Exhibition: Parallel Destinies~Homer Watson & Carl Ahrens -Open June 20th-

Dundas Museum and Archives is proud to present “Parallel Destinies”, the first comprehensive visual essay in the work of the two great Canadian landscape artists Homer Watson and Carl Ahrens. The show follows their lives and careers, highlighting similarities and differences, to make their work known, understood and appreciated.

The term parallel, used in the title, is a double-entendre. The evolution of Watson and Carl is similar in some respects. Both artists were born in Ontario, self-taught, and were friends and members of the same artistic society. Yet, their lives were separated, never meeting. Watson rose to fame young, had an exemplary life and career. However, the quality of Watson’s work decreased and he died a poor man. Ahrens was sick most of his life, lived a Bohemian lifestyle, and struggled to make a living. But nonetheless, Ahrens completed some of his best works in the later part of his life.

Almost eighty years after their passing, come see this exhibition and ask yourself – who did the right thing as an artist?

The exhibition will run from June 20 to September 5, 2015.

We are grateful for the support of the partnering institutions and private collectors who made this exhibit possible: Art Gallery of Hamilton, Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery, Spadina Museum, Kim Bullock and her parents Fred and Deborah Downes of Dallas, Texas, rych mills of Kitchener, Nancy and Louis Silcox, Elizabeth and John Crozier of Burlington, Nancy and Norm Tellier of Cambridge and various private collections.

Unrolled - Piecing Together Our Textile History

The spring has just flown by and the Museum’s feature exhibition, Unrolled: Piecing Together Our Textile History has come and gone. Have a look at our newest video; an the inside look at what was involved in curating and installing the exhibition – HERE.

Additionally, Regina Haggo of The Spectator has written a lovely review of the show – HERE.

Be sure to check  our upcoming exhibits for details on Parallel Destinies – Homer Watson and Carl Ahrens – Opening June 20th.

St. Paul's Memorials in Glass

Interior of the re-built St. Paul’s United Church, November 20, 1933.

One of the most eye catching aspects of St Paul’s United Church is the abundance of stained glass windows encompassing the historic building. Among the twenty-four stained glass memorial windows, the church has panels that were salvaged from the original building from 1855, from the rebuilding of the church in 1933, and others more recent. Among the various memorials is a three paneled scene which commemorates fallen soldiers who lost their lives in various battles of the First World War, otherwise known as the First World War Memorial Window.

The memorial window, which occupies the first high window on the south side of the building, includes Christ Knocking at the Door, The Scene at Emmaus, and Sowing the Seed. However, the original window, which was completed in 1919, only includes the first and the second panels. The first two panels were saved from the fire in 1931 that destroyed most of the old church.

The original stained glass window had a much different appearance than that which we see today. Completed just a year after the end of the First World War, it included the inscription “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” Revelation 2:10. The names included on the panel include Aimers Bertram, James Knowles Bertram, Goldwin McCausland Pirie, and Robert Sterling.

Among the striking differences between the original stained glass panels and the newer panel is the position of the “In grateful memory of those who fell on the field of honor in the Great War 1914-1919 in defense of righteousness, justice, and liberty”. We can see the differences between the positioning of the inscription “Be thou faithful…” and between the throne portions on the top of each of the stained glass panels. If you look closely you can see differences in styles between the two original panels and the newer panel.

After the end of World War One, many churches in both North America and Europe commissioned stained glass memorial windows, and it comes as no surprise that Dundas followed suit. Some followed the style of traditional Gothic revival designs, whereas others went for a newer approaches. Some churches would commission actual war images to appear in their memorial windows, such as soldiers fighting, airplanes, and other common warfare images.

To learn more about the fire in 1931, the First World War Memorial stained glass windows, or to check out the panels for yourself, visit the Dundas Museum and Archives and St. Paul’s United Church!

References:

St. Paul’s United Church, St. Paul’s Sanctuary – Images & Reflections, 2003.

This post was written by Claudia Palermo, our Curatorial Assistant, a position made possible by a grant from Young Canada Works in 2014.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada (Youth Employment Strategy) through the Department of Canadian Heritage for the Young Canada Works Program. Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada (Stratégie emploi jeunesse) par l’entremise du ministère du Patrimoine canadien pour le programme Jeunesse Canada au travail.

Remembering Private Goldwin McCausland Pirie

Goldie Pirie (right) with friends (left to right) Len Bertram, Leo Sullivan, and Arthur Turner.

Private Goldwin McCausland Pirie was born April 12th, 1894, to Hester Emma McCausland (1858-1901) and Alexander Fraser Pirie (1849-1903). Unfortunately, Goldwin Pirie would lose both his parents as a child. He and his siblings were raised by his paternal aunt, Ada Pirie. “Goldie” as he was known, would enlist in August of 1914 and enter the war alongside the 77th Wentworth Regiment of Dundas, the local milita unit.

When the members of the first contingent of the 77th left Dundas, the people of their home town could not let them leave without a proper send off. On Thursday August 20th, 1914, community members braved the steady downpour of rain to watch the contingent leave for the first stage of their journey, which would take them to Valcartier, Quebec. The Dundas Town Council had voted to spend $500 on the troops, and provided each man with a combination knife, fork, and spoon, and a collapsible drinking cup. There were 3000 sandwiches prepared alongside the cheese, biscuits, tobacco, and more, to be used by the men while en route. The Dundas Star reported that private citizens also presented tobacco pouches, cigars, and cigarettes. The Honourary Lt.-Col. of the Regiment, J.J. Grafton, was said to have presented the men with a set of underwear and a silk handkerchief! The town of Dundas was adamant in their decision not to let these men begin their travels empty handed. The community clearly demonstrated how proud they were of their loyal sons who were eager to answer the call of duty.

Once at camp, Goldwin Pirie set off to write letters to his family in Dundas. These letters were published in the Dundas Star, and can still be found today. He wrote of his time with the 77th spent training, and the “Gimme Club”. The Gimme Club members included: Leonard Halliday Bertram, Charles Campbell Gwyn, Leo Ignatus Sullivan, John Woodville Cowper, John Howard Knill, Arthur Edmond Robert Turner, William Henry Gains, Francis John Lavender, and George William Graham. These men would write about their lives and letters often included humorous anecdotes. One is as follows.

Stray Shots

Bill Graham may be away, but what is he? A Wafer?
Milk is plentiful, and as Cowper loses, Willie Gains.
If Sullivan frequents the canteen, why can’t Campbell Gwyn (go in?).
Some fellows would like to have talcum powder in their shoes for hard marching, but we should worry, as we have Lavender.
If a woman drove a Be(e)rtram into camp, what chance would Arthur have to Turner out before Pirie said “Gimme a drink?”Knill.

THE GIMME CLUB (gimme this, gimme that.)
Gim Pirie, Pres.

On September 13th 1914, the young men at the Valcartier Camp were reviewed, and on September 22nd the soldiers were on their way and about to start the second stage in their journey. However, the Canadian men were to have extra protection in the shape of a combined entrenching tool and head shield. The 77th Wentworth Regiment became the 1st Battalion Western Ontario Regiment, and these men were therefore stationed at Bustard Camp. Because of his athleticism, Goldie Pirie was chosen to be trained in the art of bomb throwing.

During the Battle of Ypres, Goldie was wounded in the counterattack of the 1st and 4th Battalions at Mauser Ridge. An article from the Dundas Star reported that he was left for dead on the field for a total of four days. He subsequently suffered from frozen feet in the early spring of 1915, and, in the battle at Langemarck, he was the unlucky recipient of three bullets through the arm, and one in the leg. An article from the “Hamilton Daily Times” (May 20, 1915) claims that Pirie believed he had nothing to worry about and hoped to quickly get back into action. However, Goldwin Pirie would never recover. The injuries he sustained led to his evacuation to the Netley Hospital in England. Two months after he was admitted, Goldwin Pirie died as a result of infected wounds which led to recurring internal hemorrhaging. Although he had been in the hospital for an extended period of time, the news of his death on July 1st, 1915, came as a shock to both his family and the Dundas community.

When a decision was made in the 1980s to name new streets after men listed on the local war memorial, it comes as no surprise that one was named after Private Goldwin McCausland Pirie.

Sources:

Research conducted and assembled by Marika Pirie found here: http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?ID=18859

Dundas Star. Articles from August 1914 – October 1915.

This post was written by Claudia Palermo, our Curatorial Assistant, a position made possible by a grant from Young Canada Works in 2014.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada (Youth Employment Strategy) through the Department of Canadian Heritage for the Young Canada Works Program. Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada (Stratégie emploi jeunesse) par l’entremise du ministère du Patrimoine canadien pour le programme Jeunesse Canada au travail.

Celebrating National Volunteer Week

The Dundas Museum and Archives is very fortunate to have many volunteers.

They range in age from teenagers to seniors. They greet our visitors. They stock the shelves of the Gift Shop. They answer the phones. They transcribe documents written in cryptic cursive hands. They happily try and identify long since departed Dundasians staring out from blurry photographs. They tirelessly — and cheerfully — inventory artifacts on the shelves. They create detailed inventories to collections of archival materials. They scan photographs. They catalogue books. They assist in countless ways with the installation of exhibitions. They help with seniors programs, school programs, and pre-school programs. They help with events large and small. They manage other volunteers. The list of what they do and the value they bring to the Museum is long.

A heartfelt thank you to all our wonderful volunteers for all they do!

A small token of our appreciation!