Barbara Weaver-Bosson facts for kids

Barbara Weaver-Bosson is an amazing artist who paints detailed pictures of buildings and places in Victoria, British Columbia. Since 1978, her paintings have shown how the cities on Canada's West Coast have changed over time. She has created a visual history of the homes and streets in the area through her many artworks. Her detailed paintings capture Victoria's street views, neighbourhoods by the sea, and busy harbour areas.

Early Life and Art School

Barbara Weaver-Bosson was born in Calgary, Alberta. She grew up in a part of Calgary called Shaganappi. When she was seventeen, she was accepted into the four-year art program at the Alberta College of Art. She finished her studies in 1974 with a special diploma in Applied Arts.

In 1975, after working for a year as an illustrator and designer in a Calgary advertising company, Barbara and her partner Victor Bosson moved to Victoria. Her first job there was helping a comic book artist named John Byrne (comics) with backgrounds.

In the 1980s, she learned about Architectural Rendering and Perspectives through Camosun College in Victoria. She kept painting and showing her art while working at an art supply store from 1978 to 1986. In December 1986, Barbara left her job to become a full-time artist and to travel.

Her Art Work

Barbara Weaver-Bosson had her first solo art show in 1978. It was called ″Where the Sky, Earth and Water Meet″ and was shown at The Emily Carr Art Centre. She continued to show her art for twenty-five years in many private galleries. She also took part in public art events and the art rental program at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Since the 1980s, she has focused on a special series of artworks. Many people and organizations have asked her to create unique paintings for them. The Globe and Mail newspaper even wrote about her art in 2012.

Neighbourhood Paintings

In 1980, Barbara Weaver-Bosson moved her home and art studio to the friendly Moss Rock area of Victoria's Fairfield neighbourhood. This move changed how she painted. She called her new group of artworks The Neighbourhood series. These paintings show colourful views of rooftops, unique homes on streets lined with trees, harbour scenes, and pictures of the coast. In 1993, because so many people wanted her art, Barbara started making limited edition prints. Her print series now includes over twenty-five different prints.

In 1991, Barbara Weaver-Bosson's ″Two Neighbourhoods″ exhibition opened at Winchester Gallery in Victoria. At this event, the Mayor of Victoria, David Turner, welcomed a special group of visitors from Morioka, Japan. Morioka is Victoria's "Sister City." Barbara's exhibition showed residential views of both Victoria and Morioka.

Art Exchange with Japan

Barbara Weaver-Bosson made many trips to Morioka, Victoria's sister city. These trips helped create a special art and cultural exchange between the two cities. In 1987, she gave Morioka a gift of her original artwork. In 1989, Barbara went back to Japan to set up her first international art show, called ″The Bridge,″ along with artist Victor Bosson. In May 2015, for the thirtieth anniversary of Victoria and Morioka becoming sister cities, Mayor Lisa Helps and a new group of visitors chose Barbara Weaver-Bosson's artwork for another gift to Morioka.

Community Involvement

Barbara Weaver-Bosson has been a member of the Island Illustrators Society for a long time. She has given talks, participated in many art shows where judges picked the best art, and hosted other events for various groups.

For many years, she also organized Victoria's biggest annual open studio event, called the Fairfield Artists Studio Tour. For twenty years until 2009, Barbara Weaver-Bosson was an important person at the Moss Street Paint-in, a popular art event.