David Woods’ volunteer work on the north-end library in Halifax in the course of the Nineteen Eighties would unknowingly result in a big discovery in regards to the life and artwork of Edith MacDonald-Brown, an artist born in Africville, Nova Scotia, in 1886. Throughout his time on the library, Woods ceaselessly crossed paths with Ruth Johnson, who usually spoke about her mom, Edith, and her creative skills. Nonetheless, Johnson supplied few particulars in regards to the work.
Within the late Nineties, as Woods was organizing an exhibition of Black Nova Scotian artwork, he recalled these conversations and determined to go to Ruth Johnson’s residence to view Edith’s works. What he discovered impressed him deeply. He included a few of Edith MacDonald-Brown’s work within the exhibition, and he was so struck by their high quality that he promised to in the future manage a solo exhibition of her work. Johnson handed away in 2003, however Woods’ dedication to her legacy was ultimately fulfilled with the opening of “From Africville: The Work of Edith MacDonald-Brown”, which is now on show at Mount Saint Vincent College’s artwork gallery.
Edith MacDonald-Brown’s creative journey started in 1898 along with her earliest identified portray. Her work, which options scenes of nature and rural life, was extremely achieved for her age, particularly contemplating she was simply an adolescent on the time. Woods commented on the distinctive talent in her early works, saying, “What amazes me is that she did a few of these works when she was, like 13, 14, 15 years outdated… it could be arduous so that you can distinguish who was the grasp.”
Her artwork ceased round 1913 after she married and returned to Africville, the place she centered on her household life. Tragically, her creative profession ended earlier than it might absolutely blossom, as she died in 1954.
The exhibit now showcases 9 of MacDonald-Brown’s 13 identified works, that are on mortgage from members of the family, together with her great-granddaughter, Colleen Howe-Boone. Howe-Boone, who traveled from Virginia Seaside for the exhibition’s opening, described the expertise of seeing her great-grandmother’s art work as “religious.”
The exhibition director, Melanie Colosimo, famous that MacDonald-Brown’s work is a wonderful match for the gallery’s give attention to ladies artists and the establishment’s proximity to the location of Africville. Colosimo additionally speculated about what MacDonald-Brown’s creative journey may need seemed like if she had continued her work, questioning what themes and topics she would have explored dwelling in Africville and watching her household develop.
Colosimo hopes that this exhibit will encourage additional analysis into MacDonald-Brown’s life, probably uncovering extra of her work that has been misplaced over time. Woods additionally expressed hope that the exhibition would lastly deliver the popularity MacDonald-Brown’s artwork deserved however by no means acquired throughout her lifetime.
The exhibit, which runs till April 26, goals to rejoice the legacy of Edith MacDonald-Brown and encourage new curiosity in a proficient artist whose works have been largely forgotten till now. By means of this exhibition, the story of MacDonald-Brown and the Africville group is being rediscovered, providing a richer understanding of Black Nova Scotian historical past and the enduring energy of creative expression.
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