Approximately two months ago, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton started exhibiting artworks by local New Brunswick artists upon entering the lobby area within the Harrison McCain Pavilion.
They named it the “Made in New Brunswick” initiative and frequently updated the exhibits to highlight the province’s collection of talented artists, primarily from the period following the Second World War.
The first exhibition of artworks aligned with the start of the tariff dispute and the subsequent surge in national pride across the country.
The feedback we got was fantastic,” stated John Leroux, the curator of collections and exhibitions at Beaverbrook. “This happened just when the duties decreased and people started getting more into things that are distinctly Canadian and specifically from New Brunswick.
Leroux mentioned that they recognized they had a significant find and chose to assemble an official exhibition, opening this weekend, featuring pieces from their permanent collection. Some of these artworks have never been shown publicly until now.
He mentioned that the pride is authentic and well-deserved in a province that has consistently “outperformed itself,” securing four Governor General’s Awards in the visual arts category over the past two decades alone.
“It holds a unique position regarding [visual art],” stated Leroux. “Despite my deep familiarity with our collection, rediscovering these pieces and presenting them anew has been truly enlightening.”
Works by renowned artists such as Thaddeus Holownia, Kathy Hooper, Molly Lamb Bobak, Miller Brittain, and Fred Ross can be found here.
Leroux specifically references a significant artwork created by Ross, an artist from Saint John who passed away in 2014. This piece is a portrayal of his spouse, Sheila, who had a career as a dancer. According to Leroux, this creation might have been “his most cherished item” and has not previously been exhibited in any galleries.
The ambiance might remind one of the Renaissance era, with a radiant glow emanating from her face as she relaxes in this charming 19th-century home located in the heart of Saint John city.
The Beaverbrook received it from his daughter Cathy Ross, who is also an artist. Next to the portrait of their mother, she has a watercolor on exhibit.
Part of the exhibition includes less familiar creations such as ten hand-blown glass artworks from the 1970s by Martin Demaine, who relocated from the United States and established Canada’s premier “fuel-fed, mouthblown” glass workshop in Mactaquac. Now over 80 years old, he continues to teach at the glass laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) located in Boston.
Their beauty is remarkable,” Leroux stated. “These have never been displayed before.
The exhibit will run until July 6 at the Beaverbrook.
The exhibit covers quite a wide range of content,” stated Leroux. “I doubt visitors will feel disappointed after seeing this showcase. On the contrary, they might be left speechless, exclaiming that it’s remarkable and instills a sense of pride.
