Freda Pemberton Smith
Encyclopedia
Freda Pemberton Smith a member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour
, was a Canadian landscapist and portraitist. Her work has been shown in exhibitions from British Columbia to Newfoundland, and is found in private, public and corporate collections at home and abroad. Her biography appears in Colin S. MacDonald's A Dictionary of Canadian Artists.
, and later in London at the Slade School of Fine Art
. One of her teachers was Edmond Dyonnet, RCA, who also numbered Jack Bush
and A.Y. Jackson among his students.
Her family had reluctantly allowed her to pursue an art career on the understanding that she earn a living at it. In the 30’s, however, the Depression put an end to a promising start in the field of commercial art, and her work was further interrupted by the advent of World War II and service overseas with the Red Cross VAD.
After the war, Miss Smith began painting again and also did some teaching, but like many women artists of the past century found much of her time taken up with family obligations. It was only after her mother’s death in 1956 that she was able to devote herself fully to her art. She left Montreal in the mid-sixties for the Ottawa Valley town of Vankleek Hill, where she made her home until her death in 1991.
Freda Pemberton Smith was known for her expressionistic style and for her strong use of colour and her ability to convey effects of light, mood and movement. Her work has been shown in solo exhibitions at Galerie Dresdnere and Kaspar Gallery (Toronto); Wallacks, Robertson Galleries and the Karsh-Masson Gallery (Ottawa); and Zwicker’s Gallery (Halifax), among others. She also participated in group shows held by the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour; the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
; the Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery; and the Pastel Society of America.
Reviewing an exhibition at Wallacks in 1965, the Ottawa Journal stated: “This highly gifted artist…seems to possess equal facility with landscapes, seascapes, street scenes, occasional pieces and portraits…. This is altogether a first rate one-woman show.”
The Ottawa Citizen, in an article on the retrospective held at Ottawa’s Karsh-Masson Gallery entitled “Freda Pemberton Smith, a Centennial Celebration”, described her work as “dynamic”: “Her watercolours are vivid and full of movement…. Her pastels and pen-and-ink drawings are composed of bold, definite strokes…. Everywhere, there’s a feeling of pent-up energy and vigour.”
Over the years, other articles on Miss Smith have appeared in Arts West Magazine; Le Droit; the Montreal Gazette; the Montreal Star; the Ottawa Citizen; the St. John’s Evening Telegram; Ottawa Life magazine; and the Westmount Examiner
.
Her work has been discussed on CBC Radio
, CJOH-TV
’s Regional Contact, Rogers TV (then Rogers Cablevision), and Vision TV
.
Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour
The Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour , founded in 1925 is considered to be Canada’s official national water colour Society. Since the 1980s the Society has enjoyed Vice-regal Patronage from the incumbent Governor-General of Canada...
, was a Canadian landscapist and portraitist. Her work has been shown in exhibitions from British Columbia to Newfoundland, and is found in private, public and corporate collections at home and abroad. Her biography appears in Colin S. MacDonald's A Dictionary of Canadian Artists.
Biography and career
Born April 7, 1902, Freda Pemberton Smith enjoyed a career that spanned eight decades of the 20th Century. She studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de MontréalÉcole des Beaux-Arts de Montréal
École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal was an educational institution founded in Quebec in 1922. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society was instrumental in its creation....
, and later in London at the Slade School of Fine Art
Slade School of Fine Art
The Slade School of Fine Art is a world-renownedart school in London, United Kingdom, and a department of University College London...
. One of her teachers was Edmond Dyonnet, RCA, who also numbered Jack Bush
Jack Bush
Jack Bush was a Canadian abstract expressionist painter, born in Toronto, Ontario in 1909 and he died there 24 January 1977...
and A.Y. Jackson among his students.
Her family had reluctantly allowed her to pursue an art career on the understanding that she earn a living at it. In the 30’s, however, the Depression put an end to a promising start in the field of commercial art, and her work was further interrupted by the advent of World War II and service overseas with the Red Cross VAD.
After the war, Miss Smith began painting again and also did some teaching, but like many women artists of the past century found much of her time taken up with family obligations. It was only after her mother’s death in 1956 that she was able to devote herself fully to her art. She left Montreal in the mid-sixties for the Ottawa Valley town of Vankleek Hill, where she made her home until her death in 1991.
Freda Pemberton Smith was known for her expressionistic style and for her strong use of colour and her ability to convey effects of light, mood and movement. Her work has been shown in solo exhibitions at Galerie Dresdnere and Kaspar Gallery (Toronto); Wallacks, Robertson Galleries and the Karsh-Masson Gallery (Ottawa); and Zwicker’s Gallery (Halifax), among others. She also participated in group shows held by the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour; the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a major museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1860, making it Canada's oldest art institution, it moved to its current location in 1912 thanks to a large donation from businessman James Ross....
; the Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery; and the Pastel Society of America.
Reviews
The Gazette, commenting on an exhibition held in Montreal in 1960, noted: “The subjects for this well-known Montreal artist’s show… (are all) painted with observant and vigorous spontaneity…. Miss Pemberton-Smith is successful in her invigorating and expressive smaller sketches, hastily painted with passionate intensity…. A large palette knife portrait (“Old Newfoundland”) (is) remarkable for its monumental and relaxed quality.”Reviewing an exhibition at Wallacks in 1965, the Ottawa Journal stated: “This highly gifted artist…seems to possess equal facility with landscapes, seascapes, street scenes, occasional pieces and portraits…. This is altogether a first rate one-woman show.”
The Ottawa Citizen, in an article on the retrospective held at Ottawa’s Karsh-Masson Gallery entitled “Freda Pemberton Smith, a Centennial Celebration”, described her work as “dynamic”: “Her watercolours are vivid and full of movement…. Her pastels and pen-and-ink drawings are composed of bold, definite strokes…. Everywhere, there’s a feeling of pent-up energy and vigour.”
Over the years, other articles on Miss Smith have appeared in Arts West Magazine; Le Droit; the Montreal Gazette; the Montreal Star; the Ottawa Citizen; the St. John’s Evening Telegram; Ottawa Life magazine; and the Westmount Examiner
Westmount Examiner
The Westmount Examiner is a weekly English language newspaper serving Westmount, Quebec, Canada. It has a circulation of 11,000, with a policy of covering news only from within Westmount. It has been available online since December 14th, 2009.-History:...
.
Her work has been discussed on CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
, CJOH-TV
CJOH-TV
CJOH-DT is a television station serving Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and the surrounding region. Owned by Bell Media, it is part of the CTV Television Network....
’s Regional Contact, Rogers TV (then Rogers Cablevision), and Vision TV
Vision TV
VisionTV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that broadcasts multi-faith, multicultural, and general entertainment programming aimed at the 45 and over demographic....
.