Jack Shadbolt

Jack Leonard Shadbolt, (February 4, 1909 November 22, 1998) was a Canadian painter.

Early life Born in Shoeburyness, England, Shadbolt came to Canada with his parents in April 1911. He was raised in Victoria, British Columbia. He studied at the Art Students' League in New York City (1948) and in London (1937) and Paris (1938). From 1928 to 1937, he taught in high schools in Duncan, British Columbia and Vancouver, British Columbia. Starting in 1938, he taught and studied with Frederick Varley at the Vancouver School of Art.

War artist In 1942, during World War II, Jack Shadbolt enlisted in the army. In 1944, he sketched and painted in the prisoner-of-war camp at Petawawa, Ontario. He was transferred in 1945 to London, where he served as an administrative officer for the official Canadian War Art Program. as well as to writing poetry which was published with his drawings in 1973 in "Mind's I: Jack Shadbolt" (McClelland and Stewart Ltd.). In 1984, Scott Watson for the Vancouver Art Gallery organized the major exhibition titled Jack Shadbolt: Act of Painting.

In 1987, Shadbolt and his wife founded the Vancouver Institute for the Visual Arts, a charitable foundation to provide grants to individuals in support of their artistic endeavours. The foundation was later renamed The Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Recognition In 1956, works by Shadbolt along with those of Louis Archambault and Harold Town represented Canada at the Venice Biennale. In 1972, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1990, he was awarded the Order of British Columbia. Throughout his life, Shadbolt continued to advance the boundaries of his art.

The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts located at Deer Lake Park was named after Jack Shadbolt and offers performing and visual arts programs for people of all ages as well as facilitates Royal Conservatory of Music examinations.

Selected works

1961 — Dark Gardens 1961 — Villa in the Countryside 1963 — Bush Pilot in Northern Sky, mural at Edmonton International Airport 1968 — In Search of Form 1970 — Miracle Of Birds 1970 — Man Of Symbol 1970 — Night Fears 1971 — Adjustable Venus 1971-1972 — To Old Gardens 1972 — Guardian 1972 — Little Wolf 1972 — Little Bride 1972 — Daughter Of Chiefs 1972 — Ritual Of The Arrow 1972 — World Behind 1972 — Place 1973 — Mind's I 1973 — The Way In 1973 — Lost World 1974 — Mystery Of Flower 1974 — Bride 1974 — Galaxy 1974 — Sinbad's Voyages 1974 — Transformations No. 3 1976 — Variation On A Kwakiutl Ghost Mask 1976 — India Suite 1976 — Transformations No. 5 1976-1977 — Lodi Gardens 1976-1977 — Morning East 1977 — Trees And Rock 1977 — Erotic Landscape 1977 — Dark Landscape 1977 — Classic Landscape 1977 — Mountain Summer (End Flight) 1977 — For Vladimir 1977 — Sea Edge Nocturne 1977 — High Country Event 1977 — High Range Country 1977 — Event On The Rocks 1981 — Act of Art