Gordon Webber (artist)
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Gordon Webber (March 12, 1909 – November 17, 1965) was a multimedia pioneer of modernism in Canada. He was also an educator.


Career

Gordon Webber was born in
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Sault Ste. Marie ( ) is a city in northern Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of the St. Mary's River directly across from its "twin city," Sault Ste. Marie, in the state of Michigan. The city's population was 72,051 at the 2021 census, makin ...
, the eldest of five children. He was introduced to fine art by his mother. In 1924, he enrolled at the Ontario College of Art, where he studied with teachers who included
Arthur Lismer Arthur Lismer, LL.D. (27 June 1885 – 23 March 1969) was an English-Canadian painter, member of the Group of Seven and educator. He is known primarily as a landscape painter and for his paintings of ships in dazzle camouflage. Early life ...
,
J.E.H. MacDonald James Edward Hervey MacDonald (12 May 1873–26 November 1932) was an English-Canadian artist, best known as a member of the Group of Seven (artists), Group of Seven who asserted a distinct national identity combined with a common heritage stem ...
and
Emanuel Hahn Emanuel Otto Hahn (30 May 1881 – 14 February 1957) was a German-born Canadian sculptor and coin designer. He taught and later married Elizabeth Wyn Wood. He co-founded and was the first president of the Sculptors' Society of Canada. Biograp ...
. In protest against the resignation of Lismer as vice-principal in 1927, Webber and a group of other artists including
Isabel McLaughlin Isabel McLaughlin, (10 October 1903 – 26 November 2002) was a modernist Canadian painter, patron and philanthropist. She specialized in landscapes and still life and had a strong interest in design. Biography Born in Oshawa, Ontario, McLaug ...
founded the Art Students' League (1927–1930) at which prominent Toronto artists such as
Lawren S. Harris Lawren Stewart Harris LL. D. (October 23, 1885 – January 29, 1970) was a Canadian painter, best known as one of the founding members of the Group of Seven. He played a key role as a catalyst in Canadian art, as a visionary in Canadian landsc ...
were invited to give critiques. Webber was recognized as a talented student since 1930 when he was invited to show with the Group of Seven. In the early 1930s, Webber began teaching with Lismer at the
Art Gallery of Toronto The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO; ) is an art museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located on Dundas Street, Dundas Street West in the Grange Park (neighbourhood), Grange Park neighbourhood of downtown Toronto, the museum complex takes up of phys ...
. During these years, he was a figurative artist. In 1934, he travelled to
Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
to attend a Progressive Education Association Conference, met Mexican artists and studied the local murals. Back at home, Webber continued to teach at the Children's Art Centre of Toronto, helped found the Picture Loan Society in Toronto in 1936, and exhibited his work to critical approval. In 1937, Webber enrolled at the New Bauhaus School of Design in
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
where he studied with
László Moholy-Nagy László Moholy-Nagy (; ; born László Weisz; July 20, 1895 – November 24, 1946) was a Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian painter and photographer as well as a professor in the Bauhaus school. He was highly influenced by Constructivism (art), con ...
. His contact with Moholy-Nagy was critical for him: he became much more experimental. His work changed: he became an abstract painter, interested in art photography and design, whether applied to graphics, stage or costume. In 1939, Webber accompanied Moholy-Nagy to California to teach a course at
Mills College Mills College at Northeastern University in Oakland, California is part of Northeastern University's global university system. Mills College was founded as the Young Ladies Seminary in 1852 in Benicia, California; it was relocated to Oakland in ...
in
Oakland, California Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, California, Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major We ...
. In 1940, Lismer invited Webber to join the School of Art and Design at the
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is an art museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the largest art museum in Canada by gallery space. The museum is located on the historic Golden Square Mile stretch of Sherbrooke Street west. The MMFA ...
(MMFA). In 1942, Webber graduated from the School of Design in Chicago with a Bachelor of Design degree. During his studies in Chicago, Webber exhibited his abstract work in Canada to mixed reviews. In 1942, he took the Teachers Course at the
Art Gallery of Toronto The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO; ) is an art museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located on Dundas Street, Dundas Street West in the Grange Park (neighbourhood), Grange Park neighbourhood of downtown Toronto, the museum complex takes up of phys ...
(1942). From 1942 to 1953, Webber taught architectural drawing at the School of Architecture,
McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...
in Montreal part-time, then in 1953 was appointed assistant professor. He also continued to teach at the MMFA where he had students such as Guido Molinari and
Claude Tousignant Claude Tousignant (born December 23, 1932, in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian artist. Tousignant is considered to be an important contributor to the development of geometric abstraction in Canada. He masterly used alternating values of complemen ...
. (Tousignant recalls Webber introducing him to
abstract expressionism Abstract expressionism in the United States emerged as a distinct art movement in the aftermath of World War II and gained mainstream acceptance in the 1950s, a shift from the American social realism of the 1930s influenced by the Great Depressi ...
in 1950, an experience which deeply moved him.) In the summer of 1950, he taught design, drawing, and painting at the summer school of the
University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a Public university, public research university with campuses near University of British Columbia Vancouver, Vancouver and University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, in British Columbia, Canada ...
as well. During these years, Webber experimented with photography and film, drawing directly on 35 mm film stock having learned the technique through
Norman McLaren William Norman McLaren, LL. D. (11 April 1914 – 27 January 1987) was a Scottish-Canadian animator, director and producer known for his work for the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).Rosenthal, Alan. ''The new documentary in action: a caseb ...
at the
National Film Board of Canada The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; ) is a Canadian public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary films, animation, web documentaries, and altern ...
studios in Montreal. In the late 1940s and the early 1950s, Webber choreographed two ballets. He was involved with the design of costumes and sets for theatrical presentations at McGill and many commissions integrating art and architecture, executing works such as an exterior mural and interior mobile for the Town of
Mount Royal Mount Royal (, ) is a mountain in the city of Montreal, immediately west of Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The city's name is derived from the mountain's name. The mountain is part of the Monteregian Hills situated between the Laurentian M ...
Post Office, and a relief sculpture for the McConnell Engineering Building at McGill. Webber also sought to preserve historic Canadian architecture.


Selected solo exhibitions

In 1936 and 1937, Webber held an exhibition of Paintings and Drawings: "Mexican Impressions" at Mellors Gallery, Toronto. In 1936 and 1937, having helped found the Picture Loan Society in Toronto, he held two exhibitions there. In 1949, he had a show at the School of Architecture,
McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...
, Montreal, and in 1959, an exhibition of his paintings was held at the
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is an art museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the largest art museum in Canada by gallery space. The museum is located on the historic Golden Square Mile stretch of Sherbrooke Street west. The MMFA ...
. In 2000, a posthumous show was organized by the
Art Gallery of Algoma The Art Gallery of Algoma (AGA) is an art museum in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. The museum occupies a facility, situated near the shoreline of St. Marys River. The museum was formally incorporated on 7 July 1975, and in 1980, moved to it ...
,
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Sault Ste. Marie ( ) is a city in northern Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of the St. Mary's River directly across from its "twin city," Sault Ste. Marie, in the state of Michigan. The city's population was 72,051 at the 2021 census, makin ...
.


Selected group exhibitions

In 1928, he participated in an Art Students' League Exhibition, Hart House,
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
, Toronto. Webber showed mainly with the
Canadian Group of Painters The Canadian Group of Painters (CGP) was a collective of 28 painters from across Canada who came together as a group in 1933. Its Archives is in Queen's University, Kingston. Formation The Canadian Group of Painters succeeded the disbanded Grou ...
(1935–1946) but he also showed with the
Ontario Society of Artists The Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) was founded in 1872. It is Canada's oldest continuously operating professional art society. When it was founded at the home of John Arthur Fraser, seven artists were present. Besides Fraser himself, Marmaduke ...
(1930–1935), with the
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) is a Canadian arts-related organization that was founded in 1880. History 1880 to 1890 The title of Royal Canadian Academy of Arts was received from Victoria of the United Kingdom, Queen Victoria on 16 ...
(1934 and 1936), with the
Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour The Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (), founded in 1925, is considered to be Canada's official national watercolour Society. Since the 1980s the Society has enjoyed Vice-regal Patronage from the incumbent Governor General of Canada. Re ...
in Toronto (1934–1936) and in the Art Association of Montreal Spring Show (1942–1955). In 1943, a show of Edna Taçon, Jessie Faunt, Michael Forster, and Webber, was held at the
Art Gallery of Toronto The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO; ) is an art museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located on Dundas Street, Dundas Street West in the Grange Park (neighbourhood), Grange Park neighbourhood of downtown Toronto, the museum complex takes up of phys ...
, Toronto. In 1951, his work was included in ''Painters Portraits'',
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is an art museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the largest art museum in Canada by gallery space. The museum is located on the historic Golden Square Mile stretch of Sherbrooke Street west. The MMFA ...
, Montreal and in 1959, in the ''Exposition Helmut Gransow et Gordon Webber'', Galerie Norton and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal. In 1994, his work was included in ''Origins of Abstraction in Canada: Modernist Pioneers'',
Robert McLaughlin Gallery The Robert McLaughlin Gallery is a public art gallery in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest public art gallery in the Regional Municipality of Durham, of which Oshawa is a part. The gallery houses a significant collection of Canadian conte ...
, Oshawa.


Selected awards

*
Ontario College of Art Ontario College of Art & Design University, commonly known as OCAD University or OCAD U, is a public art university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its main campus is located within Toronto's Grange Park and Entertainment District neighbourhoods ...
Fellowship (1924–1927); *Carnegie Fellowship, Chicago School of Design (1938–1942) *
Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street (Manhattan), 53rd Street between Fifth Avenue, Fifth and Sixth Avenues. MoMA's collection spans the late 19th century to the present, a ...
, New York, prize (1941)


Selected public collections

*
Auckland Art Gallery Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is the principal public gallery in Auckland, New Zealand. It has the most extensive collection of national and international art in New Zealand and frequently hosts travelling international exhibitions. Set be ...
, Auckland, New Zealand; *Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow, Scotland; *
Art Gallery of Ontario The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO; ) is an art museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located on Dundas Street, Dundas Street West in the Grange Park (neighbourhood), Grange Park neighbourhood of downtown Toronto, the museum complex takes up of phys ...
, Toronto, ON; *Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Art Museum,
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
, ON; *
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is an art museum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the largest art museum in Canada by gallery space. The museum is located on the historic Golden Square Mile stretch of Sherbrooke Street west. The MMFA ...
, Montreal, QC; *
National Gallery of Canada The National Gallery of Canada (), located in the capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, is Canada's National museums of Canada, national art museum. The museum's building takes up , with of space used for exhibiting art. It is one of the List of large ...
, Ottawa, ON; *
Robert McLaughlin Gallery The Robert McLaughlin Gallery is a public art gallery in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest public art gallery in the Regional Municipality of Durham, of which Oshawa is a part. The gallery houses a significant collection of Canadian conte ...
, Oshawa, ON


Selected memberships

*
Canadian Group of Painters The Canadian Group of Painters (CGP) was a collective of 28 painters from across Canada who came together as a group in 1933. Its Archives is in Queen's University, Kingston. Formation The Canadian Group of Painters succeeded the disbanded Grou ...
(1937); *Canadian Federation of Artists (1943); *Executive Officer, Canadian Federation of Artists (1944); *President, Canadian Group of Painters, Montreal Chapter, (Eastern Group of Painters) (1959–1969); *Association of Canadian Industrial Designers Member; *L'Association des artistes non-figuratifs de Montréal


Personal life

Born with
spina bifida Spina bifida (SB; ; Latin for 'split spine') is a birth defect in which there is incomplete closing of the vertebral column, spine and the meninges, membranes around the spinal cord during embryonic development, early development in pregnancy. T ...
, he spent much of his youth in medical care. In 1929, Dr.
Frederick Banting Sir Frederick Grant Banting (November 14, 1891 – February 21, 1941) was a Canadian pharmacologist, orthopedist, and field surgeon. For his co-discovery of insulin and its therapeutic potential, Banting was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physi ...
took an interest in his disability. Following consultation with the Head Surgeon of the Medical School at the
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
, Webber's lame leg was amputated just above the knee. He was fitted with a wooden leg after the surgery, and acquired new mobility. He died of a heart attack in Montreal in 1959, after making four speeches in the campaign to save an historic house marked for demolition in
Perth, Ontario Perth is a town in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Tay River (Ontario), Tay River, southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County. History The town was established as a military settlement in 1816, shortly after the War of ...
. As
Robert Ayre Robert Hugh Ayre LL. D. (April 3, 1900 December 24, 1980) was a pioneering art critic for the Montreal Star who wrote about Canadian art for 20 years (1950-1970) and an author of juvenile fiction inspired by legends of the First Nations. Caree ...
wrote in "McGill Ceremony Will Honor Gordon Webber", in the ''Montreal Star'', November 19, 1965, Gordon Webber was a radiant spirit.


References


Bibliography

* * * * *Anne Newlands (2008), “Gordon Webber”. A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 (online only), by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker National Gallery of Canada / Musée des beaux-arts du Canada {{DEFAULTSORT:Webber, Gordon 1909 births 1965 deaths People from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario OCAD University alumni 20th-century Canadian painters Canadian male painters Artists from Ontario Canadian abstract painters Canadian designers University of Chicago alumni Canadian art educators McGill University people 20th-century Canadian male artists Canadian collage artists People with spina bifida Canadian artists with disabilities Educators with disabilities 20th-century Canadian educators