As we prepare to pause for a minute’s silence on the 11th Hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, it is perhaps a good time to reflect on war and its impact on art.
The most obvious impact of war on art involves the destruction, loss or theft of art.
Think of recent rebel attacks on Islamic art and cultural artifacts in Mali.
Or of the destruction of churches and synagogues throughout Europe during the bombing and destruction of the First and Second World Wars.
Art has long been viewed as a “prize of war” with the theft of art by the Nazis during the Second World War being a notable example.
However, art has also been used to document war. Both the horror and the drudgery.
The Canadian War Museum has a collection of over 13,000 works which both document and help convey the feelings of those involved.
The First World War collection, which consists of almost 1,000 works by over 100 artists, not only documents Canada’s involvement in “the war to end all wars”, but also was a major influence in the development of Canadian art including the well known Group of Seven.
Both A.Y. Jackson and Frederick Varley documented the war along the Western Front while future members Arthur Lismer and Frank Johnston created works depicting life on the Home Front.
Anyone following the recent scandal in the Senate will hopefully have noticed that the walls of the Red Chamber are adorned by eight large murals.
These large murals have been in the Canadian Senate since 1921 and depict the destruction of that war plus troops preparing to leave for the front lines as well as a mobile veterinary unit.
Those who served in wartime and did not return are remembered not just in paintings, but by sculpture and stonework.
Think of the beautiful memorial at Vimy Ridge and the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
In Summerland we now have, in addition to the cenotaph in Memorial Park, eight street banners depicting men from our community who lost their lives in the First World War.
May all these paintings, sculptures, banners and memorials help us to reflect on the horror and tragedy of war and ensure that “with the going down of the sun and in the morning we do remember them.”
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The Arts Palette is written by David Finnis, publicity chair and president of the Summerland Community Arts Council – PO Box 1217, 9533 Main St., Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z0
