Erica Rutherford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erica Rutherford
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| Born |
Eric Rutherford
1 February 1923 Edinburgh, Scotland
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| Died | 11 April 2008 (aged 85) Charlottetown, Canada
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| Nationality | Scots Canadian |
| Known for | painting, printmaking, writing |
| Spouse(s) | Chloe Clough (1942-1949), Gloria Green (1949-1955), Laura de Borgreve(1955-1966) |
| Partner(s) | Gail Turner (1959-2008) |
| Awards | Father Adrien Arsenault Senior Arts Award (2001) |
Erica Rutherford RCA (born February 1, 1923, in Edinburgh, Scotland – died April 11, 2008, in Charlottetown, Canada) was a talented British-Canadian artist, filmmaker, and writer. She was recognized for her amazing work with the Father Adrien Arsenault Senior Arts Award in 2001. In 1999, she was also chosen to be part of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, a very special group for artists.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Erica Rutherford was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on February 1, 1923. Her parents were David and Isabel Rutherford. In 1928, her family moved to Portsmouth, England.
Erica went to St. John's College in Southsea. Later, in 1937, she joined the Dartmouth Royal Naval College. She spent a year training on a ship called HMS Conway in Liverpool.
In 1939, Erica studied acting at the Royal Academy in London. She then worked as an actor in London for two years. During World War II, she performed for soldiers in army camps across England.
In 1942, Erica married Chloe Clough. Their daughter, Gail Erika, was born the next year.
Art and Design Studies
After the war, in 1945, Erica continued her education. She studied stage design, drawing, and sculpture at Slade School of Fine Art in London. She also learned about historic costume design at the Central School of Arts and Craft.
At the same time, she studied drawing and painting in Paris at l'Académie Julien. During these years, Erica also worked as a stage and set designer. She created designs for over thirty plays in English theaters, including the Theatre Royal in Windsor.
Erica married Gloria Green in 1949. They lived in London for a short time before moving to South Africa. There, they worked on a family farm and started a banana plantation. Later, Erica married Laura de Borgreve in 1955.
A Creative Career
In 1959, Erica met Gail Turner, an artist from Australia. They moved to Ibiza, Spain, where Erica focused on her painting. Her artwork became very popular, and she had many solo shows across Europe. Her art gained special attention at London's Leicester Galleries.
In 1964, Erica briefly returned to England to teach painting. She taught at the West Surrey College of Art. Soon after, she and Gail moved back to Spain. Their daughter, Susana, was born there in 1966.
Moving to North America
The family returned to London in 1967. When Erica couldn't find a teaching job there, she decided to move to the United States. In 1968, she started teaching at the Louisville School of Art in Kentucky. By 1969, she was a visiting professor at West Virginia University. In 1971, she became an Associate Professor at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
In 1975, Erica made a big personal decision. She legally changed her name to Erica and began living as a woman.
After this, Erica moved to Canada. She took temporary teaching jobs at the University of Guelph and Sheridan College in Ontario. In 1985, she found her permanent home in Pinette, Prince Edward Island. Later, Gail, her former partner, came to live with her as a close friend. In 1987, they opened an art studio and a special place for artists to work at their home.
Writing and Influence
Once in Prince Edward Island, Erica started illustrating books for children. These included The Owl and the Pussycat (1986). She also wrote and illustrated two funny books: Yoga for Cats (1987) and Dance for Cats (1988). In 1994, her children's book An Island Alphabet was published.
In 1993, Erica shared her life story in her autobiography, Nine Lives: The Autobiography of Erica Rutherford. In this book, she talked about her journey and how she came to live as Erica. She also wrote about her first visit to Prince Edward Island in 1970, which later became her home.
Erica Rutherford had a huge impact on the art community in Prince Edward Island. She helped and guided many artists. In 1991, she held the first workshop for printmakers, attracting top artists from across Canada. This workshop eventually led to the creation of the Printmaker's Council of P.E.I.
In 1999, Erica was accepted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. In 2001, she received the Father Adrien Arsenault Senior Arts Award for her contributions.
Her last art show, called Enigmatic Whispers, was held in 2006 at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery in Charlottetown. A scholarship was created in her name at the University of Prince Edward Island. Today, the Confederation Centre of the Arts also offers a bursary in her name to support young artists.
Erica Rutherford passed away on April 11, 2008, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. She was 85 years old.
Exhibitions (selection)
- Leicester Galleries, London (1961-1964)
- Galeria Ivan Spence, Ibiza, Spain (1961-1966)
- Galerie San Jorge, Madrid, Spain (1962)
- Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, England (1966, 1970, 1974)
- Pollock Gallery (1975, 1981)
- Pascal Gallery, Toronto, Canada (1981, 1983)
- Gallery 1667, Halifax, Nova Scotia (1986)
- Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Charlottetown (2006)
- The Animal Within Creatures in (and outside) the Mumok Collection (2022-2023)
- Women in Revolt, Tate Britain (2023-2024)
- Full Retrospective, Confederation Centre Art Gallery (2024-2025)
Collections
Erica Rutherford's art can be found in many important collections, including:
- Arts Council of Great Britain
- Burnaby Art Gallery, British Columbia
- Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa
- Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- The government of Prince Edward Island Art Collection
- Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri
- University of Wales, Cardiff
- Confederation Centre Art Gallery
- Indianapolis Museum of Art
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Madrid, Spain
Books
- The Owl and the Pussycat (1986)
- Yoga for Cats (1987)
- Dance for Cats (1988)
- Nine Lives: The Autobiography of Erica Rutherford (1993)
- An Island Alphabet (1994)
Filmography
- Jim Comes to Jo’Burg (1949, producer)
