From the Forest to the Sea: Emily Carr in British Columbia

by Sarah Milroy (Editor), Ian Dejardin, Matthew Teitelbaum

Winner, Canadian Museum Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research -- Art Emily Carr captures the natural and cultural landscapes of British Columbia like no other artist before or after her. This major volume, designed to accompany an exhibition organized by the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London and the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, gathers work from all phases of this extraordinary artist's career — from her delicate early watercolours of the 1890s to her expressive hybrids of the 1930s and 1940s, which carry European and North American Modernist traditions with the formal stylizations of Indigenous design. Carr's lifelong fascination with British Columbia's original inhabitants transformed her. Visiting First Nations villages up and down the coast, she absorbed the essence of the place she loved so well. Those experiences changed her life and charged her work, inspiring her imagination. This monumental volume features more than 100 colour reproductions of Carr's work, including some of her most renowned paintings, in dialogue with dozens of indigenous artifacts from the Pacific historic masks, baskets, and ceremonial objects by Haida, Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, Salish, Tlingit, and Tsimshian makers. Drawn from public and private collections, including the British Museum, the Pitt Rivers Museum, Horniman Museum and Gardens, and the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, these artifacts illuminate Carr's connections to Indigenous cultures. From the Forest to the Sea features written contributions by Toronto writer and art critic Sarah Milroy; Ian Dejardin, Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery (London) acclaimed contemporary artists Peter Doig and Jessica Stockholder; leading Carr scholars Ian Thom, Charles Hill, Kathryn Bridge, and Gerta Moray; Haida hereditary chief and master carver James Hart; Kwakwaka'wakw artists Corrine Hunt and Marianne Nicolson; and anthropologists Robert Storrie and Karen Duffek. Together, they illuminate Carr's immense legacy and the connections to First Nations culture that inspired her work.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Sarah Milroy is a Toronto writer and art critic. She served as editor and publisher of Canadian Art magazine (1991–1996) and as art critic for the Globe and Mail (2001–2010). Milroy has contributed to publications on the work of Gathie Falk, Jack Chambers, Greg Curnoe and Fred Herzog, and is a regular contributor to Canadian Art, Border Crossings and The Walrus.

Reviews

[Lino Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the Forest to the Sea
Emily Carr in British Columbia
Edited by: Sarah Milroy & Ian Dejardin

While going through the beginning of the book, it is well laid out except that the emphasis is on the words – was hoping for more pictures depicting the art. But then, I noticed that there are page numbers next to the small illustrations that lead us to full page photos – much more satisfying.




Notes:
Page 20: Rebelliousness is one of the keys to Carr’s character and to her self-image…
In her autobiography, Growing Pains, she shares her soul-searching interest in comparative religions…
26: Klee Wyck (the laughing one)
40: …most critical to her enduring legacy, is her groundbreaking commitment to honouring the Native cultures that she encountered.
76: Carr’s paintings of totem poles carry this same alone-in-the-woods feeling.
111: Sister and I in Alaska – where she documents her encounter with totems for the first time
160: Kitwancool Totems

[Winter Sophia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating & Inspiring! A Beautiful Read! I Loved It!

[T P Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous illustrated monograph on this fascinating artist. I learnt a great deal from the essays. A beautiful book in its own right and justice is done to the artists works. Disappointed to finish this one as it's such a delight to dip in and out of.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book. Emily's pictures are absolutely marvelous and the First Nations items are a wonderful edition. It is a pity that Emily isn't celebrating even more.