Friday, October 30, 2020

Who was Fenwick Lansdowne?

An encounter with two volunteers in Queen's Park led me to learn the amazing story of an internationally renowned artist, who I had previously only heard of in passing.... and to learn more about Oak Bay's encouragement of artists. 

The volunteers were members of the Oak Bay Community Association, and they were removing English Ivy -- an arduous task.

Clearing English Ivy from the shoreline of Oak Bay at Queen's Park

One of the reasons that they were removing English Ivy from this particular section of the shoreline relates to the artist Fenwick Lansdowne. This is where Lansdowne spent much time observing birds; he lived in Oak Bay for many years until his death in 2008.

Later this fall a memorial will be installed recognizing Lansdowne, who was known internationally for his paintings of birds. According to the volunteers I spoke with, there is no other memorial honouring Lansdowne in Victoria.

Since I knew little of the artist, my curiosity was sparked. But before I write about more of what I learned of Lansdowne, I want to touch on Oak Bay's encouragement of artists in general.

I had already noticed, on previous meanderings through the community, pieces of art which intrigued me. 

The Hunt by sculptor Ken Hall. These are not dogs, but a pack of wolves! Not shown is a large buck that the wolves are chasing.

Usually I am wearing cycling shoes when I wheel by this art installation on Beach Drive, and I don't take the time to stop and explore. "The Hunt" was originally part of an Oak Bay program called Arts Alive. For several years now, sculptors' pieces have been installed throughout the community, and people vote on their favorites. Then, the municipality purchases some of the pieces. "The Hunt" was actually purchased privately, and then donated back to the community.

"The Hunt" is in the same park where the memorial to Fenwick Lansdowne will be placed. 

Lansdowne was only 19 when he had his first exhibit, at the Royal Ontario Museum. He was born in Hong Kong to British parents, and contracted polio when he was 10 months old. Initially he was paralyzed in as much as 75% of his body; his parents travelled to London, then to Vancouver Island, searching for ways to help him, such as the newly evolving practice of physiotherapy. Lansdowne claimed he was "unteachable" within the school system; he only wanted to draw and paint, which he taught himself to do. In Victoria, he spent time at the provincial museum where staff guided him in preparing specimens, teaching him natural history illustration, and even letting him take home bird specimens to study and draw.

Lansdowne's exhibit in the Royal Ontario Museum was the serendipitous consequence of his high school guidance counsellor sending samples of his drawings to a publishing friend in Toronto, who showed them to John Livingstone, the executive director of the National Audubon Society. In turn, Livingston took the drawings to the museum, which offered an exhibition to Lansdowne.


After the exhibit at ROM, Maclean's featured Lansdowne's work in 1957. He was only 20 years old. This led to two patronages for the developing artist--one of whom was Livingston with the Audubon Society.

Fenwick Lansdowne in his Victoria studio, 1981. I suspect the photographer's decision to show only part of the crutches was deliberate; Lansdowne was not defined by his affliction. Certainly it did not prevent him from following his passion. Source https://bcbooklook.com/2017/02/07/a-fen-fan-examines-major-retrospective/ Photograph: Dudley Witney

It would be another four decades after the ROM exhibit before Lansdowne would have an exhibit at the Victoria Art Gallery in his home town of Victoria.

In 1995 Lansdowne was awarded the Order of BC. By this time he had already received the Order of Canada (1976).


Fenwick Lansdowne, taken with the medallion for the Order of British Columbia, 1995. Source: https://orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/members/obc-1995/1995-fenwick-lansdowne/

According to an online story about his son Tristram, who is also an artist, Lansdowne treated his art as a job, and worked regular office hours from home. His studio must have been fascinating for a child; Tristram talks of opening cupboard doors and finding preserved bird skins, which his father used as models. 

Lansdowne's meticulous observations are evident in this painting of a Great Grey Owl.

Lansdowne's love of nature as naturalist and birdwatcher influenced his family. Tristram is quoted as saying that the time spent outdoors had a bigger impact on him than did living in an artistic environment. (https://www.timescolonist.com/oak-bay-raised-artist-pays-tribute-to-father-s-work-1.1117557)

A tribute by Iain Hunter in the Times Colonist from 2008, just after Lansdowne's death, is titled "An Artist Who Felt for All God's Creation". Hunter describes Lansdowne's sensitivity to the loss of habitat for wildlife, and how he grieved the vanishing swallows and butterflies,

In 2014 Tristam Lansdowne published a retrospective book about his father's work. Here is the cover:

Cover of book by Tristram Lansdowne about his father

Briony Penn focussed on Tristram's book - and Fenwick himself - at https://bcbooklook.com/2017/02/07/a-fen-fan-examines-major-retrospective/. This is an excellent article if you want to learn more about Lansdowne; I have drawn on her research extensively for this blog post.

Here are two more images of Lansdowne's work, reflected in book covers:







Stopping to ask the two volunteers pulling ivy about their task has led me on a most enjoyable journey learning about Fenwick Lansdowne. There is always something new to surprise me about the areas of Victoria that I wander through!





Thursday, October 22, 2020

Frosty Morning in Panama Flats


Yesterday morning I found myself walking the trails of Panama Flats early before the sun was above the horizon. These flats lie along the Colquitz River which flows from Beaver Lake to the north, to Portage Inlet in the south. They are about 10 km north (a 20 minute drive) from where we live in James Bay, 

Panama Flats shown in relation to our home in James Bay (source: Google Maps)

I was surprised how much frost was on the ground. When I left James Bay the temperature was around 7C. The moderating effect of the ocean around us on three sides accounted for some of that difference. Plus, Panama Flats is a low-lying area where frost might sink.

When the sun rose, I took a few images of the frost on leaves before it disappeared. 













Panama Flats used to be a privately owned farm, and was bought by the municipality of Saanich several years ago. 

Panama Flats floods seasonally, and because of this, is a stop-over for migratory birds. I found several documents online which list the many species, and numbers, of birds observed there over the years. Here is a link to one: http://rpbo.org/reports/surv_2013_pafl.pdf

There is a perimeter trail, and a gravel cycling path, part of the Colquitz River Trail.

The gravel cycling / walking path of the Colquitz River trail. The caution sign on the left warns people about seasonal flooding.


A connecting path from the Colquitz River trail to Colquitz River park.


There are other pedestrian trails through the central area of the park. Early in the morning I encountered a variety of users - dogwalkers, cyclists heading to school, and people observing the waterfowl in the wet area. In one of the documents I found online, the argument was made that dogs should be kept to the perimeter area, so that the extensive birdlife can use the central area undisturbed.

There is also a proposal to return the central area to agriculture, for food security / sustainability purposes. Usually the central area dries up over the summer, so that it can be farmed. I imagine there would have to be clearing of shrubbery that has grown around the ponds if the area were to be farmed again, so inevitably there would be some loss of habitat. While I endorse the concept of food security and sustainability, natural areas for wildlife are diminishing. Based on my quick research and visit, I think the entire area should be managed for wildlife.

Morning light on one of the ponds. What appears to be a thin film of ice is actually algae.

There is a diversity of vegetation in the central area, although I did not spend any time identifying it. 


One of the walking trails in the central area


I was intrigued by the lichen hanging from this tree


There appear to be many invasive plants in the Panama Flats, from my quick walk through.

One of the weeds I encountered along the trail


I enjoyed the brisk walk in the morning, although being spoiled with the quiet of James Bay I did notice the constant hum of distant traffic from surrounding roadways.

Panama Flats is a valuable open space in Saanich, worth exploring more.



Sunday, October 18, 2020

Seeing with New Eyes

Postings to my blog are scarce these days, as my time is diverted into my book project. I now have a first draft of the book completed! It's a memoir about a ten-year period when I lived on Gardom Lake, over twenty years ago.

Here are some random images from walking breaks around James Bay and elsewhere.

I begin with a poster for an upcoming exhibit about Emily Carr at the Royal BC Museum. I liked the choice of language: "fresh seeing".  It applies to so much of life! We need to see with new eyes - our ways of living in the world, the things we assume cannot be changed.


Upcoming Exhibit at the Museum


Statue of Emily Carr, across from the museum.


Thanks to the inspiration from Carr, I have been exploring seeing my world of James Bay with fresh eyes. 

Here are a few images.

Rocks exposed by low tide, below Dallas Road

Kelp left on the rocks, below Dallas Road

Kelp blown into a bay along Dallas Road by a recent windstorm



Debris strewn over the new bike path along Dallas Road after the same storm

Interesting, and attractive, plants along a sidewalk in James Bay


I have been enjoying looking closely at plants.

Arbutus tree

Bracket Sulfur Fungus (Laetiporus sulphureus). The colloquial name is "chicken of the woods"; apparently if you cook it right, and cook the edible parts, it can be a vegetarian substitute for chicken.



Boulevard garden festooned with miniature banners


One of the many Little Libraries scattered throughout Victoria


Image of a Little Library taken earlier in the spring. In this one the books inside can be seen.


A display at Carr House. I liked the passionate language describing Carr's experience of being carried away by wonder. (See blown up words which follow).







This is a puzzle I have not solved. The shrubbery appears to be growing out of the rock!


Detail of the trunks appearing to grow out of rocks

I am still enjoying finding art in my walks about town.

Found at the Chinese Cemetery



Nautical-themed public art at Willows Beach


Another attractive piece of public art at Willows Beach. This moves with the wind, as well as catching light.

Fresh painting done at the cruise ship terminal this summer for the sidewalk. Few sets of feet have walked these flowers though, due to Covid 19.


In my walks around James Bay recently, it's been hard not to notice this huge freighter moored at Ogden Point. The low thrum of its motors can be heard over quite a distance.

Three tugboats worked to keep the freighter pushed against the dock until it was completely moored. This freighter may seem huge to me, but when a giant cruise ship comes in, this will seem small by comparison.


Walking about the area is always good for seeing my writing with new eyes when I return to it.

And of course, because it is a memoir, I am seeing a hectic and challenging period of my life with the perspective afforded by time and distance.

Here, as a teaser, is my "work in progress" title and cover.

Work in progress