Fonds AM1635 - Western Art Circle fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Western Art Circle fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record
  • Photograph

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  • Source of title proper: Title based on provenance of the fonds.

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

AM1635

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

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Physical description

2 meters of textual records
ca. 1000 photographs

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1951-2012)

Administrative history

The Western Art Circle was formed by a group of local painters in 1951. The first formal meeting was held in January 1952 with M. Denton Burgess as first president, C.C. Wimperley as Vice-president, Kay Wells as Secretary-treasurer. Other core members were Gordon “Kit” Thorne, Cecil and Almer Pratt, Alan Edwards, John Poole West, George Southwell, Harry Hunt, Alice King, Mel Perry and R.W. Gleed. In 1952, over 100 members, from BC and other countries, were registered.

The main objective of the association was to provide fellowship, a place to learn from each other and an exhibition outlet for painters. With the help from J.A. Morris, curator of the Vancouver Art Gallery, members of the Western Art Circle held their annual exhibition at the Art Gallery from 1952 to 1954.

From 1952 to 2011, the Western Art Circle organized displays, exhibitions and outdoor sales in various places in the Lower Mainland, including York Theatre, B.C. Electric Building, Stanley Park, the University Women’s Club, PNE Home Show, and various community centres. Besides organizing displays and exhibitions, the Western Art Circle also held workshops for its members to promoted high standard of work.

As most of the members aged out, the Western Art Circle was dissolved in December 2012.

Custodial history

Scope and content

The fonds consists of administrative records, exhibition files, correspondence, minutes and reports documenting the operation of the Western Art Circle. The fonds also contains photographs, history files, and scrapbooks which were collected by the Association to preserve historical information of the Western Art Circle.

The fonds is arranged into the following series: Administrative files (1951-2012), Financial records (1994-2011), History records (1952-2013), Exhibition files (1961-2010) and Photograph albums (1962-2011).

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Donated by David Ried, past president of the Western Art Circle, in 2013.

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

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Access to some records is restricted; see series descriptions for more information on access restrictions.

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