A Look at Powerful Female Art in the Region of Peel

Published March 8, 2019 at 4:06 pm

International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate women and their achievements.

Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) showcases the power of female creativity in their new Selections from the Vault exhibit. From local to international, representational to abstract, painting and photography, there is a diversity of art to experience right here in our community. This new exhibition presents the work by nine Canadian female artists not to mention that 30 per cent of art in PAMA’s vaults have been created by women and the goal is to have equal representation in the not to distant future.

Rita Letendre
Na-Irr, 1976
acrylic on canvas
91.5 x 122 cm
Gift of Douglas Butler, 1992
1992.057.001
© Rita Letendre, 2019

There are a few “must sees” on display including work by prominent Indigenous painter, photographer and filmmaker, Shelley Niro, wicked abstract paintings by Milly Ristvedt, Rita Cohen and Rita Letendre. For those interested in seeing what the local landscape looked like 70+ years ago check out Mary Josephine McFadden’s two paintings of Port Credit, Gertrude Spurr Cutts image of Streetsville, Mabel Cardinell’s idyllic painting of Birch trees in Caledon and Dorothy Pullen glorious Credit River painting.

#BalanceforBetter is taking hold at PAMA.

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Left: Shelley Niro, Canadian (b. 1954) As it is, 1993, photograph

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Left: Milly Ristvedt, Canadian (b. 1942), Melodius Grid, 1992, acrylic on canvas

Middle: Rita Cohen, Canadian (1923 – 2013), Blue Mosaic, 1990, acrylic on canvas

Top and Right: Rita Letendre, Canadian (b. 1928), Na-Irr, 1976, acrylic on canvas

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Left: Mabel Cardinell, Canadian (1888 – 1965), Birches, Caledon, 1948, oil on panel

Right top: Mary Josephine McFadden, Canadian (1900 – 1970), Old Boat at Port Credit, 1958, oil on panel

Right bottom: Mary Josephine McFadden, Canadian (1900 – 1970), Dredge of Port Credit, 1957, oil on panel

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Left: Gertrude Spurr Cutts, British/Canadian (1858 – 1941), Streetsville, c. 1910, oil on canvas

Right: Dorothy Pullen, British/Canadian (1910 – 1977), Credit River and Hills, 1972, oil on canvas board

Visit pama.peelregion.ca to learn more. Better yet visit in person this weekend in downtown Brampton to see these amazing works and more. Create your own masterpieces and make it a ladies night during PAMA’s Prints and Pints event coming up on Thursday, March 28 at 6 pm, reserve your spot today!

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