A self-taught artist with a penchant for the Paddlewheel boats that were part of his generation will be featured at the Art Gallery of Golden (AGOG) starting in July.

An opening reception for the Alec Garner’s Echoes of the Paddlewheel will be held at the AGOG on July 4 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibit will run until September 6.

According to his biography, Garner (1897-1995), pursued a lifelong interest in art, experimenting with different mediums (oil, water-colour, pastel, lino block), different techniques (brush and pallet knife), as well as various subject matter. He was known locally and internationally for his depictions of paddlewheelers and steam tugs, his portraits and especially his landscapes.

In the early 1950s, with the SS Moyie coming into her last days of service and having watched her sail regularly past his studio window, Garner and his wife began to research and document the paddlewheelers that once plied the Kootenay, Slocan, Arrow and Okanagan Lakes and the Columbia River. After more than two years of research, Garner began to paint the ships in meticulous detail. The research paid off - the paintings passed the close scrutiny of locals and old-timers. Echoes of the Paddlewheel documented the end of an era - illustrating the ships in various locations, seasons and operations and capturing the essence of the working vessels. It has become an historical record of the paddlewheelers.

The exhibit toured to Spokane, Washington in May 1955. The exhibition was scheduled to remain for one month, but due to public interest and demand, it stayed on for another six. The paintings were then shown in Calgary at the Hudson’s Bay Company store, where they were well publicized and warmly received. By the end of the year, the paintings were sold to the Glenbow Foundation in Calgary to become part of their Western Canadiana collection.

“Everything came by boat, even the time of day was measured by the deep throated whistle of the sternwheeler, which consequently became the symbol of well being to all who awaited the smoke of her funnels and the swish of her great wheel,” wrote Garner in 1954 at the opening of the Echoes of the Paddlewheel series for the Nelson Art Club at the Women’s Institute - it was the best attended show on record.

AGOG is proud to partner with Touchstones Nelson on presenting this exhibit that represents the early pioneer life of the Kootenays. Go to the AGOG page, www.kickinghorseculture.ca to see the exhibit brochure.

Championed by Canadian Timberframes & Charlene Fairchild. Touring exhibit produced by Touchstones Nelson.