised water color still life of peonies is
among the pictures shown, of which others are too numerous to mention."
From "B.C. Artists Reveal Talent at Show"
unknown newspaper, October 1932
"The largest single collection of flower paintings yet to be shown in the Gallery."
Art Gallery Bulletin, Vol. 6 No. 2, 1938
"Other painters in this medium include ...
"The Society membership has been constantly strengthened in the succeeding years
by the addition of other members, which included in the early years ... Mrs. M. Aitken ... "
From "Watercolors Highlight of Art Showing" by
Mildred Valley Thornton
Vancouver Sun, May 3 1950
From "B.C. Society of Artists - A History"
by J.D. Parker
B.C. Society of Fine Arts 40th Annual
Exhibition Catalogue, 1950