Audrey Dear Hesson facts for kids

Audrey Dear Hesson, born in 1929 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a talented Canadian artist. She creates amazing things using different crafts like pottery, sculpture, jewelry, and textile. She was the very first black Canadian to graduate from the Nova Scotia College of Art. Audrey Hesson is also part of the Canadian Women Artists History Initiative. She is the only living artist featured in a special art show called Discovery: African Nova Scotian Art Pioneers, put together by David Woods.

Early Life and Art Dreams

Audrey Hesson grew up in the north end of Halifax. When she was in grade nine, her art teacher, Elizabeth Tolson, saw her talent. Ms. Tolson encouraged Audrey to pursue art and even submitted her early artwork for high school art classes at the Nova Scotia College of Art. This helped Audrey start her journey into the art world.

College Studies and Firsts

After finishing high school at Queen Elizabeth High School, Audrey went on to study at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. She attended from 1947 to 1951. Audrey focused on crafts and was part of the first group of students to graduate from the college's new art education program. This program helped her become a professional artist. In 1951, she made history as the first black student to graduate from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.

Later Years and Rediscovery

In 1957, Audrey decided to focus on her family for a while. Later, in 1988, her artwork was rediscovered by a curator named David Woods. This helped bring her amazing creations back into the spotlight.

Audrey's Artwork

Audrey Hesson worked with many different materials, including jewelry, metalwork, woodcarving, and pottery. While she was still a student, she created her first important piece. She was asked to make a special grey Moroccan leather case. This case was presented to Princess Elizabeth (who later became Queen Elizabeth II) and the Duke of Edinburgh when they visited the ship HMCS Ontario.

Audrey mostly focused on making jewelry and working with textiles. She also did a lot of leather crafting and sculpture. Her art shows a wide range of beautiful handmade works.

African Art Pioneers Exhibition

The Evergreen House museum in Dartmouth held an art show called African Maritime Art Pioneers. This exhibition was put together by David Woods, and Audrey Hesson was one of the main artists featured. David Woods mentioned that while Audrey's art had been shown before, this was the first time it was displayed alongside other important African Maritime artists.

Audrey's Legacy

Audrey Hesson's artwork has been shown with pieces by other famous African-Maritime artists, such as Edward Mitchell Bannister and Edith MacDonald-Brown. Her work continues to inspire and show the rich history of art in the region.