Something new and unusual is being featured at Showcase Gallery during the month of June.
A large collection of paintings, drawings and carvings by academic German painter Konrad Schmid-Meil Sr., the late father of 100 Mile House realtor Konrad Schmid-Meil Jr., currently fills the gallery enclosure and spills out into the hallways of the South Cariboo Business Centre.
Schmid-Meil Sr. lived from 1909 to 1969 in Germany, where he earned a degree in fine arts, specializing in painting and drawing.
The Second World War interrupted his education, when he was drafted into the German Army. Near the end of the war, he deserted and his name was later found on a Nazi death list by the American military.
At the end of the war, the American army installed him as mayor of the town of Feldkirchen, because being a military deserter, it was felt he could be trusted.
During his life, he gained a reputation as a fine artist, specializing in the restoration of many frescoes, statues and mosaics in churches damaged during the war. He is also responsible for many frescoes painted on the walls of other buildings throughout Germany, including several in Feldkirchen.
His artistic training and his preference were for Biblical subject matter and that accounted for majority of the works that he produced.
Stained-glass pieces for churches were also a specialty of his and one of his windows, which Schmid-Meil Jr. brought to Canada from Germany, adorns St. Jude’s Catholic Church in 100 Mile House. The glass picture is of St. Jude, and when Schmid-Meil Jr. discovered that, he immediately donated it to the church.
The Catholic Church in Lac la Hache also has 14 paintings done by Schmid-Meil Sr. hanging on its walls.
The collection in Showcase includes oil paintings, watercolours, pen and ink, chalk, and pencil drawings. It is a good representation of the fine art that Schmid-Meil Sr. is known for.
The show is especially exciting for Schmid-Meil Jr. who says this is the first time in half a century his father’s works have been displayed in an art show.
“The last show was 50 years ago in Munich. I’m very excited about this.”
The current show, titled In Memory of Konrad Schmid-Meil Sr., is being hosted by the South Cariboo Artists Guild.
Showcase Gallery is located at 475 Birch Ave. and the collection can be viewed Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to p.m.
