Adapted from:
"Smithsonian Praises Local Carr Film".
The Victoria Times. June 16, 1977.
A Victoria-made documentary film financed by a LIP grant has been praised by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Emily Carr: The Lady of All Sorts, is an 18-minute color film made by a group of young people under film-makers Thomas Wheeler and Randy Cheveldave for the Emily Carr Arts Centre Society, 207 Government.
It was selected to be shown with other Canadian films at the Symposium of 20th Century Canadian Culture in the Smithsonian's Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in February and March.
Rosalie Bowie, president of the Emily Carr Society, received a letter from the museum's program manager Barbara Coleson describing the film as one of the most interesting works in the series.
"If the sense of craftsmanship and creative production demonstrated by this work is a reflection of the nature of your staff and establishment, do forward my praise to all," Coleson wrote.
She said she would recommend the film to other contacts in Canada and to other film programmers in Washington.
"Please notify us if other delights such as this are in the process and do accept our congratulations and thanks."
The film was seen by some 500 visitors to the museum and to an Emily Carr art and poetry program presented by the Inter-American Develpment Bank with the co-operation of the Canadian Embassy.
"I don't want to sound too boastful," said Mrs. Bowie, pleased that the film had been accorded such praise.
"Here was an opportunity and a film was made in Victoria and shown to so many Americans who would appreciate the work of Emily Carr."
The Lady of All Sorts had its Victoria premiere 3 1/2 weeks ago in a showing at Newcombe auditorium. It has also been seen on cable TV and is now available for rent or purchase with proceeds to the arts centre which was once Emily Carr's home.
Mrs. Bowie said the film cost about $6,000 to make.
The idea came from her husband Bill, who is director of the arts centre and who had some experience with film. It was part of a Focus Program undertaken by the society to bring more recognition to the centre, its children's art classes and the life of Carr.
Local Initiative Program funds were obtained for the six-month project in 1975-1976 and six film-makers were engaged.
Wheeler was producer and Cheveldave director and chief cameraman.
There are no actors in the film, but sound and color make generous use of Carr paintings and selections from her dairy, which were spoken by actress Margaret Martin. Music was recorded by Stephan McDougall and Bonnie DiFiore and narration was by Alan DiFiore.
On its completion the film was registered for copyright and listed by the National Library in its Canadiana catalogue in Ottawa, where the title was picked up by the embassy.
The Smithsonian exhibition was a project of the Association for Canadian Studies in the U.S. with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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© Courtesy of the Victoria Times-Colonist.
Copyright. The National Library of Canada.
(Revised: 19 August 1997).
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