Helen Andersen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helen Andersen
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Helen Andersen (1919-1995)
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Helen Severson McKay Anderson
July 14, 1919 North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada
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| Died | December 23, 1995 (aged 76) Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
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| Occupation | Artist |
Helen Andersen (born July 14, 1919 – died December 23, 1995) was a talented Canadian artist. She was famous for her expressionist paintings, especially those showing the Indigenous peoples from the Pacific Northwest coast. Helen also painted in many other styles. Her art often focused on women and shared her strong beliefs about fairness for everyone and peace. She also felt very strongly against war.
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Helen Andersen's Life and Art
Helen Severson McKay Anderson was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. She started painting when she was a teenager. Her father, Dr. William Edmund Anderson, was a doctor and also a skilled artist. He taught her some art basics.
Early Life and Education
Like her father, Helen first chose a career in medicine. She became a Registered Nurse in 1940. She studied at the Regina General Hospital School of Nursing. While working as a nurse, she took art classes in her free time. She attended the Vancouver School of Art, the University of British Columbia, and the Victoria College of Art.
Becoming a Full-Time Artist
Later, Helen received a special grant from the Community Arts Council in Victoria, British Columbia. This grant allowed her to focus on art full-time. She learned from many famous artists. Some of her teachers included Bob Davidson, John Koerner, Joseph Plaskett, Kit Thorne, and Jacques de Tonnancour. She was also friends with well-known artists like Bill Reid, Jack Shadbolt, and Max Maynard.
Exhibitions and Themes
Helen Andersen's art was mostly shown in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. But she also had solo art shows in other countries. These included Denmark, Iran, and Tanzania.
She was a peace activist for much of her life. One of her large paintings, called Nuclear Mother, showed how much she feared nuclear weapons. This painting earned her a special award from the mayor of Hiroshima, Japan. It was painted in an art brut style. The painting shows a sad mother holding her baby who has been killed.
Some of Helen's artworks are now part of permanent collections. You can find them at places like the Sidney-North Saanich Library, Saanich Peninsula Hospital, and the Ocean Sciences buildings.
Helen Andersen passed away from cancer on December 23, 1995, in Saanich, British Columbia.
Awards and Community Work
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In 1992, Helen Andersen received a special award called the Lescarbot Award. The Government of Canada gives this award to people who make great contributions to cultural activities in their community.
Helen helped other artists by:
- Organizing group art shows.
- Giving lectures and showing art techniques on television.
- Teaching art classes in her own studio.
She also held important roles in art organizations. She served twice as the Secretary of the Federation of Canadian Artists. She was a member of the Saanich Peninsula Art and Crafts Society. In 1992, she was also a Board Member of the Community Arts Council.
