The Audain Art Museum has acquired a historical painting by respected B.C. artist Emily Carr. Held for many years in private collections, War Canoes, Alert Bay (circa 1908) was unveiled alongside another painting of the same name at an Oct. 16 ceremony in Vancouver.
The newly-acquired watercolour on paper was paired with an iconic oil on canvas from the Museum's Permanent Collection, signifying the reunion of two closely-related Carr masterworks more than 100 years after they were first painted.
The acquisition of this seminal piece of Canadian art history was facilitated by the endeavours of Museum Founders Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa.
"This early watercolour is particularly significant as it directly informed the later oil painting, War Canoes, Alert Bay of 1912," said Audain in a press release. "Yoshiko and I spent many years enjoying the vibrant oil on canvas before donating it to the Museum nearly a decade ago. To now have both pictures housed together permanently contributes to the unparalleled quality of the Museum's Emily Carr collection."
Locals and visitors can view both paintings at the Audain Art Museum beginning Oct. 17. The Museum is open Thursdays through Mondays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information is available online.
