BC ARTISTS: Parakontas

Parakontas (spelling varies)

"And the blind shall see"

c1930s

Parakontas was the Greek name given to a house in the West End of Vancouver, at 1087 Bute Street, owned by the grandfather of Beatrice Lennie. The large old house was divided up into studios that had a number of artists working in them, including Fred Varley, Jock MacDonald, Maud Sherman, Vera Weatherbie, and Ione MacDonald. Not all of these artists were listed in the City Directories as having studios in the house, though, see list below.

Maud Sherman's studio at Parakontas c1932:
Left to right: Maisie Robertson, Jessie Innes, Maud Sherman, Edith Carter, Norma Park

The house was very close to the B.C. College of Arts Ltd. and the Vancouver Art Gallery, just a few blocks away on Georgia Street, as well as to the Vanderpant Studios on Robson Street.

The 1930 issue of The Paint Box, the student annual of the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts, noted on page 33: "ALICE SHARPE: - The business world for Al, too. She's making lampshades in the Parakontas Studios."

The name Parakontas crops up from time to time, mentioned in passing, but since the artists known to be involved with the studio are of significance to Canadian art history more research should be done on the activities and members of the studio. The house itself has long been demolished to make way for a three storey walk-up apartment building.

Maud and friends in her studio

Summary of Residents from City Directories 1924 - 1937

DATE	RESIDENTS	SOURCE

1924	F. Shields of F. Shields & Co.	Wrigley/Henderson Amalgamated
1925	J. Hope	Wrigley/Henderson Amalgamated
1926	Leonard T. Williams, school principal	Wrigley's BC
1927	H.J. Bedford	Wrigley's BC
1928	vacant	Wrigley's BC
1929	Frederick H. Varley, artist Walton, teacher, languages A.N. St. John Mildmay, artist	Wrigley's BC
1930	A.N. St. John Mildmay, artist Trinity College of Music Alice Sharpe	Wrigley's BC (not in directory)
1931	#1. Alfredo Duarte, artist #3. Miss Gooding, music teacher #4. Robert Evans, janitor (res) #5. Miss Vera Weatherbie, artist #5. Miss Irene Offer, artist #7. Frederick H. Varley, artist	Wrigley's BC
1932	Miss Vera Weatherbie, artist Miss Maud Sherman, artist Miss Cecilia Dunn, dressmaker	Wrigley's BC
1933	Mrs. Dora Baillie W. Nelson, prop, Nelson Bottling Works Miss Maisie Robertson, artist Miss Marjorie Park, artist Miss Norma Park, artist Miss Maud Sherman, artist Miss Madge Farmer, artist Platon von Ustinow, artist	Wrigley's Greater Van & New West
1934	Chas. J. Baillie, engineer (home) Miss Maisie Robertson, artist Miss Norma Park, artist Miss Maud Sherman, artist Miss Jessie Innes, artist Miss Lilias Farley, artist Rudolf Engel, tie designer	Sun Directory
1935	vacant	Wrigley's BC & Yukon
1936	no listing	Wrigley's BC & Yukon
1937	no listing	Wrigley's BC & Yukon

Clippings

"The Vancouver Vagagonds' Club, which was founded by Felix Penne held a special Christmas meeting at the studio of A.N. St. John Mildmay, 1087 Bute street, Tuesday evening. Robie L. Reid, one of the first members of the club, read a paper on "Sam Slick, the Clockmaker," by Caliburton, the father of American humor. Piano selections were contributed by J.D.A. Tripp."
From "Vagabonds Club Holds Meeting"
Vancouver Sun, December 18 1929

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