John P Crabb Gallery
Terrains & Botanicals: Walter J. Phillips and Linda Fairfield Stechesen
Pairing landscape paintings by Walter J. Phillips with the botanical illustrations of Linda Fairfield Stechesen, this exhibition represents the ecology of the Prairies from two very different, yet complimentary approaches, giving us a fuller picture of the natural world.
In many ways, Phillips’ landscapes provide the context for Fairfield Stechesen’s detailed renderings, and Fairfield Stechesen’s drawings bring us closer into Phillips’ terrains.
The John P Crabb Gallery is supported by Bryce and Nicki Douglas
Walter J. Phillips
Bridge at St. Boniface, c. 1920–1939
Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Gift of Robert and Margaret Hucal, 2003-132
Photo: Erenst Mayer
About Walter J. Phillips
Walter J. Phillips was born in England in 1884. As a young man, he moved to South Africa where he worked as a teacher, newspaper reporter, surveyor's assistant, law clerk and diamond miner. Phillips returned to England briefly before immigrating to Winnipeg in 1913, and later moved to Calgary, Banff and lastly to Victoria where he died in 1963.
One of Canada's most celebrated artists, Walter J. Phillips produced hundreds of watercolours, colour woodcuts, etchings and
engravings throughout his long career, depicting the Canadian landscape in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario.
Few other Canadian artists left such an enormous catalogue of Canadian art chronicling works from the eastern townships of Quebec to the west coast. Phillips is recognized internationally for his innovations in colour woodblock printing.
