Sid Barron

Sidney Arnold Barron (June 13, 1917 in Toronto – April 29, 2006 in Victoria, British Columbia) was a Canadian editorial cartoonist and artist. During his career as a cartoonist, he drew for the Victoria Times, the Toronto Star, Maclean's, and The Albertan. His cartoons were satirical takes on social mores, and often contained a biplane towing a banner, and a bored-looking cat, holding a card bearing a wry comment. Later in life, Barron moved to Vancouver Island, where he and his wife opened an art studio and gallery.

Early life During the First World War, Sid Barron's mother, Daisy Hilda Wormald, moved from England to her married sister Florence's household in Toronto after becoming pregnant by a Belgian soldier billeted with her parents. Daisy's child Sidney was born in Toronto on June 13, 1917. Florence and her husband adopted the baby and moved to Victoria when Sidney was 2. and would not discover the truth until he was an adult). and grew up around the shipping port at Victoria’s breakwater, where he developed a passion for sketching boats.

Comic book artist

After graduating from high school, Barron found work as a sign painter and commercial illustrator during the Great Depression, producing, among other things, schedule cards for Union Steamships.

Artist Barron had been married twice before when he met fellow artist Jesi at an art therapy class in 1975, and married her in 1977. After the National Archives of Canada and the Glenbow Museum bought many of his original cartoons, he was able to retire as a cartoonist, and he and Jesi travelled for several years. In 1989, they moved to Coombs, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, where they opened an art gallery to sell their work. During this period, Barron created watercolours of beach scenes and nautical themes.

In 1997, the Barrons moved to Victoria. Ten years later, Sid Barron died at Mount St. Mary Hospital, on April 29, 2006, age 88.

Legacy Collections of Barron's work can be found at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, the Glenbow Museum, the National Archives of Canada, the Okanagan Heritage Museum and in private collections in Canada and the USA.

Education 1945 Meitzinger Institute, Detroit Michigan, USA 1941 Vancouver School of Art, Vancouver, BC 1940 Private Lessons with Alan Edwards, Victoria

Exhibitions

Solo 2010 Ship Shapes, Polychrome Fine Arts, Victoria BC, Canada 1976 Sid Barron, Open Space, Victoria 1973 Sid Barron, Paintings and Collages, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria 1965 Mr.Sid Barron, Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary 1949 Sid Barron, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver

Duo 1992 A Lifetime of Explorations, Sid & Jesi, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo 1991 Sid & Jesi Barron, The Old School House Gallery, Qualicum 1983 Sid & Jesi Barron, The Little Gallery, Victoria 1981 The Art Gallery At The Crystal (Sid & Jesi Barron), Crystal Gardens, Victoria 1979 Sid & Jesi Barron, The Little Gallery, Victoria 1978 Barron & Jesi, Watercolours & Drawings, The Little Gallery, Victoria 1977 Sid & Jesi Barron, Santa Cruz, California, USA 1977 Sid & Jesi Barron, Majorca, Spain

Group 2011 Hobnob 3, Polychrome Fine Arts, Victoria BC, Canada 2010 Wish List, Polychrome Fine Arts, Victoria BC, Canada 2010 Hobnob 2, Polychrome Fine Arts, Victoria BC, Canada 1995 La Fleur Invitational Exhibition, The Old School House, Qualicum 1995 The Circle Show, Barron’s Country Gallery, Coombs 1995 Studio Show, Barron’s Country Gallery, Coombs 1994 Studio Show, Barron’s Art Centre, Coombs 1994 Arts & Crafts Jury Show, District 69 Community Arts Council, Qualicum 1993 Studio Show, Barron’s Art Centre, Coombs 1992 Expose Yourself, Eagleshore Gallery, Qualicum 1992 Ten Faces, District 69 Community Arts Council, Parksville 1992 Studio Show, Barron’s Art Centre, Coombs 1992 6th Annual Garden Party & Art Auction, The Old School House, Qualicum 1991 Studio Show, Barron’s Art Centre, Coombs 1990 Studio Show, Barron’s Art Centre, Coombs 1989 A View Of The World From Ontario, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto 1988 Studio Show, Barron’s Art Centre, Coombs 1987 Studio Show, Barron’s Art Centre, Coombs 1981 Penticton International Auction of Fine Art, Penticton Arts Council, Penticton 1979 Spring Show ’79, The Little Gallery, Victoria 1978 Leafhill Galleries, Victoria 1973 The Little Gallery, Victoria 1967 Cartoon Sale, Alberton, Calgary 1958 B.C. Paintings-Burnaby 58, Burnaby 1958 18th Quarterly Group Exhibition, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver 1957 17th Quarterly Group Exhibition, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver

Publications 1989 Portfoolio ‘89 Canadian Caricature, Macmillan, Toronto 1988 Portfoolio ‘88 Canadian Caricature, Eden Press, Montreal 1987 Portfoolio ‘87 Canadian Caricature, Guy Badeaux, Croc Publishing, Ludcom Inc. Montreal 1986 Portfoolio ‘86 Canadian Caricature, Guy Badeaux, Croc Publishing, Ludcom Inc. Montreal 1985 The Best of Barron, Lester & Orpen Dennys Ltd, Toronto 1981 Penticton International Auction of Fine Art, Penticton Arts Council, Penticton 1972 The Barron Book (With Puddytat Centerfold), Star Reader Service, Toronto 1968 A Scar Is Born by Eric Nicol, Illustrated by Barron, The Ryerson Press, Toronto 1967 Barron’s Calgary Cartoons Vol.1, The Alberton, Calgary 1960 2nd Annual Barron’s Victoria, Victoria Times, Victoria 1959 Barron’s Victoria: cartoons selected from the Victoria Times, Victoria 1965 “Barron's Toronto” Star Reader Service, Toronto 1958 B.C. Paintings: Burnaby 58 / [Alvin L. Balkind], Burnaby Centennial Committee 1944 “A Christmas Carol” for colouring, Educational Products Inc.

Reviews 2010 June 19, “Barron Much More Than A Cartoonist,”, Robert Amos, Times Colonist 2006 May 15, “Sid Barron, Cartoonist 1917-2006”, Tom Hawthorn, The Globe and Mail 1998 Sat. Sept. 25, “Photos overlaid with paint may be ...”, Robert Amos, Times Colonist 1998 Tues. Mar. 24, “A Tale Of Two Well Known BC Artists”, Parksville Qualicum Beach News 1995 Fri.April 28, “Cartoonist Finds Joy In Painting”, Parksville Qualicum Beach News 1995 “Circle Show In For Good Cause”, Nancy Whelan, Parksville Qualicum Beach News 1994 Tues. May 24, “Coombs Gallery Home To Ten Artists”, Parksville Qualicum Beach News 1993 Aug. “Cartoonist Would Rather Be Great Painter”, Corinne Jackson, Island Senior 1993 May 2, “Coombs Couple Quietly Waiting to be Discovered”, Sandra McCulloch, Horizons 1992 Thur. Aug. 27, “Artists Capture Friends On Canvas”, Jane Lyons, P-Q Magazine 1992 Mon. May 11, Exhibition To Open At College Art Gallery, The Bulletin 1992 Tues. June 16, B2, “Arts Council Opens Ten Faces”, Parksville-Qualicum Beach News 1991 Tues. April 2, A29, “Local Artists Featured In Festival”, Parksville-Qualicum Beach News 1991 Sat. April 6, “Barrons Are Pros In A Neighbourhood of ...”, Robert Amos, Times Colonist 1990 June 15, “Barrons Bloom Anew”, Charles Hart, The Arrowsmith Star 1990 (exhibition review) Robert Amos, Times Colonist 1989 Jan. 25, “Sun Cartoonists Put On Show Over ‘ome”, pg.17, Financial Post 1989 August 12, “Way To Go, Sooke...”, Robert Amos, Times Colonist 1987 August 9, “Drawing Toronto from the Coast”, R.S. Diotte, Islander 1987 February 21, “Creative Output Of The Remarkable Barron”, R. Amos, Times Colonist 1985 “He Draws Anyplace”, Dan Smith, Toronto Star, Toronto 1985 October 17, “The Barron of Toronto”, Richard Van Dine, pg.9, Monday Magazine 1981 November 6, Exhibition Review, pg.9 Times Colonist 1979 Around The Galleries (exhibition review), Times Colonist 1979 Jan.11, “Cartoonist Gather To Hear Bierman Case...”, pg.43, Daily Colonist 1979 December 7, “The Call of the Loon”, Monday Magazine 1977 “Suburban Sid Finds Spain Palette-able”, Jim Gibson, Colonist 1977 February 19, Edmonton Journal, Edmonton 1977 Interview, Monday Magazine 1976 September 23, “Barron Painting on Show”, Victoria Times 1973 “Arrival of An Artist-And Other Thoughts”, Jack Scott, Victoria Times 1973 Feb.7, “Will The Real Etaoin Shrdlu Please Stand Up”, pg.19, The Victorian 1972 October, “Barronland” Introduction by Robert Fulford 1967 “Barron’s Fan Mail All Sizes”, Shapes, Bob Blansjaar, The Albertan, Calgary 1967 Dec. “Always with Kindness”, Tom Primrose pg.10? 1957 Dec.10, 17th Quarterly Group Exhibition, v.25 no.4, VAG Bulletin, Vancouver 1949 June 25, “In the Realm Of Art”, Palette, Vancouver Province 1949 June 21, “Watercolour Display, Breezy, Vivacious”, M. Valley Thornton, Vancouver Sun

Affiliations 1958-89 Syndicated Editorial Cartoonist 1979 Federation of Canadian Artists

Professional Activities 1987-97 Co-owner of Barron’s Gallery, Coombs, BC 1961-89 Editorial Cartoonist for the Toronto Star 1961-66 Editorial Cartoonist for Maclean’s Magazine 1962 Editorial Cartoonist for The Albertan 1958-61 Editorial Cartoonist for the Victoria Times (Times Colonist) 1941-58 Commercial Artist, Neon Sign Designer, Illustrator for Educational Products Inc. Comics' Canadian Heroes, Union Steamships (Vancouver), and Billboard Painter (Toronto)