Study for Terminal City (Lawn Bowling), Vancouver, watercolour and ink, Bill Featherston 1975
Bill Featherston interspersed social realist art with his symbolic and political pieces. This watercolour lends a moody yet romantic view of a beloved pastime in Vancouver that has been thriving since the early 20th century. The Lawn Bowling Club was established in 1915 as the City Lawn Bowling Club on West 25th near Granville. It existed on property leased from the Canadian Pacific Railroad, the name changed in 1917 to the Terminal City Lawn Bowling Club (as in End-of-the-rail-line City!). In 1992 the club changed its name to Granville Park Lawn Bowling Club.
This fantastic original artwork has new archival matte, backing and glass, and is well-framed in a deep custom moulding with gold and black body, 29” x 33.75” (visible image 19.25” x 25”).
William Featherston (1927 - 2009) was a Canadian artist who never shied away from using his art to criticize or shine a light on social issues. Originally from Toronto, Featherston forged a birth certificate in order to join the navy during WWII and served in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. He returned home in 1946, a (self-admitted) uneducated boy of 19. After acquiring a BA through night classes, Featherston attended the Ontario College of Art and became a high school teacher. It is said that although he taught at many major art schools and universities, he never let that interfere with his own work. In the meantime, his primary interests became political, the peace movements and social justice. A socialist teacher friend he made during that time, one John Jones from Liverpool, convinced him to travel (1958) to Britain to teach, which he did, first in Ireland.
'... I followed up with a trip to England which lasted for 12 years. I had shown in Canada (two solo exhibitions with Jack Pollack in Toronto) but England was the real beginning of my art career. I settled in St. Ives, Cornwall and was soon immersed in a fabulous art community. I associated with artists working at that time: Francis BACON, Patrick HERON, Barbara HEPWORTH, poets and playwrights: W.S. Graham, John Antrobus…. among many others.
I began a sculpture career showing in St. Ives, Penzance and eventually London, Edinburgh and the continent. My work was fundamentally abstract but contained references to architecture and hints of configuration.'
In 1971 he returned to Canada. He died in 2009.
Featherston’s work is held in the collections of the Canada Council, Ottawa Art Bank, B.C. Art Bank, University of Buffalo, Leeds Art Gallery in England, Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the University of Glasgow in Scotland, among others.
NOTE: This requires a custom shipping quote. Please contact us before purchase.
Bill Featherston interspersed social realist art with his symbolic and political pieces. This watercolour lends a moody yet romantic view of a beloved pastime in Vancouver that has been thriving since the early 20th century. The Lawn Bowling Club was established in 1915 as the City Lawn Bowling Club on West 25th near Granville. It existed on property leased from the Canadian Pacific Railroad, the name changed in 1917 to the Terminal City Lawn Bowling Club (as in End-of-the-rail-line City!). In 1992 the club changed its name to Granville Park Lawn Bowling Club.
This fantastic original artwork has new archival matte, backing and glass, and is well-framed in a deep custom moulding with gold and black body, 29” x 33.75” (visible image 19.25” x 25”).
William Featherston (1927 - 2009) was a Canadian artist who never shied away from using his art to criticize or shine a light on social issues. Originally from Toronto, Featherston forged a birth certificate in order to join the navy during WWII and served in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. He returned home in 1946, a (self-admitted) uneducated boy of 19. After acquiring a BA through night classes, Featherston attended the Ontario College of Art and became a high school teacher. It is said that although he taught at many major art schools and universities, he never let that interfere with his own work. In the meantime, his primary interests became political, the peace movements and social justice. A socialist teacher friend he made during that time, one John Jones from Liverpool, convinced him to travel (1958) to Britain to teach, which he did, first in Ireland.
'... I followed up with a trip to England which lasted for 12 years. I had shown in Canada (two solo exhibitions with Jack Pollack in Toronto) but England was the real beginning of my art career. I settled in St. Ives, Cornwall and was soon immersed in a fabulous art community. I associated with artists working at that time: Francis BACON, Patrick HERON, Barbara HEPWORTH, poets and playwrights: W.S. Graham, John Antrobus…. among many others.
I began a sculpture career showing in St. Ives, Penzance and eventually London, Edinburgh and the continent. My work was fundamentally abstract but contained references to architecture and hints of configuration.'
In 1971 he returned to Canada. He died in 2009.
Featherston’s work is held in the collections of the Canada Council, Ottawa Art Bank, B.C. Art Bank, University of Buffalo, Leeds Art Gallery in England, Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the University of Glasgow in Scotland, among others.
NOTE: This requires a custom shipping quote. Please contact us before purchase.
Bill Featherston interspersed social realist art with his symbolic and political pieces. This watercolour lends a moody yet romantic view of a beloved pastime in Vancouver that has been thriving since the early 20th century. The Lawn Bowling Club was established in 1915 as the City Lawn Bowling Club on West 25th near Granville. It existed on property leased from the Canadian Pacific Railroad, the name changed in 1917 to the Terminal City Lawn Bowling Club (as in End-of-the-rail-line City!). In 1992 the club changed its name to Granville Park Lawn Bowling Club.
This fantastic original artwork has new archival matte, backing and glass, and is well-framed in a deep custom moulding with gold and black body, 29” x 33.75” (visible image 19.25” x 25”).
William Featherston (1927 - 2009) was a Canadian artist who never shied away from using his art to criticize or shine a light on social issues. Originally from Toronto, Featherston forged a birth certificate in order to join the navy during WWII and served in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. He returned home in 1946, a (self-admitted) uneducated boy of 19. After acquiring a BA through night classes, Featherston attended the Ontario College of Art and became a high school teacher. It is said that although he taught at many major art schools and universities, he never let that interfere with his own work. In the meantime, his primary interests became political, the peace movements and social justice. A socialist teacher friend he made during that time, one John Jones from Liverpool, convinced him to travel (1958) to Britain to teach, which he did, first in Ireland.
'... I followed up with a trip to England which lasted for 12 years. I had shown in Canada (two solo exhibitions with Jack Pollack in Toronto) but England was the real beginning of my art career. I settled in St. Ives, Cornwall and was soon immersed in a fabulous art community. I associated with artists working at that time: Francis BACON, Patrick HERON, Barbara HEPWORTH, poets and playwrights: W.S. Graham, John Antrobus…. among many others.
I began a sculpture career showing in St. Ives, Penzance and eventually London, Edinburgh and the continent. My work was fundamentally abstract but contained references to architecture and hints of configuration.'
In 1971 he returned to Canada. He died in 2009.
Featherston’s work is held in the collections of the Canada Council, Ottawa Art Bank, B.C. Art Bank, University of Buffalo, Leeds Art Gallery in England, Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the University of Glasgow in Scotland, among others.
NOTE: This requires a custom shipping quote. Please contact us before purchase.
