Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

WHOOP-UP "T.H.EDWARDS"

Date

1973

Materials

ACRYLIC, CANVAS

No. Pieces

1

Height

67

Length

96

Width

0.2

Description

PREVIOUSLY STRETCHED ACRYLIC ON CANVAS. EDGES ARE UNPAINTED AND HAVE HOLES AND IMPRESSIONS FROM STAPLES. BROWN ADHESIVE RESIDUE ON EDGES. UPPER RIGHT AND BOTTOM LEFT CORNERS HAVE RIPPED WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN FOLDED AND GLUED. SIGNED AT BOTTOM RIGHT, “T.H.EDWARDS \\ 73 ©.” SCENE DEPICTS MOUNTIES ARRIVAL AT FORT WHOOP-UP IN THREE GROUPS. TWO GROUPS ON HORSEBACK, ONE GROUP WITH CANNON. REVERSE HAS BLACK STAINING AT TOP CENTER AND RIGHT CENTER. BROWN STAINING AROUND FOLDED EDGE.

Subjects

ART

Historical Association

FINE ARTS

History

DONOR WILLARD SOLTYS WAS BORN IN THE GALT HOSPITAL IN 1944 AND RAISED IN LETHBRIDGE. IN 1969 HE JOINED THE CORRECTIONAL CENTER WHERE HE BECAME KITCHEN CHIEF IN 1972. IN 1984 HE BECAME A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER ON THE FLOOR. ACCORDING TO SOLTYS, “[THOMAS HAROLD EDWARDS] WAS WORKING FOR ME IN THE KITCHEN WITH PERMISSION FROM THE WARDEN. WHEN HE WASN’T WORKING IN THE KITCHEN, HE PAINTED IN THE DINING ROOM. HE DID THIS IN THE STAFF DINING ROOM BECAUSE IT WAS QUIET AND HAD LOTS OF ROOM.” DONOR TRADED HIM SOME OF HIS WIFE’S CANVASES IN EXCHANGE FOR WORK. SOLTYS SAID, “I THINK HE WAS IN FOR IMPAIRED DRIVING, NOTHING SERIOUS.” ACCORDING TO A BIOGRAPHICAL ARTICLE WRITTEN IN 1973 ABOUT EDWARDS PROVIDED BY THE STAFF AT FORT CALGARY, “T.H.EDWARDS (1923 - 1974) IS A NATIVE CALGARIAN NOW RESIDING IN RAYMOND, ALBERTA. HE HAD PLANNED TO GO TO ART SCHOOL AFTER HIS DISCHARGE FROM THE R.C.A.F., BUT SOMEHOW GOT SIDETRACKED INTO WORKING IN THE EXPLORATION PHASE OF THE OIL INDUSTRY. PAINTING AND DRAWING FOR MANY YEARS HE MADE A PLUNGE INTO FULL TIME ART AROUND 1968. HE WORKED AS A FREELANCE COMMERCIAL ARTIST IN CALGARY FOR A YEAR AND THEN MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE. IN 1971 HE TAUGHT PAINTING AND DRAWING AT THE LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE. IN 1972 HE TAUGHT OIL PAINTING IN THE ADULT EDUCATION CURRICULUM OF CALGARY SCHOOLS. HE PRODUCED A CONTINUING WESTERN COMIC STRIP FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTINUE BECAUSE OF OTHER COMMITMENTS. HE HAS BEEN STUDYING AND RESEARCHING THE CANADIAN WEST FOR MANY YEARS ON HIS OWN AND HAS PRODUCED THIS FIRST SERIES COMPLETELY ON HIS OWN AND WITHOUT THE AID OF GOVERNMENT GRANTS OR SUBSIDIES.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20120015000

Acquisition Date

2012-05

Collection

Museum

Less detail