.1 28 CM WTH. (TOP) 87.7 CM (BASE) X 127 CM LTH. TRIANGULAR BACK REST CONSTRUCTED OF WILLOW STICKS LASHED WITH SINEW. BACKREST IS EDGED WITH SEWN COTTON STRIPS AND GREEN FLANNEL TAPE DOWN SIDE. HEAD PIECE IS CONSTRUCTED OF BLACK FLANNEL EDGED WITH RED FLANNEL, INSET WITH RED FLANNEL GEOMETRIC DESIGNS ARE OUTLINED IN BROWN AND WHITE BEADS. PICTOGRAPH STORY OUTLINING A BATTLE IS PAINTED IN BLACK ON THE BACK REST SURFACE.
.2 25.4 CM WTH. (TOP) 83.8 CM (BASE) X 130.8 CM LTH. TRIANGULAR BACK REST CONSTRUCTED OF WILLOW STICKS LASHED WITH SINEW. BACKREST IS EDGED WITH SEWN COTTON STRIPS AND GREEN FLANNEL TAPE DOWN SIDES. HEAD PIECE IS MADE OF RED FLANNEL EDGED WITH BLACK COTTON AND WHITE BEADS GEOMETRIC DESIGN BROWN EDGED WITH BLUE & BLUE EDGED WITH BROWN PICTOGRAPH STORY OUTLINING A BATTLE AND RAID IS PAINTED IN BLACK PAINT ON THE BACKREST SURFACE. CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE.
PINK, PURPLE, WHITE DYED PORCUPINE QUILL WORK (QUILLS FLATTENED & WRAPPED AROUND BUCKSKIN FRINGE. GLASS BEADS: RED, YELLOW, BLUE, GREEN, BROWN & WHITE ALL GEOMETRIC DESIGNS. SOME BEADS & QUILLWORK IS MISSING. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT.
NORTHERN PLAINS INDIGENOUS CULTURE. USED TO STORE PIPES.
22 OCTOBER 2021 UPDATE: THE LABEL TEXT QUOTED BELOW WAS DEVELOPED WITH KAINAI ELDERS FOR A SUB-THEME WITHIN THE EXHIBIT ‘MADE IN’, TITLED ‘NIITSITAPISSKSAHKOYI’ AND INSTALLED WITHIN THE GALT IN 2021. ELDERS WHO PROVIDED MUSEUM CURATOR AIMEE BENOIT WITH DIRECTION ON SUBTHEME’S CONTENT INCLUDED: AAGOHH GISS STSISTIIGIIAAKII (MANY OFFERINGS WOMAN, GRETA MANY BEARS), GUUYII STAA BAAMUUGHKAA (WALKING ON TOP, RAYMOND MANY BEARS), NIINAA PIIKSII (CHIEF BIRD, MIKE BRUISED HEAD), MO’TOKAANII’PO (WALKING WITH A SCALP, HARRISON RED CROW) AND MIINIIPOKA (SACRED BERRY CHILD, PETER WEASEL MOCCASIN). THE GALT APPRECIATED THE GENEROSITY OF THE ELDERS WHO SHARED THEIR KNOWLEDGE FOR THIS EXHIBIT PROJECT.
“SOYAAHKOINNIMAAN (PIPE BAG): THIS PIPE BAG IS DECORATED USING BOTH BEADS AND PORCUPINE QUILLS.
‘WHEN MY DAD WAS STILL ALIVE, HE MADE TWO FORKED STICKS AND HE HAD A BLANKET. AND IF WE EVER SAW A PORCUPINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WE STOPPED. AND THEN MY BROTHER OR MY NEPHEW WOULD PUT ONE STICK ON THE PORCUPINE’S HEAD AND ONE ON THE BACK. MY DAD WOULD THROW THE BLANKET OVER THE PORCUPINE AND THEN ALL THE QUILLS WOULD GO INTO THE BLANKET. THE HAIR WAS ALSO USED TO MAKE ROACHES. THE ANIMAL WAS SET FREE AGAIN AFTER THAT.’ – AAGOHH GISS STSISTIIGIIAAKII
‘THE MOUNTAIN DESIGN, THE DIAMOND DESIGN, THESE ARE TYPICAL BLACKFOOT ORIGIN, BUT THIS PIECE MAY HAVE BEEN A GIFT FROM DIFFERENT TRIBES. QUILLWORK WAS USED AMONG ALL TRIBES; ALL TRIBES DID USE THIS TECHNIQUE, BUT THE PATTERN LOOKS MORE CHEYENNE. THIS WAS PIECED FROM SOMETHING ELSE; YOU CAN TELL THERE WAS A POCKET. EVERYTHING WAS PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS RECYCLED.’ – MO’TOKAANII’PO”
NORTHWESTERN PLAINS, LATE PREHISTORIC PERIOD? DONOR FOUND ON FARM IN SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN. PROBABLE USE, PULVERIZING BONE OR SINEW. DONOR RETIRED & RESIDING IN LETHBRIDGE. REMAINDER OF DONATION IN EDUCATION COLLECTION.
STAMP MARK ON BASE. TRIANGLE DESIGN WITH "IPE GERMANY". HAS BEEN BROKEN IN SEVERAL PLACES AND MENDED. PINK, GREEN, FLORAL DESIGN ON WHITE BACKGROUND WITH GOLD EDGING. BOWL BROKEN DURING BUILDING RENOVATION MARCH '85. REPAIRED. GOLD EDGING SLIGHTLY WORN. STAMPED ON BOTTOM "85". CONSERVATION REPORT ON FILE
BOX, JEWELERY, BROWN, LEATHER, SEMI-OVAL SHAPED. TOP MARKED, “E.G. PARKER, GOLDSMITH, ALTRINCHAM” IN GOLD. COLOR LOSS THROUGHOUT OUTSIDE OF BOX. LID OPENS ON BRASS HINGE. INSIDE OF BOX LINED WITH WHITE SATIN AND VELVET. SMALL SLOT FOR RING. ONE SIDE OF INTERIOR VELVET RING HOLDER IS SUNKEN.
WOODEN NEEDLEWORK BOX, TRAY, LIDS, NEEDLE HOLDERS, VENEER FRAGMENTS AND KEY – 14 PIECES. PLEASE REFER TO PERMANENT FILE FOR DIAGRAM OF BOX WITH LABELED COMPARTMENTS.
1. NEEDLEWORK BOX, DARK WOOD VENEER, RECTANGULAR SHAPE. TOP OF BOX DECORATED WITH TWO TONE DIAMOND SHAPED MOTHER OF PEARL INLAY, BORDER IS CREAM COLORED, MIDDLE BAND IS MARBELIZED, CENTRE IS CREAM WITH INITIALS "F.M" CARVED INTO THE SURFACE. SIMILAR TWO TONE DIAMOND SHAPED MOTHER OF PEARL INLAY LOCATED AROUND KEYHOLE ON FRONT OF BOX. PROPER LEFT SIDE OF LID MISSING STRIP OF VENEER GOING ENTIRE LENGTH OF BOX. VENEER ALSO MISSING ON BACK PROPER RIGHT CORNER AND FRONT PROPER LEFT CORNER. INSIDE OF BOX DECORATED WITH PINK SILK, AND CURVY STRIPED GREY AND CREAM PAPER. UNDERSIDE OF LID IS CREAM SILK PIN CUSION WITH METAL CLOSURE, PEARLESCENT BUTTON WITH MOTHER OF PEARL INLAY AND BLACK AND GOLD, FOLIAGE PATTERNED BORDER. PIN CUSHION PULLS OUT TO REVEAL EXPANDABLE PAPER FOLDER. BOX CONTAINS MULTI COMPARTMENT TRAY WHICH LIFTS OUT TO REVEAL LARGE STORAGE SPACE UNDERNEATH.
12.8 CM HIGH BY 19.9 CM LONG BY 27.7 CM WIDE.
2. TRAY WITH SIXTEEN COMPARTMENTS OF VARYING SIZES. WOODEN TRAY COVERED IN GREY AND CREAM CURVY STRIPED PAPER. FOUR COMPARMENTS COVERED WITH PINK SILK. PAPER PEELING ALONG FRONT, BOTTOM EDGE OF TRAY.
4.5 CM HIGH BY 17.3 CM LONG BY 25.2 CM WIDE.
3. LID, RECTANGULAR SHAPED. MOTHER OF PEARL FLOWER SHAPED HANDLE IN CENTER. TOP OF LID COVERED WITH PINK SILK, BOTTOM COVERED WITH GREY AND CREAM CURVY STRIPED PAPER. LID SOILED AND DISCOLORED THROUGHOUT.
0.8 CM HIGH BY 6.7 CM LONG BY 5.9 CM WIDE.
4. LID, RECTANGULAR SHAPED. PINK SILK COVERS TOP, GREY AND CREAM CURVY STRIPED FABRIC COVERS BOTTOM. PINK FABRIC LOOP ATTACHED TO PROPER LEFT SIDE OF LID. PINK SILK BAND WITH FOUR SEWN COMPARTMENTS RUNS THROUGH THE TOP CENTRE OF THE LID. APPEARS THAT THE BAND WOULD HAVE HELD TOOLS OF SOME SORT. SILK AND PAPER ARE SOILED AND DISCOLORED THROUGHOUT. EDGES OF SILK LOOP ARE FRAYING.
1.3 CM HIGH BY 6.9 CM LONG BY 12.8 CM WIDE.
5. LID, RECTANGULAR SHAPED. MOTHER OF PEARL FLOWER SHAPED HANDLE IN CENTRE. TOP OF LID COVERED WITH PINK SILK, BOTTOM COVERED WITH GREY AND CREAM CURVY STRIPED PAPER. LID SOILED AND DISCOLORED THROUGHOUT.
0.9 CM HIGH BY 6.7 CM LONG BY 6.0 CM WIDE
6. LID, RECTUANGULAR SHAPED. MOTHER OF PEARL FLOWER SHAPED HANDLE IN CENTRE. TOP OF LID COVERED WITH PINK SILK, BOTTOM COVERED WITH GREY AND CREAM CURVY STRIPED PAPER. LID SOILED AND DISCOLORED THROUGHOUT.
0.7 CM HIGH BY 3.6 CM LONG BY 11.5 CM WIDE.
7. COMPARTMENT DIVIDER, RECTANGULAR SHAPED. WOOD COVERED IN GREY AND CREAM CURVY STRIPED PAPER. PAPER SOILED AND DISCOLORED THROUGHOUT. PAPER ABSENT ON THREE OUT OF FOUR EDGES OF DIVIDER.
0.3 CM HIGH BY 3.0 CM LONG BY 2.5 CM WIDE.
8. (2) NEEDLE HOLDER BOOKS. OUTSIDE OF HOLDER COVERED IN PINK SILK, INSIDE COVERED IN GREY AND CREAM CURVY STRIPED PAPER. ATTACHED TO INSIDE OF HOLDER IS PIECE OF COTTON FABRIC WITH PINKED EDGES. EACH HOLDS ONE NEEDLE (SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION). HOLDER SOILED AND DISCOLORED THROUGHOUT.
0.8 CM HIGH BY 4.8 CM LONG BY 2.5 CM WIDE.
9. NEEDLE, FINE, STAINLESS STEEL. SMALL EYE MEASURES A LITTLE LESS THAN 0.1 CM.
3.1 CM LONG BY LESS THAN 0.1 CM IN DIAMETER.
10. NEEDLE, STAINLESS STEEL. SMALL EYE MEASURES LESS THAN 0.1 CM.
3.9 CM LONG BY 0.1 CM IN DIAMETER.
11. VENEER, DARK COLORED WOOD. IRREGULAR EDGES.
19.1 CM LONG BY 1.1 CM WIDE.
12. VENEER, DARK COLORED WOOD. IRREGULAR EDGES.
11.8 CM LONG BY 1.3 CM WIDE.
13. KEY, SILVER. OVAL LOOP AT TOP, HOLLOW STEM WITH SMALL NODULE ON END. FOUR CIRCULAR INDENTED BANDS WHERE KEY LOOP MEETS KEY STEM.
0.4 CM HIGH BY 3.0 CM LONG BY 2.0 CM WIDE.
ACCORDING TO THE DONOR, KATHERINE IVES TWISS, SHE GOT THE BOX FROM EDITH KIRK. SHE SAID, "IT WAS HER MOTHER'S BOX. MISS KIRK GAVE IT TO MY MOTHER [ETTA HENDERSON IVES] TO GIVE TO ME." TWISS WAS GIVEN THE BOX BECAUSE SHE WAS A "STUDENT AND FRIEND" OF KIRK.
THE DONATION WAS BROUGHT IN BY TWISS'S DAUGHTER, K.A. STEEL, IN HER LETTER SHE WRITES, "WHEN MISS KIRK PASSED AWAY SHE LEFT AN ANTIQUE JEWELLERY-TYPE BOX... TO TWISS.... MISS KIRK SAYS THAT THE BOX BELONGED TO HER MOTHER AND WAS OVER 100 YEARS OLD. MOST OF ITS CONTENTS WERE VERY OLD AND BROKEN DOWN, BUT VERY INTERESTING. THIS BOX WAS THE ONLY POSSESSION THAT MISS KIRK HAD, AND SHE MUST HAVE LOVED IT DEARLY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL THAT SHE HAD OF HER MOTHER. SHE BROUGHT IT ALL THE WAY FROM ENGLAND, AND KEPT IT SAFE ALL THROUGHOUT HER LIFE... [WHEN SHE CAME TO LETHBRIDGE] SHE MET MRS. MARGARET (ETTA) HENDERSON IVES, WHO HAD BEEN BORN IN LETHBRIDGE IN 1890, AND THEY BECAME FRIENDS. MISS KIRK GOT SET UP IN A SMALL APARTMENT AND TAUGHT ART LESSONS. MRS. ETTA IVES HAD BOTH OF HER DAUGHTERS, MARGARET AND KATHARINE, TAKE ART LESSONS FROM MISS KIRK. MRS. IVES ALSO BOUGHT A NUMBER OF PAINTINGS FROM MISS KIRK. MISS KIRK WAS A LOVELY, DECENT WOMAN. MARGARET TOOK LESSONS BUT DIDN'T LOVE ART. KATHARINE LOVED ART AND WAS GIVEN MANY, MANY LESSONS. WHEN SHE LOOKS BACK SHE THINKS SHE WAS GIVEN SO MANY LESSONS NOT ONLY TO LEARN TO PAINT, BUT ALSO TO HELP MISS KIRK MAKE A LIVING. MISS KIRK HAD A TINY APARTMENT WHERE KATHARINE TOOK HER LESSONS. KATHARINE REMEMBERS THAT MISS KIRK ONLY HAD A HOT PLATE TO COOK HER MEALS ON. SHE REMEMBERS THAT MISS KIRK ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE COOKING AN EGG FOR HER MEAL. KATHARINE AND MISS KIRK ALSO SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME TOGETHER IN THE COUNTRYSIDE SKETCHING... KATHARINE JUST LIKED MISS KIRK VERY MUCH AND REALLY LIKED THE ART LESSONS. SHE SAID THAT MISS KIRK REALLY KNEW HER COLOURS. MISS KIRK KNEW HOW TO MIX THE PAINTS TO GET JUST THE RIGHT COLOUR... AN ART LESSON COST 25 CENTS PER LESSON. ART SUPPLIES WERE EXPENSIVE AND GETTING ONE NEW COLOUR OF PAINT WAS AN EXCITING ADVENTURE. IT MUST HAVE BEEN HARD FOR MISS KIRK TO PURCASE ALL THE MATERIALS SHE NEEDED FOR HER PAINTINGS... KATHARINE GREW UP, MOVED AWAY... AND THEN MARRIED. MISS KIRK WANTED TO GIVE KATHARINE ONE OF HER PAINTINGS AS A WEDDING GIFT. MISS KIRK WROTE A LETTER TELLING KATHARINE TO COME AND PICK WHICHEVER PAINTING SHE LIKED THE BEST FOR HER WEDDING GIFT. KATHARINE DID PICK A PAINTING AND THAT PAINTING HAS BEEN ON HER WALL ALL OF THESE YEARS... "
GALT CURATOR, WENDY AITKENS, DID SOME RESEARCH ON KIRK AND CONTINUES TO SEARCH FOR MORE ANSWERS ABOUT THE LIFE OF THIS WOMAN. SEE BELOW,
"FOR 35 YEARS, LETHBRIDGE WAS THE HOME OF AN ACCOMPLISHED AND WELL KNOWN ARTIST AND ART TEACHER. EDITH FANNY KIRK, OR MISS KIRK AS MOST PEOPLE CALLED HER, CREATED WATER COLOUR LANDSCAPES OF ENGLAND, VANCOUVER, LETHBRIDGE, WATERTON, BANFF, AND JASPER. SHE TAUGHT MANY CHILDREN AND ADULTS THE SKILLS OF PAINTING. SHE ALSO SPOKE AT THE MATHESIS CLUB PERSENTING PAPERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN ART, THE EVOLUTION OF ART AND ART APPRECIATION. JOAN STEBBINS, PAST CURATOR AT THE SAAG, CREDITS THE INFLUENCE OF MISS KIRK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LETHBRIDGE SKETCH (NOW ARTISTS') CLUB IN THE 1930S.
WHEN MISS KIRK ARRIVED IN LETHBRIDGE IN 1918, SHE WAS 60 YEARS OLD. SHE WAS BORN IN 1858 AND WAS RAISED IN YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. HER MOTHER, FANNY (NEE MAUGHAM) PASSED AWAY WHEN EDITH WAS A YOUNG GIRL AND HER FATHER REMARRIED. THE STORY, FROM SECOND HAND SOURCES, WAS THAT SHE AND HER STEP MOTHER DID NOT LIKE ONE ANOTHER. THIS PROVIDED TO BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE BECAUSE EDITH WAS SENT AWAY TO STUDY ART. EDITH STUDIED IN SOUTH KENSINGTON, LONDON AND PARIS. DURING HER SUMMERS SHE JOINED ARTIST'S COLONIES IN CORNWALL, WALES AND YORKSHIRE. SHE WROTE OF IMPRESSIONIST PAUL CEZANNE BEING HER "MODEL AND INSPIRATION" AND SHE GREATLY ADMIRED ROMANTIC ARTIST JOHN SELL COTMAN.
KIRK NEVER MARRIED AND, FOR SOME REASON, SHE DECIDED TO IMMIGRATE TO CANADA AT THE AGE OF 46. SHE ARRIVED IN HALIFAX ABOARD THE HMS CANADA IN APRIL 1905. THE PASSENGER LIST INDICATED SHE WAS TRAVELING ON TO VANCOUVER AND HER OCCUPATION WAS LISTED AS A GOVERNESS. IT SEEMS SHE DIDN'T STAY LONG IN VANCOUVER BUT SOON TRAVELLED TO ATLIN, B.C. TO GET TO ATLIN, KIRK WOULD HAVE TAKEN A SHIP TO SKAGWAY, THE WHITE PASS RAILWAY TO CARCROSS AND THEN AN OVERLAND AND BOAT TRIP TO ATLIN. IT IS A MYSTERY WHY SHE CHOSE TO GO TO A REMOTE GOLD RUSH TOWN IN NORTH WESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
NEXT WE FIND KIRK, IN 1911, BOARDING WITH THE WOODS FAMILY IN LILLOOET, NORTHWEST OF KAMLOOPS, B.C. THERE SHE IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. SEVEN YEARS LATER EDITH KIRK IS IN LETHBRIDGE. IT SEEMS SHE KNEW PEOPLE LIVING IN TABER, DR. ALFRED HAMMAN AND HIS SISTER MRS. SYLVIA GIDMAN, WHO CAME FROM HER HOMELAND IN ENGLAND SO CHOSE VISIT. THE CHARM OF THE PRAIRIE AND MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPES OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA ENTICED HER TO STAY. MISS KIRK LIVED IN THE VICTORIA MANSION AND THE TRAVELLER'S AID SOCIETY BUILDING AND SHE TAUGHT ART CLASSES AT THE YMCA FOR A FEW DOLLARS A MONTH."
FOR PAPERS WRITTEN AND PRESENTED BY MISS EDITH KIRK TO MEMBERS OF THE MATHESIS CLUB OF LETHBRIDGE BETWEEN 1933 AND 1937, SEE ARCHIVAL DONATION P19951042000. THE PAPERS DISCUSS THE EVOLUTION OF ART, MODERN ART, HOW ARTISTS DEVELOP PAINTINGS AND ART APPRECIATION.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE OTHER KIRK DONATIONS, INCLUDING: P19820004000, P19960095000, P20090016*, P20140012*, P20140020*, P20140021000, P20150008000, P20150019000, P20150024000, P20150029000, AND P20150030000. SEE ALSO THE BOOK, "A LEGACY OF ADVENTURE AND ART: THE LIFE OF MISS EDITH FANNY KIRCK," BY WENDY AITKENS PUBLISHED IN 2015. ALSO SEE PERMANENT FILE.
1. CHEST, TORTOISESHELL VENEER. ROUND SILVER BUTTON CAN BE PUSHED IN ORDER TO OPEN CHEST. THREE, ROUND IVORY FEET ON BOTTOM, ONE MISSING. SILVER BANNER ON TOP OF CHEST MARKED, “FM” IN CURSIVE. BACK, PROPER LEFT, BOTTOM CORNER, FRONT, PROPER RIGHT CORNER AND BACK PROPER RIGHT TOP CORNER ARE CHIPPED. INSIDE OF CHEST LINED WITH BLUE, FLORAL DAMASK.
3.1 CM HIGH BY 6.0 CM LONG BY 3.5 CM WIDE.
2. CHARM. AGATE HEART,TRANPARENT BROWN, BLACK, AND WHITE STRIPED. AGATE ANCHOR MISSING ONE ARM, TRANSPARENT ORANGE AND RED SWIRLS. CHARMS CONNECTED BY THREE METAL LOOPS.
0.5 CM HIGH BY 3.6 CM LONG BY 2.1 CM WIDE.
ACCORDING TO DAVE MERESKI, A LOCAL GOLDSMITH, THE METHOD OF DRILLING HOLES AND LINKING THE CHARM TOGETHER WOULD DATE IT SOME TIME AFTER 1920.
FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE P20090016001 AND PERMANENT FILE.
NORTHERN PLAINS CULTURE. SHELLS PROBABLY TRADED FROM WEST COAST. TRADE NETWORKS FROM THE COAST TO THE INTERIOR ALREADY WELL ESTABLISHED BY TIME OF WHITE CONTACT. DENTALIUM & COWRY SHELLS WERE HIGHLY PRIZED TRADE ITEMS & WERE CONSIDERED BY SOME RESEARCHERS TO HAVE BEEN A FORM OF CURRENCY.