BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Lawren Stewart Harris

October 23 1885 - January 29 1970

Group of Seven
Canadian Group of Painters
Federation of Canadian Artists (Founding Member)
Royal Canadian Academy (Medal 1969)


 

Lawren Stewart Harris was born in Brantford, Ontario in 1885. He became a member of the Group of Seven, and was nationally important in the development of Canada's art during the twentieth century. Since much information is available regarding Harris and the Group of Seven, only local exhibitions and information will be noted here. Although he was originally an Eastern Canadian painter, he moved to the West Coast in 1940 and became heavily involved in the local art scene. He passed away in Vancouver in 1970.

In 1931 Harris had an exhibition with A.Y. Jackson at the Vancouver Exhibition titled Sketches of the Canadian North.


Catalogue from the 1931 PNE show.

On December 4 1943 Harris gave a lecture titled Art and Democracy, sponsored by the Vancouver Institute.

He 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.

In 1946 - 1947 he had work in a Federation of Canadian Artists travelling exhibition, and wrote a short statement to explain his work in the show.

He exhibited more work with the B.C. Society of Fine Arts in their Annual Exhibitions from 1942 to 1967.

Also, per card file at Vancouver Art Gallery Library:
     B.C. Society of Fine Arts: 1951, 1956-57, 1960, 1967.
     VAG annual B.C. Artist exhibitions: 1951, 1956-57.


SOLO EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION LOCATION
1941 April 29 - May 13 Solo Exhibition VAG
1941 May 14 - ? Solo Exhibition (same as above) Brock Memorial Building UBC
1945 Jan. 30 - Feb. 18 Sketches (12 Pictures) VAG
1949 March 1 - 20 Retrospective 1910-1948 (90 paintings) VAG (traveling)
1949 March 22 - April 3 Solo show (24 sketches) VAG

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION ARTWORK
1928 Sept. 3 - 8 ProvExh   8th Annual Salon Afternoon Sun, Lake Superior
Mountain Picture
Lake Superior
Elevator Court, Halifax
1931 Aug. 22 - 29 Vancouver Exhibition Sketches of the Canadian North (with A.Y. Jackson)
1932 May - July VAG   All Canadian Exhibition Isolation Peaks, Rockies
1942 May 15 - 31 BCSFA   32nd Annual Painting
1942 July 7 - Sept. 2 VAG   B.C. Artists 1st Annual Summer Sonata
1942 Nov. 3 - 15 FCA   Red Cross Benefit (no information available)
1943 May 15 - June 6 BCSFA   33rd Annual Painting
Hills North of Lake Superior
1943 July 2 - Aug. 25 VAG   B.C. Artists 2nd Annual Summer Hills North of Lake Superior
1943 Sept. 25 - Oct. 20 VAG   B.C. Artists 12th Annual 1943
1944 May 13 - June 4 BCSFA   34th Annual Painting
1944 July 4 - Aug. 30 VAG   B.C. Artists 3rd Annual Summer Painting
1944 Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 VAG   B.C. Artists 13th Annual Rhythmic Organization
1945 May 18 - June 10 BCSFA   35th Annual Mt. Thule, Bylot Island
South Short, Bylot Island
1945 July 3 - Aug. 26 VAG   B.C. Artists 4th Annual Summer Mount Thule, Bylot Island
1946 May 31 - June 23 BCSFA   36th Annual Composition
1946 July 2 - 28 VAG   Jubilee Exhibition Painting
1946 Sept. 21 - Oct. 13 VAG   B.C. Artists 15th Annual Mountain Form VI
Abstract Painting of a Mountain Experience
1946 ? - ? VAG    Selections from 15th BCA Hills North of Lake Superior
1946 Oct. ? - ? FCA    40 Selections from 15th BCA Mountains - Bylot Island
1946 - 47 FCA    Travelling Exhibition #2 Mountain Sketch
Abstract Sketch
Fish House, Coldwell, Lake Superior
Mountain Sketch LXXIV, above Moraine Lake
Northern Sketch XXI
South Shore, Bylot Island
Northern Labrador
Abstract Sketch
1947 July 8 - 27 VAG   B.C. Artists Summer Exhibition Mountain
1948 May 18 -June 6 BCSFA   38th Annual Abstract Painting No. 20
1948 Sept. 18 - Oct. 10 VAG   B.C. Artists 17th Annual Painting
1949 May 3 - 22 BCSFA   39th Annual Variations on a Theme
1949 Oct. 8 - 30 VAG   B.C. Artists 18th Annual South Peak, Mount Victoria
1950 April 25 - May 14 BCSA   40th Annual Bylot Island II
Formative I
1950 Nov. 28 - Dec. 17 VAG   B.C. Artists 19th Annual Formative No. 4
1951 April 24 - May 13 VAG   BCSA 41st Annual Mountain, Maligne Lake
1951 Nov. 27 - Dec. 16 VAG   B.C. Artists 20th Annual Formative III
1956 Feb. 28 - Mar. 18 VAG   BCSA 46th Annual Painting
1956 Oct. 23 - Nov. 11 VAG   B.C. Artists 25th Annual Northern Drama
1957 March 5 - 24 VAG   BCSA 47th Annual Dynamics of Peace
1957 Oct. 23 - Nov. 11 VAG   B.C. Artists 26th Annual The Spirit of Remote Hills
1960 May 22 - June 12 VAG   BCSA 50th Annual Winter Afternoon, City Street
Spruce and Lake
1967 May 3 - 28 VAG   BCSA 57th Annual First Snow North Shore Lake Superior
Composition #1

References - BIBLIOGRAPHY

Refer to BIBLIO.

References - GROUP EXHIBITIONS

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

100 YEARS OF B.C. ART (refer to VAG58)

B.C. PAINTINGS BURNABY 58 (refer to BAG58)

ARTE CANADIENSE (refer to NGC60)

6th BURNABY NATIONAL PRINT SHOW (refer to BAG71)

VANCOUVER: ART & ARTISTS 1931 - 1983 (refer to VAG83)

A MODERN LIFE: Art and Design in British Columbia 1945-1960 (refer to VAG04)

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE (2008) (refer to BAG08)

SHORE, FOREST AND BEYOND - ART FROM THE AUDAIN COLLECTION (refer to VAG11)

ARTISTS, ARCHITECTS & ARTISTS - Canadian Art 1890 - 1918 (refer to NGC13)

References - GENERAL

CANADIAN LANDSCAPE PAINTERS
      1932; by Albert H. Robson, 228 pages, 75 illustrations in full colour
      Published by the Ryerson Press. Toronto; no ISBN.
      Includes index of painters, three page bibliography, biographical information

WHO'S WHO IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 1944-45-46
      A Record of British Columbia Men and Women of Today
      S. Maurice Carter Editor & Publisher
      Copyright 1945, printed by Atlas Printers, Vancouver B.C.
      312 pages, hardcover; index of names (14 pages), biographies (290 pages)
      list of abbreviations (2 pages), advertising including the only portrait in the book
      Includes reference to Lawren Harris

BRITISH COLUMBIA - A CENTENNIAL ANTHOLOGY (refer to BCCA58)

MACLEAN'S MAGAZINE - B.C. CENTENNIAL ISSUE (refer to MAC58)

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

CREATIVE CANADA - Volumes One & Two (refer to CC71)
      Includes two and a half columns of information on Harris.

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)

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

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

THE ALMA MATER SOCIETY ART COLLECTION - University of British Columbia 1948 - 1988
      No ISBN, 64 pages, illustrated in colour and b&w
      Includes history of the collection, artist biographies

A DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN ARTISTS (refer to M)
      Extensive 4 page biography, 1 page of footnotes.

CANADIAN ART - FROM ITS BEGINNINGS TO 2000 (refer to CAN00)

THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA (refer to CE00)

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
      30 references listed for Harris, including CC2, M, and RCA listed above.

ART INSPIRED BY THE CANADIAN ROCKIES, PURCELL MOUNTAINS AND SELKIRK MOUNTAINS 1809-2012 (refer to TOWN12)

THE FECKLESS COLLECTION (refer to FECK18)

GREATER VANCOUVER ART GALLERIES 1954-2020 (refer to GVAG20)
     1 reference to Harris

Clippings

"A large painting by Lawren Harris is in the latest style of one of Canada's most famous painters. ... "
      From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts Display Sets New High Mark" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, May 16 1942

" ... Among those contibuting paintings and drawings are: ... Lawren Harris ... "
      From "Noted Artists Offer Paintings For Red Cross"
      Vancouver Province (presumed), November 1942

"On the wall occupied by abstract paintings the large canvas by Lawren Harris reveals him as a master of non-representational symphonic organization."
      From "Fine Creative Spirit Marks Exhibition By B.C. Artists"
      Vancouver Province, May 21 1943

"Paintings by well known artists include ... Lawren Harris ... "
      From "Summer Show at Gallery Major Event for Art Lovers" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, July 7 1943

"We are asked by Mr. Lawren Harris, Chairman of the Exhibition Committee, to say that the Committee will welcome written expressions of opinion from members as to the desirability of repeating the "Non-Jury" plan tried this year in succeeding exhibitions. Letters should be addressed to the Curator."
      From "12th Annual B.C. Artists' Exhibition"
      Vancouver Art Gallery Bulletin, November 1943

"Lawren Harris and S. Brunst are in the vanguard of the abstractionists ... "
      From "Notable Exhibits of Artists' Work" by Mildred Valley Thornton
      Vancouver Sun (presumed), May 1944

"As a result of a ballot taken in respect of nominations previously secured by public announcement, three artist members, Mr. Lawren Harris, Mr. C.H. Scott, A.R.C.A., and J.W.G. Macdonald, headed the poll by large majorities."
      From "Re: 13th Annual B.C. Artists' Exhibition" by A.S. Grigsby

"In the pronounced swing to the left we find of course Lawren Harris, with his purely non-objective "Variations on a Theme"" ...
      From "Lively Spirit Pervades B.C. Artists' Exhibition" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, May 3 1949

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