Daniel Fowler in The Agnes Etherington Art Centre

Wednesday, 08 November 2006 08:18

Kingston, Ont., Canada - Trained as an artist in his native England, Daniel Fowler (1810-1894) immigrated in 1843 with his young family to Amherst Island, near Kingston, Ontario, and for the next 14 years devoted himself exclusively to farming.  Returning to painting part time in 1857, with his beloved Island as his subject, he soon established himself among Canada’s first generation of professional artists, and was admired by his peers as “one of the fathers of Canadian art.”  Fowler was a founding member of the Ontario Association of Artists (1872) and was elected a charter member of the Royal Canadian Academy (1880).  He was the only Canadian to receive an international medal of excellence at the International Centennial Exhibition held in Philadelphia in 1876.  Also a prolific writer, Fowler reflected upon his experiences in journals, an autobiography, articles and fiction.

Through his paintings and writings, Daniel Fowler speaks proudly as both a successful artist and farmer across almost 150 years to new audiences in the 21^st century.  The exhibition was opened by Dr. Brian Osborne, past president of the Ontario Historical Society.  On exhibition until 3 December, 2006, as part of the Art Matters series. 

The Daniel Fowler On the whole then, I was an artist after all… exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Frances K. Smith, the Janet Braide Memorial Fund, the Healthy Community Fund of the City of Kingston, the George Taylor Richardson Memorial Fund and the Ontario Arts Council.

The Agnes Etherington Art Centre is Canada's premier university art gallery.  Its collection is remarkable for its breadth and quality, and some 15 exhibitions of historical and contemporary art are presented annually.  With its historic Etherington House, eight galleries, and Gallery Shop, the Art Centre is a focus for the cultural life of Queen's University and the city of Kingston.  Visit : www.aeac.ca