Artwork:
Joan Smith. Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Mixed media. No date.
Earth, Air, Fire and Water reads as a meditation on the four classical elements, expressed through abstraction rather than literal representation. A vertical passage of cascading blue anchors the work, evoking the flow of water as it cuts through richly textured fields of ochre, sienna, and umber that suggest the solidity and warmth of the earth. Above, a pale atmospheric expanse incised with rhythmic diagonal marks conveys the movement of air, while the glowing earth tones below allude to the transformative energy of fire. These elements create a visual dialogue between permanence and change, inviting the viewer to contemplate the interconnected forces that shape both the natural world and our experience of it.
Artist:
1930-2021 → Joan Smith was a BC printmaker whose work explored the power and beauty of the natural world. Working primarily in intaglio, Smith created large-scale prints inspired by the landscapes of BC, particularly the North Shore and the Rocky Mountains. Her compositions frequently depicted glaciers, mountains, rocks, trees, and canyons, reflecting an enduring fascination with the forces of nature. Drawing on direct experience of places such as Lynn Canyon Park, her work conveys both the physical presence of the landscape and its capacity to inspire contemplation.
Born in Vancouver, BC, Smith studied at the Vancouver School of Art from 1945 – 1947 before continuing her education at Capilano College. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia in 1984 and returned to Capilano College to further her studies in printmaking from 1984 to 1986. She was a member of the Dundarave Print Workshop and the Malaspina Printmakers Society. Throughout her career, Smith participated in national and international exhibitions, and her work is held in numerous public and private collections, including the Art Gallery of Edmonton, the Burnaby Art Gallery, the Richmond Art Gallery, and the Kelowna Art Gallery.
Deep Dive:
Lynn Canyon Park website.
Visions of the North Shore Project website. Joan Smith was one of 12 artists that took part in this project.
Foundation:
The Canadian Art Preservation Foundation posts short biographies and information on artists and artwork from its collection in a not-so-subtle attempt to capture your attention and interest in our mission, but we also just want to keep this artwork in view. We are excited about the art we collect and want to share it with you.
CAPF is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the artwork of Canada’s superstar artists for future generations to examine, study and exhibit – the ones you know and the ones you might not know so well. We accept artwork, journals, notes, letters, exhibition catalogues and anything else that might comprise a visual and/or intellectual “portrait” (ahem, please pardon the pun) of a particular artist.
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