Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

"FORT MACLEOD STAGE COACH"

Date

1967

Materials

ACRYLIC, PARTICLE BOARD, WOOD

No. Pieces

1

Height

3.0

Length

73.0

Width

134.0

Description

FRONT OF PAINTING DEPICTS WOMAN IN GREEN RIDING IN COACH DRIVEN BY TWO MEN AND PULLED BY TEAM OF FOUR BROWN HORSES. SCENERY INCLUDES FOREST IN AUTUMN, BLUE LAKE AND HILLS/MOUNTAINS. PLAQUE IN CENTER–BOTTOM OF FRAME MARKED, “FORT MACLEOD – LETHBRIDGE STAGE,” MINOR DENTS TO PLAQUE WHERE NAILS ARE, SMALL DENT UNDER “F.” ARTIST’S SIGNATURE IN LOWER LEFT CORNER OF PAINTING, “EVELYN D. WOJTOWICZ, 1967.”

Subjects

ART

Historical Association

FINE ARTS

History

ACCORDING TO THE DONOR, ED BAKER, AT THE TIME OF DONATION, "THIS LADY AND HER TWIN SISTER AND MOTHER WERE WELL KNOWN IN LETHBRIDGE AND COALDALE IN THE 60S AND 70S, ESPECIALLY IN THE LETHBRIDGE FAIR PARADES. THE THREE OF THEM WOULD BE DRESSED IN BEAUTIFUL COWGIRL OUTFITS AND RIDING SPLENDID HORSES, I BELIEVE THAT THEY LIVED ON AN ACREAGE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF COALDALE. DURING THESE YEARS I OPERATED AN AUTO SERVICE CENTRE IN DOWNTOWN LETHBRIDGE (IMPERIAL MOTORS) AND SERVICED THEIR FAMILY CARS. ONE AFTERNOON, EVELYN STOPPED IN FOR SOME SERVICE WORK ON HER CAR, HAVING EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON COMING BACK FROM ONE OF HER ART SHOWS IN CALGARY. I NOTICED THIS PAINTING IN THE CAR AND IN OUR DISCUSSION SHE EXPLAINED THAT SHE HAD ATTENDED AN ART SHOW AND SALE AND HAD NOT SOLD THIS PAINTING. I WAS ATTRACTED AND AFTER SOME DISCUSSION I PURCHASED THE PAINTING FOR SOMETHING BETWEEN $200-$300, I DON’T REMEMBER THE EXACT AMOUNT, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN LATE 69 OR 70. THE PAINTING HAS ALWAYS HAD A PROMINENT PLACE IN OUR HOMES AND ALWAYS RECEIVED LOTS OF COMMENTS. WE MOVED TO CALGARY IN MID 1970 AND OF COURSE LOST TOUCH WITH HAPPENINGS IN LETH & AREA. I HAD IT REFRAMED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HUNG ON A FEATURE WALL. MY FAMILY FEELS THAT THE HISTORICAL STORY OF THE PAINTING MAY BE OF INTEREST AND ON THE SUGGESTION OF MY DAUGHTER IN LAW BETH CARTER, (FORMER CURATOR AT THE GLENBOW) I AM OFFERING IT TO THE GALT." ON JUNE 22, 2010 NICOLE HEMBROFF MET WITH JOE WOJTOWICZ (EVELYN'S HUSBAND) TO DISCUSS HER HISTORY AS AN ARTIST. HE SAID, “EVELYN ALWAYS WANTED TO BE AN ARTIST BUT SHE DIDN’T GO TO SCHOOL FOR ART. SHE LEARNED TO PAINT BY PRACTICING ALL THE TIME.” EVELYN STARTED PAINTING AT THE AGE OF 13. JOE SAID “SHE WAS A NATURAL AT ART SO SHE WANTED TO DEVELOP HER ABILITIES.” EVELYN PAINTED AND CREATED LEATHERWORK. SHE NEVER BELONGED TO AN ART CLUB BUT SHE WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN THEM. “EVELYN READ BOOKS ALL ABOUT THE SOUTHERN ALBERTA AREA. THEY INSPIRED HER TO PAINT PICTURES OF ALBERTA. SHE ALSO TOOK PICTURES IN THE USA OF SAN JUAN – SHE PAINTED SOME IMAGES OF THAT TOO.” EVELYN DID NOT ATTEMPT TO SELL MUCH OF HER ART. SHE WAS A HOMEMAKER. ART WAS HER HOBBY AND SHE SPENT ANY TIME SHE HAD PAINTING. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS. THE FOLLOWING BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON THE ARTIST, EVELYN DOROTHY WOJTOWICZ, WAS EXCERPTED FROM HER LETHBRIDGE HERALD OBITUARY: EVELYN WAS BORN IN DRY RIVER, MANITOBA IN 1926. HER FAMILY MOVED TO ENGLAND IN 1937, WHERE SHE MET AND MARRIED HER HUSBAND JOSEPH IN 1944. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THEY RETURNED TO CANADA. EVELYN WON NATIONAL AWARDS FOR HER LEATHER WORK, AND HER PAINTINGS WERE EXHIBITED AND SOLD LOCALLY AND THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE. SHE PASSED AWAY IN COALDALE ON APRIL 11, 1999. FOR NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS FEATURING EVELYN WOJTOWICZ'S POETRY AND FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT HER ARTISTIC PRACTICE, SEE PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20100008000

Acquisition Date

2010-03

Collection

Museum

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