BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

University of British Columbia

1908 - current


The University of British Columbia was founded in Vancouver in 1908, although the Fairview Campus did not open until 1915 at the corner of 12th and Oak in Vancouver. The premises were soon outgrown, and a new campus was planned at Point Grey. A student march and protest rally in 1925 helped "push" the opening in 1925.

There was an early arts and cultural centre known as "The Gables," on University Boulevard, that showed art exhibitions, including Beatrice Lennie's work in 1948.

The Brock Hall Memorial Building was occasionally used for art exhibitions, such as the 1941 solo exhibition by Lawren Harris.

The university was mostly business oriented, and it wasn't until B.C. Binning founded the fine arts department in 1955 that art become an integral part of the courses and activities on campus.

In 1948 the Alma Mater Society founded a collection of artwork that now includes a significant amount of work by B.C. Artists. See exhibition catalogue listing.

The University Women's Club purchased Hycroft Manor and restored it to its original splendor as their clubhouse. Original artwork in the building includes sculptures by Charles Marega.

References

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

BC SCULPTURE 60 (1960)

JOY and CELEBRATION (1967)

YOUNGER VANCOUVER SCULPTORS (1968)

CANADIAN WEST COAST HERMETICS (1973)

477-74-7 (1974)

DAWN (1975)

PLANTAE OCCIDENTALIS: 200 YEARS OF BOTANICAL ART IN B.C. (1979)

UBC MFA GRADUATE SHOW (1996)

Clippings

"Two new exhibitions of art are booked at UBC. In hut 0-16 an interesting collection of watercolors is being shown ... "
      From "Watercolours on View At Art Gallery" by M.V. Thornton
      Vancouver Sun, April 1948

Art Gallery and Workshop
      "Also temporarily housed in the basement of the Library are an art gallery and an art workshop which, under the direction of the University's Fine Arts Committee, have been in full and interesting operation during the past year. Exhibitions were displayed in the gallery continuously throughout the year and changed every three weeks. These attracted an extraordinary amount of attention from both the student body and the public; the estimated attendance amounting to 3,000 a month.
      Exhibits in the gallery, and the equipment for the workshop, have been supplied by the University Chapter of the I.O.D.E. and their continuing support has been a great encouragement to the voluntary efforts of the University's Fine Art Committee.
      The art workshop room, like the gallery, bas been in full operation and the response to courses in pottery, painting, sculpture, weaving and other arts and crafts has been most gratifying."
      Norman MacKenzie, UBC President's Report 1948-1949, page 30

University Extension
      "In the same manner courses in leathercraft, stencilling, lino block printing, weaving, pottery and art were provided for many of the remote provincial areas by qualified members of our staff."
      Norman MacKenzie, UBC President's Report 1948-1949, page 32


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