It is morning on Wednesday October 13, 2010. We pack quickly to leave our Mayne Island home and stay overnight in Victoria. We are going to see a screening of a new documentary film Winds of Heaven: Emily Carr, Carvers and the Spirits of the Forest by Michael Ostroff. The write up about the film was one of the few items noteworthy in our withering Saturday addition of the Globe and Mail national paper –which recently went glossy and appears to have dumped the last of its journalistic content. Finding reference to my kindred spirit, Emily Carr, has however, saved one of its pages from the recycling box.
Emily Carr, a larger-than-life icon of Canadian west coast art was born in 1871 and died at age 74 in 1945. How dare I be brass enough to call her my kindred spirit? It is because of her ordinariness along with her greatness. She often speaks in humble frustration in her reflections about her paintings and writing. There are only a few exceptions in diary entries when she allows herself a quiet moment of pride for her accomplishments. One glance at her paintings tells another story. She held nothing back in her paintings.
Carr’s powerful strokes and clarity of vision bring large cedars and western landscapes to their knees at the feet of her brush, only to release them again to push skyward across the breadth of her canvas. It is within my experience of this contradiction, and her visceral struggle with her art, that I call her my kindred spirit.
“If the work of an isolated little old woman on the edge of nowhere, is too modern for the Canadian National Gallery, it seems it cannot be a very progressive institution.” Emily Carr, On the Edge of Nowhere Gallery quote
When doubts and fears about my ability as an artist threaten to keep my brushes from the paint or my fingers from pressing the camera shutter down, I read the diary pages of Carr. I know if my tears leave stains on the pages she will understand and that we will both be out of bed again in the morning, giving it another go – together.
I now have a new reference point to breathe vitality into Carr’s life and work. It is Michael Ostroff’s documentary film Winds of Heaven. Michael spoke about the difficulty of finding a fresh approach within the many fingerprints that traipse across all primary source documents of Carr’s writing and the many eyes that have critically gazed at her sketches and paintings. Well, in my opinion, he has brought the spirit of Emily Carr alive with the same strong powerful impressions, skillfully tethered together, as Carr did in her paintings. The documentary is being screened across the country and will be released in March. I plan to add one of the DVD’s to my library shortly thereafter. I want it close by so it is within reach when doubts raise their sneering heads in the corners of my studio. Then I will then count my blessings.
“I think I have gone further this year, have lifted a little. I see things a little more as a whole, a little more complete. I am always watching for fear of getting feeble and passé in my work. I want to pour till the pail is empty, the last bit going out in a gush, not drops.” Emily Carr, On the Edge of Nowhere Gallery quote.
Carr had no digital camera and sketched quickly with oil on paper before working up her paintings back at the studio. I can both sketch and take a photograph for reference. Carr had no community of contemporary artists to muse with her through her blog, twitter and facebook. She had to write letters and send them by post to her friend Lawren Harris. He had to reply in the same manner. Something I would find too tedious for daily inspiration. In poetry she had Walt Whitman where I have both Whitman on Mary Oliver. She was isolated in her work as much as she was in her geography.
When, even now women represented in museums around the world is only about 5%, she would not likely have called herself a feminist or a ground breaker for women’s art. She would likely have said that she was an artist who just happened to be a woman. Indeed, if a showing a few years ago at the Vancouver Art Gallery of women artists who were her peers are any indication, she would be right. Her work left those of other women artists in a shadow of insignificance. To be fair, gender may not be the deciding factor of what art work is left in her shadow.
Next, I will give thanks for each diary entry, and each story in the 893 pages of her writings. Finally, I will bow my head in gratitude for the dedicated work of Ira Dilworth, Doris Shadbolt, and now Michael Ostroff for ensuring that I have these unique views and access to the life and work of Emily Carr.
After the screening, Michael Ostroff commented during the discussion, that he wanted to “put Carr in the context of her time.” He has done more than that. He has put British Columbia in the context of its time. He shared her struggle to create a vision as it took him five years to find the funding and complete this incredible film which includes our experience with rugged wilderness and history of unsettled land claims.
Through my life as an artist going right back to childhood, Carr has always been just out of sight, leaving me marks to follow as I forge my own artistic path. I feel Carr’s kindred spirit as I work – not in her brush stroke but in the strength and reverence for her west. I am not a scribe for what is before my eyes but rather that which is before my heart. My Emily understands this. I can tell you facts about her life – such as her breakdown while going to art school in Europe or the 15 fallow years when she lost her will and only painted seven works and stopped writing in her diary. I can tell you that her best work came after this time while she was in 50’s. I can tell you that she was loved but never married. I can tell you these things but it will be far more meaningful if you read her writings for yourself and if you browse the pages of Doris Shadbolt’s The Art of Emily Carr or if you go to The Greater Victoria Art Gallery and stand in front of her paintings and see the trees swaying as they reach skyward or if you watch Winds of Heaven by Michael Gostroff – a documentary that adds value and depth to all other experiences of a Canadian artist, a great artist, a woman artist, Emily Carr. May you also know the life and art of the Emily who sits beside me as I work.
References are linked within the post.
Sprout question: What great artist encourages you while you work?
And you might like this later post as well “Emily Carr Mystery-solved” https://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2010/11/09/emily-carr-mystery-solved
© 2010 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.
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Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.
From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
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Creative Potager 
Emily would be pleased with this post, I believe. And she would support the idea of “kindred spirits,” as I do … as so many creative spirits do … and I loved this sentence of yours, in particular:
Well, in my opinion, he has brought the spirit of Emily Carr alive with the same strong powerful impressions, skillfully tethered together, as Carr did in her paintings.
We are all impressionists, pulling life threads together to create meaning, cohesion, peace. Thanks for bringing Emily to your blog … thrilled to know more about her and her work. — Daisy @ SunnyRoomStudio
You are welcome Daisy… glad you liked my honouring of Emily and the new documentary Winds of Heaven.
THankyou!
You are welcome Tobin… appreciate your short visit.
Terrill – I was just over on Sam Juliano’s “Wonders in the Dark” (http://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/olivier-assayass-carlos-off-broadway-play-as-is-aussie-samson-and-delilah-and-ozu-on-monday-morning-diary-october-18/#comment-37327) and saw your response with a link to this very special post — a review of the documentary film, “Wings of Heaven.”
I love when you said, “I know if my tears leave stains on the pages she will understand and that we will both be out of bed again in the morning, giving it another go – together.”
Sprout Question: What great artist encourages you while you work?
You know that my creative muse is plenty of nothing — lots of space. In my home office a single piece of artwork hangs. It’s “Heart with Wings” by Russell D’Alessio. A photograph of it can be found here: http://www.holessence.com/listenwithyourheart.html
Laurie thank for all of your links, your sprout response and being my very special still-living kindred spirit:) Always a pleasure to find your comments on Creative Potager posts.
Terrill,
Wow! I have to stop and breathe a few times… to take this all in! Thank you for the art lesson, and a future artist dates for me.
For “kindred spirits” one would have to be to write such glowing, honoring, of a fellow artist. By the way, I had never heard of her, I am glad now to have met Emily Carr, through your eyes, and passion.
The great artist has not presented themselves to me as of yet. My artist dates are to uncover and discover the passion, and art of those who come across my path!
I am Love, Jeff
Jeff I am so glad to be the one to introduce you to Emily Carr and her work. I definitely recommend spending some time with her for one of your artist dates. Enjoy!
beautiful post, terrill. i remember seeing a wonderful museum exhibit many years ago called “the expressionist landscape” featuring emily carr’s tree paintings (as well as a lot of work by georgia o-keefe and others). it was my first introduction to carr and her work. at that time, i was an art student, utterly fascinated with painting trees, and her work changed my whole perspective. she was a great influence on me for a while.
more recently, i’ve been encouraged/influenced by mark rothko, callum innes and sean scully.
Stephanie thank you for sharing your experience with Carr and your recent influences. It is always great to get ideas on new art to roam.
dear terrill,
thank you for bringing this artist to my attention. Emily Carr.
i often find myself frustrated that i don’t know of EVERY artist that i would consider moving, regardless if they are ‘famous’ regionally or world renowned. maybe it is my lack of formal art history knowledge, but i think even the big, famous names we know now were once simply regionally renowned. and then there are times when i believe we come cross an incredible artist, such as yourself, who moves us with such a force (even if initially individually) that they are famous to us to the extent that we find ourselves saying to another, “oh you don’t know Terrill Welch, must check her work out.” : )
i have no idea why i am writing all this, what has prompted these words out, when there is much else in this post that can trigger different sentiments.
i suppose if it wasn’t for you being moved by the kindred energy you share with her, this post wouldn’t exist, if this post didn’t exist, i would have remained in the dark about her (and all the other links you have provided related to her), and essentially that is perhaps what art is: carrying the baton of Light from one creative to another…so the world never seems that dark.
I love coming here. I wish I could convince more “writers” who struggle with writer’s block or whatever block to come here or a place like this suitable for them. These posts, even when I don’t comment anything long, serve as a warm-up run through my mind and that place of knowing.
my favorite sentence that i will forever keep close:
“One glance at her paintings tells another story. She held nothing back in her paintings.”
I hold nothing back in my writing and strive to go beyond the edge in fiction and non every time. It is not easy and it is scary. And it is not about me. And when I am done I don’t talk about it.
immense gratitude,
annie
Annie your comment is very touching and overwhelming in your acknowledgment of me. I have learned long ago the best response is to simply say “thank you” so….. thank you:) I do believe you are so right when you say “essentially that is perhaps what art is: carrying the baton of Light from one creative to another…so the world never seems that dark.” I have experienced your nothing-held-back-writing Annie and we are all the better for it!
I had forgotten about Emily Carr, since I was a child, my Uncle who was a United Church of Canada clergy in BC took me to see an exhibition of her work and I so loved it and felt honored that he would take someone so young to enjoy the work and share his insights.
I need to come back and read some more…I found this post just before I need to leave for work…I will be back…
Patricia thank you for your story about your experience of Emily Carr’s work as a child. I look forward to any further comments you might want to add. See you soon:)
“Carr’s powerful strokes and clarity of vision bring large cedars and western landscapes to their knees at the feet of her brush, only to release them again to push skyward across the breadth of her canvas. It is within my experience of this contradiction, and her visceral struggle with her art, that I call her my kindred spirit.”
And this is as potent and revealing areason to make this connection as any other. This is truly a spectacular post and I agree with DazyDayWriter that Emily would be moved. Carr’s work as a woman artist brings to mind (not in form but in transcending her genre) the work of an inspiring French house maid named Seraphine de Senlis (1864-1942) who received her inspiration from her faith and religious art including mosaic stain glass windows. Her life story is dramatized in an absolutely essential French film from a few years ago by Martin Provost and featuring a highly-praised performance by Yolande Moreay which won her the zLos Angeles Film Critics’ award for Best Actress. I agreed with L.A.’s decision and considered the film one of the best of the year.
In any case, this is a magnificent report on the film as it couldn’t be more detailed and impassioned.
Like many I think of my heroes when I want some artistic inspiration–Shakespeare, Dickens, Hawthorne, Hugo, Rembrandt, da Vinci, Munch, Wagner, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Bergman, Bresson, Ozu and Chaplin, all of whom could at any moment supply me with an idea to proceed.
Sam the depth of your creative references always leave me in awe – Wow! To have all this talent come bubbling in as you brush against a view, a thought, a song or a comment. Imagine! Thank you so much for your lengthy and engaging comment.
Sorry, Terrill, I forgot to post the link to that terrific French film about the gifted French painter:
http://www.amazon.com/Seraphine-Sub-Ulrich-Tukur/dp/B0031REQKE/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1287515322&sr=1-1
Sam Glad you dropped in and left it for us. I have sent the information along to David so he can order for us through zip. Much appreciated!
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Very nice post.
I am never certain about “kindred spirits”, though that was a term Emily Carr might have used.
I am certain that Emily Carr found her own paths and her own ways, and created an art on her own terms. What a grand legacy to leave to anyone to follow.
Gurdonark I believe you are right on all of the above even if you are uncertain about “kindred spirits.” Thank you so much for dropping in to Creative Potager.
I’m glad to have had this referenced back to me ! I loved than, and I love this now! Terrill your tender powerful inspiration as an artist has always been encouragement in my own creative journey ! Thank you!
You are most welcome and glad the second read hit the mark as well. Always a pleasure to share our creative journeys with each other. 🙂