Join Paul Crawford as he paints an alternative art history based on the people, art and stories he has discovered over the past three decades. Admission is free but pre-registration is requested so we can make certain we have enough seats and refreshments set up to accommodate all those who are interested in attending. Free to attend. To register please call the gallery at (250) 493-2928 or email: reception@pentictonartgallery.com
Chapter Three: Two Young Canadian Artists: At Home and Abroad
Part 2: William J. B. Newcombe (1908-1969): Living outside the frame...
1:00 pm Saturday March 18, 2023
The second of this two part lecture will feature the work of William John Bertram Newcombe (1907 - 1969), one of two artists included in the travelling exhibition, Two Young Canadian Artists: At Home and Abroad, first displayed at the Vancouver Art Gallery from January 22 – February 10, 1946 and then in Victoria where it was displayed at the the Little Centre from October 8th – 20th, 1946.
We will explore the trajectories of each of these artists's careers and look at he incredible impact they both had on the art world and art history beyond the boarders of Canada yet they both remain largely unknown here in Canada outside of occasionally showing up as a footnote in Canadian art history texts.
In the catalogue that accompanied the exhibition the Hon. Mark Hugh Kearley, a founding member of Federation of Canadian Artists and a co-founder of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in 1944 wrote the following about William Newcombe:
“W.J.B. Newcombe, born in Victoria in 1908, took up Commercial Art when he was eighteen. He worked in Vancouver and later in Toronto, but in 1941 he joined the R.C.A.F. and went Overseas. Whilst on Active Service he made many trips over enemy territory and in June, 1943 was shot down by a Nazi night-fighter over England. For almost a year, Newcombe was in hospital and whilst there devoted much time to sketching and, whenever opportunity offered, he visited whatever Art Exhibition was within reach.
In conclusion, Mr. A.H. Newcombe, the artist’s father to whom we are indebted for this short biography, adds: “You can see that the boy’s success, if any, is mostly due to his own perseverance and to what assistance and encouragement he has received from his various Artist friends.”
The artist left for Mexico in January, 1946 and the water colours now on exhibition at the Little Centre form but a small part of the work he has done in the last eight months.
If hard work and perseverance merit encouragement, then we here in his native land, certainly
have an obligation to this young Canadian artist. His work is sound and we venture to suggest that it will one day hold a position of importance in Canada and make a valuable contribution to the Art of this country.
What is needed to prevent these talented young Canadians from drifting away and being lost to us, is encouragement and real support, expressed in a practical way. We commend this thought to all who visit this noteworthy Exhibition.”