on owes art debi

to W Van’s Masseys —

RUTH Massey trained at
the Ontario College of
Art, the Montreal
Museum of Art, the
Pennsylvania Academy of
Fine Arts and the
Vancouver School of Art.

In 1954 she bought a
place in West Vancouver and
“asked her friends Geofirey

Massey and Arthur Erickson

to design a small house for

$15,000: To save moncy, she

“served as the’ general contrac

“tor, and male friends were pressed into assist-

ing with all the unskilled labour.“

~,. When'the house was nearly complete, with
ke paiiiting and finishing work to do,
"and Geoftréy Massey were married.

house became a landmark in West °

Bini Were among the notable friends who .
larly dropped by to sce them.
“Masseys ‘were central to the develop-

ing arts community. When Abe Rogatnik and
vin’ Balkin opened the New Design Gallery,

” painun

“Ang. mare sear

the first private ‘gall dedi-
cated to contemporary, local
artists in the Lower
Mainland, they used the

seys’ wedding guest
to send invitations to their
tirst opening reception.

The Masseys’ involvement
was not limited to visual art.
The Arts Club in Vancouver
was founded by Geoftrey
Massey and his friends and
opened by his father,
Raymond Mas:

Ruth Massey has contin-
ued to paint over the ycars,

“producing a beautiful body of work generated

by- her appreciation of the nature that sur-
rounds her.
Fhe Masseys are featured ir. Generations,

anes at-the West Vancotiver Muscum

and Archives, 680 17th St. Gn Saturday, Dec.
3, Lt 2 p.m. they will be at the museum.
This will be an exciting opportunity to hear

the personal stories of'a dynamic couple who
have made significant contributions to the arts’
and architecture of this city. Call 925-7295
for more information
; : — KL. Tsang, with research
bv Inguan Kemble

“Seton Portage in Lillooet. Her sketchbooks,
hat she calls “her love affairs,” are a record of

"Seton and- Lullaby of Lillooet, have ben Pp
duced based ¢ on‘her sketchbooks. :
idge.i is ‘one of several artists featured
; vibit | at. the: West

For the'show, the artist writes: ©

“There is so much excitement about real:
If you: really paint, what you go
rough! You know, that canvas, there is noth-

it. = you ‘squeeze it.all out and,
\ miracle if L can get.this done.’
“It’s hysterical; ‘it’s scary but, when you are:

through t ré is jothing more onderfull than®

king to’ see what you've don
For. more: infc tion ‘about Generati nis;

Tsang with research
~ by Ingunn Kemble

a wanted to make an
‘album that covered the
“af the litestyte
~~ leading, The‘album has real
Id-schoo! on it; including the
wav me and Jeff. used to rock,

more frightening. And all this

Friday, December

3, 1999 - Herth Shore Rews - 39

THE Arbutug Place home of Ruth Massey (above) and her husband.was a gathering

: "Place fo: Bil! R

Cc. Binning, Gordor Ss

ith

rtist

‘4118. Hastings. St (at Gilore),- Burnaby.:299-520

oP

EN

FNS -8s30 2. SU