Mary Capilano
This image courtesy Neil Whaley collection
| BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS |
She had solo exhibitions of her work in 1930 at the Wilson & Co. Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario, and at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 1938. She also showed work at the National Gallery, Ottawa, in 1932, and the Art Gallery of Toronto in 1940.
In 1934 she had work in the RCA's 55th Annual exhibition, held at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
She was employed as a medical illustrator at McGill University from 1921-24, and taught at the Banff School of Fine Arts, 1936. She moved to Vancouver c1937 and later taught at U.B.C. from 1951 - 1962.
She exhibited in the Seattle Art Museum's annual Northwest Artists exhibition in 1943, her address noted as "Capilano."
She was on a list titled "Leading Vancouver Artists," provided to the Labour Arts Guild on April 10, 1946 by the Vancouver Art Gallery to assist in the Guild's call for entries to the second annual B.C. At Work exhibition.
She exhibited with the B.C. Society of Fine Arts in a number of their Annual Exhibitions. Cheney's work is represented in the National Gallery of Canada by her portrait of Emily Carr. Cheney is one of the artists known to have painted Savary Island.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
| DATE | EXHIBITION | LOCATION |
| 1938 Mar. 26 - Apr. 10 | Paintings & Water Colours | VAG |
| 1938 July 12 - 27 | Six Local Artists | VAG |
| 1942 April 28 - May 10 | Pastel Portraits (17 pictures) | VAG |
| DATE | EXHIBITION | ARTWORK |
| 1937 Sept. 17 - Oct. 10 | VAG B.C. Artists 6th Annual | Miss Mary R. Lawson, M.B.E. |
| Bobsy | ||
| Canterbury Bells | ||
| 1938 April 29 - May 15 | BCSFA 28th Annual | The Hungarian Costume |
| Calla Lilies | ||
| Arums | ||
| 1938 Sept. 16 - Oct. 9 | VAG B.C. Artists 7th Annual | The Black Tusk, Garibaldi Park, B.C. |
| Shelf Glacier, Garibaldi Park, B.C. | ||
| White Peonies | ||
| Garibaldi Lake, B.C. | ||
| 1939 June 9 - 25 | BCSFA 29th Annual | Portrait Sketch |
| Emily Carr | ||
| W.P. Weston, A.R.C.A. | ||
| J.W.G. Macdonald | ||
| The Caves, Sphynx Glacier, Garibaldi Park | ||
| 1939 Sept. 15 - Oct. 8 | VAG B.C. Artists 8th Annual | Mary Capilano |
| Coal Harbour | ||
| Mending Salmon Nets, Lulu Island | ||
| Autumn | ||
| Dr. G.G. Sedgewick | ||
| 1940 May 17 - June 2 | BCSFA 30th Annual | Portrait Sketch |
| Portrait Sketch | ||
| Portrait Sketch | ||
| Portrait Sketch | ||
| Miss Gale Taylor | ||
| 1940 Sept. 20 - Oct. 13 | VAG B.C. Artists 9th Annual | June Morning, Savary Island |
| West Wind, Savary Island | ||
| 1941 Sept. 26 - Oct. 19 | VAG B.C. Artists 10th Annual | Portrait |
| Portrait | ||
| Portrait | ||
| 1942 May 15 - 31 | BCSFA 32nd Annual | Donald Erickson |
| Mrs. Haller | ||
| 1942 July 7 - Sept. 2 | VAG B.C. Artists 1st Annual Summer | Mary Capilano |
| 1943 May 15 - June 6 | BCSFA 33rd Annual | Relics of the Sea |
| Gatineau Lake | ||
| Flowers | ||
| 1943 July 2 - Aug. 25 | VAG B.C. Artists 2nd Annual Summer | Relics of the Sea |
| 1943 Sept. 25 - Oct. 20 | VAG B.C. Artists 12th Annual | British Columbia River |
| 1944 May 13 - June 4 | BCSFA 34th Annual | Portrait, Sheila Weir |
| 1944 July 4 - Aug. 30 | VAG B.C. Artists 3rd Annual Summer | British Columbia River |
| 1944 Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 | VAG B.C. Artists 13th Annual | Ice Caves, Garibaldi |
| 1944 Nov. 21 - Dec. 10 | Labour Arts Guild 1st B.C. At Work | Lumber Mill, Nelson |
| Consolidated Smelter | ||
| 1945 May 18 - June 10 | BCSFA 35th Annual | The Signal, Savary Island |
| Sand Dunes, Savary Island | ||
| 1945 July 3 - Aug. 26 | VAG B.C. Artists 4th Annual Summer | Ice Caves, Garibaldi |
| 1946 May 31 - June 23 | BCSFA 36th Annual | Source of the Columbia River |
| 1946 July 2 - 28 | VAG Jubilee Exhibition | Mary Capilano |
| 1946 Sept. 21 - Oct. 13 | VAG B.C. Artists 15th Annual | Coast of B.C. |
| 1946 ? - ? | VAG Selections from 15th BCA | Coast of B.C. |
| Sand Dunes, Savary Island | ||
| 1947 May 9 - June 1 | BCSFA 37th Annual | Foxglove and Paeonies |
| 1947 July 8 - 27 | VAG B.C. Artists Summer Exhibition | Foxgloves and Peonies |
| 1947 Sept. 20 - Oct. 12 | VAG B.C. Artists 16th Annual | Nancy Jean Wright, Trail, B.C. |
| 1948 May 18 -June 6 | BCSFA 38th Annual | October in the Park |
| British Columbia Coast | ||
| 1949 May 3 - 22 | BCSFA 39th Annual | Mr. G.M. Crawford, Portrait Sketch |
| David Mather, Portrait Sketch | ||
| Dr. A.M. Agnew | ||
| West Coast | ||
| Forsythia in February | ||
| 1950 April 25 - May 14 | BCSA 40th Annual | Lumber Mill, Nelson, B.C. |
| Drying Fish Nets, B.C. | ||
| 1951 Summer | Park Royal BCSA Summer Exhibition | Winter, West Coast |
| Fraser & Thompson River Lytton B.C. | ||
| Lumber Mill Nelson B.C. | ||
| 1953 May 5 - 31 | VAG BCSA 43rd Annual | Columbia River at Trail, B.C. |
| Toby Creek, B.C. | ||
| 1985 | AGGV B.C. Women Artists | Back of the House of All Sorts |
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM - NORTHWEST ARTISTS EXHIBITIONS 1914 - 1975
Refer to NWA BC artists by exhibition
Refer to NWAA BC artists alphabetically
100 YEARS OF B.C. ART (refer to VAG58)
THE FINE ARTS IN VANCOUVER, 1886 - 1930 (refer to THOM69)
VISUAL ARTS BRITISH COLUMBIA (refer to VABC77)
BRITISH COLUMBIA ART COLLECTION 1974-80 (refer to BCAC80)
ROYAL CANADIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS - EXHIBITIONS & MEMBERS 1880 - 1979 (refer to RCA81)
ARTISTS IN CANADA 1982 - UNION LIST OF ARTISTS' FILES (refer to AIC82)
VANCOUVER: ART & ARTISTS 1931 - 1983 (refer to VAG83)
BRITISH COLUMBIA WOMEN ARTISTS 1885-1985 (refer to AGGV85)
MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS - SPRING EXHIBITIONS 1880 - 1970 (refer to MM88)
DEAR NAN - Letters of Emily Carr,
Nan Cheney, and Humphrey Toms
1990, edited by Doreen Walker; 436 pages
University of British Columbia Press; ISBN 0-7748-0348-7
250 letters transcribed, includes extensive biographical notes, excellent index
Extensive information regarding Cheney.
A DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN ARTISTS (refer to M)
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (refer to EBC00)
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
2 references cited for Cheney.
GREATER VANCOUVER ART GALLERIES 1954-2020 (refer to GVAG20)
2 references to Cheney.
VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY - B.C. ARTISTS FILES (refer to VPL)
"Cheney Paintings Gallery Feature" by T.H.W.
Vancouver Province, March 26 1938
"Clever Portraiture Marks Exhibit at Art Gallery"
News Herald, March 28 1938
"There is much work that is excellent and pleasing. Among the oils ... Nan Lawson Cheney with a
costume portrait and a still life; ... Foremost in the watercolor section is ... a brilliant entry
by Mrs. Cheney ... are all highly creditable."
From "Fine Showing By B.C. Artists Follows Conventional Lines" by E.N.B.
Vancouver Province, April 30 1938
"Nan Lawson Cheney sends two admirable portraits of fellow
artists, Messrs. Weston and Macdonald.
These are the finest portraiture work in the show."
From "Leading Provincial Artists Exhibit at Show" by T.H.W.
News-Herald, June 10 1939
"Artists represented in the group comprise the following ... Nan Lawson Cheney ... "
From "Maritime Art Association"
Vancouver Art Gallery Bulletin, November (?) 1939
"The portrait of Mary Capilano by
"Nan Lawson Cheney has been a frequent participator in
annual B.C. artists exhibitions for some years past,
contributing landscapes, portraits and still life. Her present display is entirely
of pastel drawings in the field of portraiture. All her subjects are men, and most
of them are in uniform.
"Other worthwhile exhibits are by ... Nan Lawson Cheney ..."
"Pastel Portraits and Payne Display Art Gallery Features" by
Palette
"Among other exhibits are ... Nan Lawson Cheney's "Relics of the Sea," beautiful
in textures and composition."
"Among other prominent exhibitors are ... Nan Lawson Cheney ... "
"Honourable Mention 1 for oil paintings went to George Goutiere
of West Vancouver for "The Man on the Bench"; the second Honourable Mention was given
to Nan Lawson Cheney of Capilano for her painting, "British Columbia River." "
"Another handsome canvas is Nan Cheney's strong and decorative flower piece,
"Foxglove and Paeonies," an unusually good handling of the range of whites."
From "Vancouver Artists' Paintings Bought for Famous Collection"
by Palette
Vancouver Province, July 23 1941
There is a good deal of verve and animation about these pictures. The artist has
approached her work with sure, deliberate intention and a firm, confidant (sic) technique.
She has shown particular ability in her handling of the various textures of the uniforms.
There is a fine study of a boy in a blue sweater, and "Capilano Fisherman" is a popular
subject handled with unusual freedom and competence. Mrs. Cheney has a good color sense
and an infallible feeling for sound design."
From "Three Exhibits On View At Art Gallery"
Vancouver Sun, April 30 1942
From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts
Display Sets New High Mark" by Palette
Vancouver Province, May 16 1942
Vancouver Province, May 1942
From "Fine Creative Spirit Marks Exhibition By B.C. Artists"
Vancouver Province, May 21 1943
From "Summer Show at Gallery Major Event
for Art Lovers" by Palette
Vancouver Province, July 7 1943
From "12th Annual B.C. Artists' Exhibition"
Vancouver Art Gallery Bulletin, November 1943
From "B.C. Art Exhibit Non-Experimental"
Vancouver News-Herald, May 12 1947