March 4 – March 27, 1988

Maltwood Art Museum and Gallery

Curated by Kathleen Niwa

Click to view to the online catalogue:

For Frances and Murray Catalogue

Murray and Frances Alaskan are both renowned in the Canadian music world; he, as a violinist in chamber and orchestral music, as well as a composer; she, as a soprano singer and voice instructor.

The Alaskans do not, however, belong solely to the world of Canadian music. They also belong to the world of Canadian art. During their hectic and successful careers as leading figures in Canada’s music world they also became passionately involved in collecting art. Whether attending a birthday party for A.J. Carson at the Arts and Letters Club, paddling Paraskeva Clark around their cottage on Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park, or discussing the latest David Milne works with Douglas Duncan, the Alaskans became vital and much loved members of Canada’s artistic community.

This exhibition is a celebration of their continuous involvement in Canada’s visual arts since the early ’30s. In a sense it is also a collection of memories, as Murray Adaskin speaks eloquently, humorously and passionately about their experience in Canada’s art world.