Messages from Nature: Then and Now
130th Women’s Art Association of Hamilton Juried Exhibition
In 1897, the Women’s Art Association of Canada produced the “Canadian Historical Dinner Service”, painted on china, to mark the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s “discovery” of Canada. This high-profile project celebrated national pride and Canada’s natural history through the creation of a set of hand-painted porcelain dinnerware created by members of the association who took inspiration from a variety of sources including photographs, historical texts, and illustrations.
Through their designs the artists highlighted how reframing scientific material can shape narratives of nation and nature. Of the sixteen Canadian women artists chosen, two were members of the Women’s Art Association of Hamilton: Clara E. Galbreaith and Alice M. Judd. This year’s theme invites WAAH members to draw inspiration from artistic representations of the environment and the ways we experience nature.
PLEASE NOTE: The Fischer Gallery is often used as an event venue and is occasionally closed to the public. Please call Visitor Services before visiting to ensure the space is open for viewing this exhibition: (905) 527-6610 x.200
The Women’s Art Association is a dynamic and diverse community of artists committed to promoting and exhibiting local visual art. Formed in 1894, the Association has played a pivotal role both for artists in the region and in the life of the Art Gallery of Hamilton. The Women’s Art Association’s annual juried exhibition began in 1896, and it has been hosted by the AGH every year since 1947.
