Artist to Appreciate: Walter J. Phillips

March 26, 2016 By Brett in Art, British Columbia, Manitoba Tags: Art, Canada, History, Inspiration, Landscape, Manitoba, Walter J. Phillips, Wood Engraving, Woodcuts 30 Comments

Walter J. Philips -- York Boat on Lake Winnipeg (1930) v2

Walter J. Phillips, York Boat on Lake Winnipeg (1930)

Walter Joseph Phillips is yet another unquestioned master of magnificent woodcut images of the Canadian landscape. He often printed his artwork in color inks rather than just black ink as used by many of his contemporaries working in the same medium. Although born in England, he settled in Canada as a youth and resided in Winnipeg, Manitoba for much of his life (the same place, coincidentally, chosen as a newfound home by another exceptional Canadian woodcut artist and fellow European immigrant, Eric Bregman). Phillips produced the bulk of his work from the late 1910s through the 1940s. In many of his images of the Canadian west he situated people within the scene, providing both a sense of scale and nice human emotional element.

Walter J. Philips -- Mount Cathedral & Mount Stephan (1928)

Walter J. Phillips, Mount Cathedral & Mount Stephan (1928)

Walter J. Philips -- Lake of the Woods (1931)

Walter J. Phillips, Lake of the Woods (1931)

Walter J. Philips -- Red River Jig (1931)

Walter J. Phillips, Red River Jig (1931)

Walter J. Philips -- The Clothes Line - Mamalilicoola (1930)

Walter J. Phillips, The Clothesline –Mamalilicoola (B.C.) (1930)

Walter J. Philips -- The Stump (1928) v2

Walter J. Phillips, The Stump (1928)

Eric Bergman: Master Wood Engraver

February 22, 2016 By Brett in Art, History, Manitoba Tags: Art, Canada, Eric Bergman, Illustration, Inspiration, Manitoba, Vintage, Wood Engraving 17 Comments

H. Eric Bergman, "White Morning" (1932)

H. Eric Bergman, “White Morning” (1932)

The intricate artistry of wood engravings amazes me and Canada has its fair share of accomplished artists in this medium. Chief among them is H. Eric Bergman, who emigrated from Germany in 1913 and made Winnipeg, Manitoba his home throughout a highly productive career until his passing in 1958. Images from the Canadian wilderness figure prominently in many of his very stylized and moody works.

H. Eric Bergman, “The Cascade” (1931)

H. Eric Bergman, “Moving Ice” (1934)

H. Eric Bergman, “Spirits of Past Wood” (1932)

H. Eric Bergman, “Steaming Up” (1935)

H. Eric Bergman, “Glacier Water” (1931)

H. Eric Bergman, “Whirling Water” (1939)

Similar posts on O’Canada:

• Lisa Brawn’s Vibrant Woodcuts

• Laurence Hyde’s Southern Cross

Winnipeg’s Cozy and Artful Warming Huts

December 26, 2014 By Brett in Art, Manitoba, Outdoor Adventure Tags: Architecture, Art, Canada, Creativity, Manitoba, The Forks, Warming Huts, Winnipeg, Winter 51 Comments

Wood Pile Hut

Skating on the frozen surface of the Assiniboine River, a popular winter pastime, will work up quite a chill. Recognizing this, makeshift warming huts have long been used along the river to provide a temporary respite from the cold. Several years ago (2010), a local art-and-architecture competition was started in Winnipeg to see how the simple warming hut might be creatively rethought. The result has been an annual showcase of fun and function that does Winnipeg proud, as these images attest! More about the warming huts can be found at the site for the annual competition.

The Hole Idea Hut

Fir Hut

The Five-Hole Hut

Ha(y)ven Hut

The Hygge Hut

Ice Pillows Hut

Red Blankets Hut

Rope Pavillion Hut

Windshield Hut

Image credits: Warming Huts Competition Site

Manitoba Might Have Made a Difference

November 21, 2012 By Brett in Manitoba Tags: Manitoba Leave a comment

“If Barack Obama had bought Manitoba, Republicans would have understood his winning.”

Gail Collins, amusingly comparing President Obama’s recent electoral victory to how the Louisiana Purchase helped Thomas Jefferson in his own re-election more than 200 years ago (from “Anybody Notice a Pattern,” NY Times, Nov. 16, 2012)