BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Miss Edith Beatrice Catharine Lennie ("Bee")

June 16 1904 - June 1 1987

Regent of Sir Arthur Pearson Chapter I.O.D.E. (1927)
Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts (Diploma 1929)
P.A.S.O.V.A.S. (Founding Member)
California School of Fine Arts, San Francisco (Post Graduate)
Vancouver School of Art Graduate's Association (Member)
B.C. Society of Fine Arts (Member 1936-1967, Life Member 1957-1967)
B.C. Society of Fine Arts/B.C. Society of Artists: Exhibitor's Timeline
B.C. College of Arts (Assistant Instructor)
Tauber's Puppet Players
Beatrice Lennie School of Sculpture (Founder)
Federation of Canadian Artists (Founding Member 1941)
Puppeteers of America
Sculpture Society of Canada



From 1929 graduating class photo


Beatrice Lennie was born in Nelson. Conflicting records give her birthdate as either 1904 or 1906. Her father Robert S. Lennie, K.C. (King's Council) was a lawyer who supported the arts. The family moved to Vancouver in 1911. She attended Crofton House School and studied art under Kate Smith Hoole. Afterwards she was sent to Boston where she studied painting, drama, and ballet.


1927 memberships

Lennie started classes at the VSDAA in 1925, and was in the first graduating class in 1929. Her graduation piece, done under sculptor Charles Marega, was a large sculpture known as "The Spirit of Mining", alternately "Mining". This sculpture was mounted over a fireplace in the Lennie home in Shaughnessey for many years, until a later owner of the house donated it to the Provincial Museum. The sculpture apparently did not make it to Victoria, and in 2004 was in the collection of the B.C. Museum of Mining at Britannia Beach, B.C.


The Spirit of Mining (click for more information and images)

Lennie won best costume design at the the first Beaux Arts Ball at the Hotel Vancouver in 1929.


1929 Graduating Class

She was a founding member of P.A.S.O.V.A.S., the Pioneer Art Students of Vancouver Art School, an artist's group formed in 1930 from the students who entered the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts in its first year and a half of classes in 1925 and 1926, and was later a member of the Vancouver School of Art Graduate's Association.

She exhibited her work in the 1930 Spring Exhibition of the B.C. Society of Fine Arts. Later that year she exhibited in the PASOVAS group exhibition at the B.C. Art League gallery.

She exhibited in the Seattle Art Museum's annual Northwest Artists exhibitions in 1930, 1931, and 1934.

Lennie did post-graduate studies at the California School of Fine Arts, where she studied under stone carver Ralph Stackpole. After returning to Vancouver from San Francisco, Lennie was hired as an assistant instructor at the B.C. College of Arts, founded in 1933 by Frederick Varley and Jock Macdonald. Lennie's father was a patron of the College. Unfortunately, his support could not be enough, and the College closed for financial reasons in 1935. Lennie was forced to do something different.

 
B.C. College of Arts Prospectus 1933

In 1936, the Spring issue of The Smock Pocket noted that Lennie had opened the Beatrice Lennie School of Sculpture, at 1522 13th Avenue (Granville and 13th). Lennie had work in the PASOVAS group exhibition in 1932 and 1936, at the Vancouver Art Gallery. She designed large panels that were installed at the end of the elevator lobby in the Hotel Vancouver, the work was titled Ascension, but it was later either removed or covered up during a renovation. She also created a sculpture for the Federal Post Office, Vancouver, and a dedication plaque for the Patullo Bridge in New Westminster.

She had a solo exhibition with the Picture Loan Society, Toronto, in 1937. She exhibited her work, or photographs of her work, with the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1932, 1938, 1951, and 1953. She also showed her work in one exhibition of the Art Association of Montreal, at the National Gallery of Canada, with the Sculptor's Society of Canada in Toronto, and at the Seattle Art Museum.


St. John Anglican church on Granville St. - Lennie reliefs.


Relief (detail)


Baptismal font

In 1942 Lennie took part in a three-women show at the Vancouver Art Gallery with Mabel Bain and Kate Smith Hoole. 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.

Lennie was Director of Children's Saturday Morning Classes at the Vancouver Art Gallery for ten years, and also taught art at Crofton School for seven years.

Her sculptural work remains scattered around Vancouver for our viewing pleasure. Her large panel for the Labour Temple on the north side of the 300 Block West Broadway is one of the easier ones to see, as is the recently re-painted bas relief of Hippocrates on the medical building on the west side of Burrard between Broadway and 10th Avenue, completed in 1951. She also completed work for Ryerson Memorial Centre, 2195 West 45th Avenue, and the Holy Family Hospital, 7801 Argyle.

Much harder to find, but excellent historical sculptures and well worth the hunt to view, are the two five foot wide by eight foot high stone panels she carved to flank the main entrance doors of the Shaughnessy Military Hospital, 1940. However, the original hospital has now been demolished and a healthcare tower built in its location. I heard the sculptures were saved and reinstalled, but have not yet seen them in their new location.


SOLO EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION LOCATION
1938 July 12 - 27 Six Local Artists VAG
1942 Dec. 8 - 20 Three Woman Show VAG
1948 April 11 - May 31 Solo Exhibition The Gables, U.B.C.
1948 April 27 - May 9 Solo Exhibition (34 artworks) VAG

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION ARTWORK
1930 May 31 - June 14 BCSFA   Spring Exhibition Portrait Head Alan Cameron
1930 Nov. 27 - Dec. 7 PASOVAS   Art Club Exhibition Decorative head "Guinivere"
Book ends "Baby Antelope"
Sun dial in art stone
1932 May - July VAG   All Canadian Exhibition Bust of Col. Goodwin
Study - Marianne
1932 Sept. 17 - 30 PASOVAS   Club Exhibition Marionette Designs: "The Fire Bird"
"Oriental" (cubistic drawing)
"Stormy Sunset" (sketch)
Tree Pattern" (sketch)
"Black Rock"
Col. Goodland
"Portrait for Stone"
Dancer's Mask (metal)
1932 Oct. 5 - 30 VAG   B.C. Artists 1st Annual Bobbie (Baby's Head)
1933 Feb. 13 - 18 Sylvia Court    West End Artists Exhibition (titles not known)
1933 May 3 - 18 VAG   VSAGA 1st Annual Exhibition Roof Tops
1933 June 3 - 11 BCSFA   23rd Annual The Mooring Place
Portrait Sketch
Japanese Shacks
Marionette Design for the "Fire Bird" - Maidens of the Princess
Marionette Design for the "Fire Bird" - The Princess (sculpture)
Black Boy
Lorraine
1934 Sept. 21 - Oct. 14 VAG   B.C. Artists 3rd Annual "Repose", Carving in Stone
Bandana (Head)
1934 Dec. 4 - 16 VAG   B.C. Artists Christmas Exhibition Spring on the Reservation
Nature and Man
1935 Sept. 20 - Oct. 15 VAG   B.C. Artists 4th Annual The Haven
1936 Feb. 21 - Mar. 5 PASOVAS   Group Exhibition (titles)
1936 June 26 - July 12 BCSFA   26th Annual Fruits of the Soil
Cossack Dance
Carving in Stone (Repose)
Portrait Head
1936 Aug. 18 - 28 David Spencer B.C. Artists' Golden Jubilee (sculpture)
1937 April 16 - May 1 BCSFA   27th Annual Autumn Day
Kitsilano Squatters
The Barn
Birds (Paper Mache)
Winter Form
1938 April 29 - May 15 BCSFA   28th Annual Still Life
April
1938 Sept. 16 - Oct. 9 VAG   B.C. Artists 7th Annual Under the Bridge
Sketch, Nude
Night Flight
1939 June 9 - 25 BCSFA   29th Annual Photograph of Relief Panel (Ascension) C.N.R. Hotel
Lino Cut, Noel Noel
Portrait Mask of Moira Drummond, Montreal
1940 May 17 - June 2 BCSFA   30th Annual Drawing
Aero (1940 Goddess)
1941 Sept. 26 - Oct. 19 VAG   B.C. Artists 10th Annual Tiger Arum
Decorative Panels in Relief - Shaughnessy Military Hospital Entrance
1942 July 7 - Sept. 2 VAG   B.C. Artists 1st Annual Summer Papoose
1942 Nov. 3 - 15 FCA   Red Cross Benefit (no information available)
1944 Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 VAG   B.C. Artists 13th Annual Sechelt Shore
1945 May 18 - June 10 BCSFA   35th Annual October
Alder Logging, Porpoise Bay
Indian Church, Sechelt
1946 May 31 - June 23 BCSFA   36th Annual Contemplation
1946 July 2 - 28 VAG   Jubilee Exhibition Contemplation
1946 Sept. 21 - Oct. 13 VAG   B.C. Artists 15th Annual Flower Piece
1946 ? - ? VAG    Selections from 15th BCA Still Life
1947 May 9 - June 1 BCSFA   37th Annual Summertime
1947 July 8 - 27 VAG   B.C. Artists Summer Exhibition Summertime
1950 April 25 - May 14 BCSA   40th Annual The Birch Basket
Louise
Nursing Sister
1951 Summer Park Royal    BCSA Summer Exhibition Spring arrangement
Fall arrangement
The shore road, Sechelt (unframed)
Sechelt Shore
Drawing
1952 April 1 - 20 VAG    BCSA 42nd Annual Vancouver Labor Temple sculptured Mural
Academy of Medicine "Hippocrates"
Baptismal Font, St. John's Anglican Church, Shaughnessy
1953 May 5 - 31 VAG    BCSA 43rd Annual Phyllis Schuldt Trophy for B.C. Musical Festival
"Wahine" Direct Carving, Omaroo Stone
Figure Standing on the Shore
1955 April 26 - May 15 VAG    BCSA 45th Annual Growth Form

References

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM - NORTHWEST ARTISTS EXHIBITIONS 1914 - 1975
     Refer to NWA BC artists by exhibition
     Refer to NWAA BC artists alphabetically

Greater Vancouver Social and Club Register (1927)

WHO'S WHO IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 1937-38-39
      A Record of British Columbia Men and Women of Today
      S. Maurice Carter Editor & Publisher
      Copyright 1939, printed by The Robson Printers, Vancouver B.C.
      208 pages, hardcover; name index (8 pages), biographies (196 pages), obits. (4 pages)
      Includes reference to Lennie

WHO'S WHO IN NORTHWEST ART (refer to WWNA41)

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 Beatrice Lennie

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

PUBLIC ART IN VANCOUVER (refer to UBC72)

CONTEMPORARIES OF EMILY CARR IN BRITISH COLUMBIA (refer to SFU74)

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

A GUIDE TO SCULPTURE IN VANCOUVER (refer to GSV80)

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

NOT JUST PIN MONEY, Barbara K. Latham & Roberta J. Pazdro, Eds.
      1984, published by Camosun, Victoria.
      Includes essay: From Pastels to Chisel: the Changing Role of BC Women Artists
      Essay includes references to Josephine Crease, Sister Mary Osithe, Ina Uhthoff, and Beatrice Lennie.

BRITISH COLUMBIA WOMEN ARTISTS 1885-1985 (refer to AGGV85)

FIRST CLASS - Four Graduates From The Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts
      1987, Letia Richardson; The Floating Curatorial Gallery at Women in Focus
      Exhibition catalogue; ISBN 0-921823-03-7
      Includes survey essay of women artists in Vancouver.
      Chronologies of Lilias Farley, Irene Hoffar Reid, Beatrice Lennie, and Vera Weatherbie.

MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS - SPRING EXHIBITIONS 1880 - 1970 (refer to MM88)
      One work listed in 1935 exhibition: "Orphan Boy", chalk drawing.

A DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN ARTISTS (refer to M)
      One and a half page biography, with footnotes.

EARLY BRITISH COLUMBIAN WOMAN ARTISTS (refer to HG95)

A CENTURY OF SCULPTURE (refer to SSBC98)

VANCOUVER ARTIST: Beatrice Lennie
      2000 April; by Michael Clark, Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design.
      Visions newsletter, Volume 6 Issue 3, page 6.
      One page biography with 3 illustrations of her work.

ART BC, Masterworks From British Columbia by Ian M. Thom
      2000, Douglas & McIntyre Ltd., ISBN 1-55054-808-5
      232 pages illustrated in colour and b&w
      Biography page 54, illustration of sculpture Night Flight page 55.

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
      5 references cited for Lennie.

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

PUBLIC ART IN VANCOUVER - ANGELS AMONG LIONS (refer to PAV09)

88 ARTISTS FROM 88 YEARS (refer to ECU17)

VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY - B.C. ARTISTS FILES (refer to VPL)

CITY & PROVINCIAL DIRECTORIES (refer to DIR)

B.C. VITAL STATISTICS ON-LINE death (refer to BCVS)

Clippings

"Prize winners among second year students were: H. Mortimer Lamb for composition, $10, Miss Maud Jensen; Palette and Chisel Club, for modelling, $15, Miss Katherine Harrison; Mrs. Jonathan Rogers, costume design, $15, Miss Margaret Corry; Girls' Apparel Shop, costume design, $10, Miss Beatrice Lennie; bronze medal presented by Vancouver Branch, Canadian Women's Press Club, for Canadian Confederation poster, Miss Margaret Williams."
      From "Prizes Presented to Art Students"
      unknown newspaper, June 1927

"Other contributors include: ... Beatrice Lennie."
      From "The Paint Box Is Annual of Vancouver Art School"
      unknown newspaper, June 1927

"The committee in charge of arrangements included Miss Margaret Williams, Miss Beatrice Lennie, Miss Frances Gatewood, Miss Phyllis Kirkpatrick, Miss Beatrice Bell-Irving, Miss Ellen Moore, and Mr. Vito Cianci"
      From "Ogopogo Yawns On Gay Crowd At Bal Masque"
      unknown newspaper, October 20 1927

"Great credit must be given to Bee Lennie and Marjorie Lyne, who formed the costume committee, and were indefatigable in designing costumes and giving most helpful suggestions in carrying them out."
      From "Students’ Club Report - the Beaux-Arts Ball" by Margaret A. Williams
      The Paintbox Volume 4, June 1929

"In the sculpture section, which is very small, Charles Marega, Beatrice Lennie and the Russian artist, Ustinoff, are the only ones represented."
      From "B.C. Artists Reveal Talent at Show"
      unknown newspaper, October 1932

"The sculpture section is represented by B. Lennie and Ralph Roberts."
      From "'West End' Show Of Art Works" by D.S.M.
      Vancouver Sun, February 15 1933

"Beatrice Lennie, who devotes her talents to sculpturing, is represented by her first canvas, an interesting and promising departure from her modeling. She is also showing several colorful small sketches. Her most noteworthy work, however, is a piece of stone carving, "Repose.""
      From "Pasovas Club Has Splendid Annual Show" by R.W.M.
      Vancouver Province, November 6 1934

"Beatrice Lennie has two carvings, and several oils, as well as a pencil portrait study."
      From "Pasovas Art Show"
      Vancouver Sun, November 6 1934

"... Beatrice Lennie ... are all represented."
      From "PASOVAS EXHIBIT - Pioneer Art Students' Show"
      Vancouver Province, February 21 1936

"In addition to the oils, water colors, pastels, prints and pencil drawings, there is a small showing of sculpture including works by two well-known Vancouver sculptors, Beatrice Lennie and Ralph Roberts."
      From "400 B.C. Pictures in Jubilee Art Show"
      Vancouver Sun, August 15 1936

" ... and Beatrice Lennie, in the sculpture section, has a competent piece symbolic of "April." "
      From "Fine Showing By B.C. Artists Follows Conventional Lines" by E.N.B.
      Vancouver Province, April 30 1938

"Honourable Mentions were accorded as follows: Sculpture: Miss Beatrice Lennie ("Night Flight")"
     From "Medal Awards in B.C. Artists' Exhibition"
     Vancouver Art Gallery Bulletin Vol. 6 No. 2 October 1938
     Information provided courtesy Joanna Spurling, VAG Library & Archives

"Three Vancouver women artists have contributed to the interior decorations of the new Hotel Vancouver. ... Beatrice Lennie, well-known sculptress, has created the twelve-by-seven foot panel in the elevator lobby. It represents "Elevation" and its modern figures and flowers stand out in relief in color shades typical of the modern world of industry, stainless steel, brass, chromium. Concealed lighting shows off this striking works (sic) of art to good advantage. It is the most outstanding, but not the only example of Miss Lennie's work to be found in the new hotel. She did two of the fireplaces, the mouldings in the Royal suite and the modelling for the modern frieze in the salon."
      From "Local Women Artists Helped Decorate Hotel"
      (unknown newspaper), date unknown

"Beatrice Lennie sends a cleverly executed mask."
      From "Leading Provincial Artists Exhibit at Show" by T.H.W.
      News-Herald, June 10 1939

"Woman Shapes Beauty in Stone" by Charles J. Woodsworth
      Vancouver Province, December 21 1940

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

"The sculptors include ... Beatrice Lennie ... "
      From "Summer Show at Gallery Major Event for Art Lovers" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, July 7 1943

"Recently the Puppeteers' Club of Gordon House Community Centre, under direction of Beatrice Lennie, Vancouver sculptor, put on seven performances a day of "Punch and Judy" in the window of David Spencer's Ltd. on Hastings street."
      From "Graphic Arts and Sculpture Place in Gallery Exhibition" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, September 24 1945

"Beatrice Lennie: A Sculptor of the West" by J. Delisle Parker
      Canadian Review of Art & Music, 1947, Vol. 5, No. 6-7, pages 22-24, 50

"Saturday at 3 p.m. Dr. Norman MacKenzie will officially open an exhibition of work by Miss Beatrice Lennie at The Gables. During a recent illness, this well-known sculptor turned to painting in oils with great success, and a large collection of her recent work will be shown. Prominent among the pictures is "The Indian Basket Weaver of Sechelt." Miss Lennie also paints flowers and has lately made a special study of children. A number of these paintings and a collection of her work in the plastic arts will be on display."
      From "Watercolours on View At Art Gallery" by M.V. Thornton
      Vancouver Sun, April 1948

"Leading sculptor of the west, Beatrice Lennie, will exhibit many examples of her work in a solo display at the arts and cultural centre, "The Gables," University Boulevard, lasting from next Sunday, April 11 to the end of May."
      From "Vancouver Sculptor's Work On Display Soon" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, April 8 1948

"Labour Temple Mural Symbolizes Industry" by Palette
      Vancouver Province, May 14 1949

"Sculpture By the Ton" by Elinor Glenn
      Vancouver Sun magazine supplement, October 23 1954

"Vancouver Native Daughter is Noted Canadian Sculptor"
      Vancouver Herald, February 13 1956


HOME