Wilhelmina Alexander (artist) facts for kids

Wilhelmina "Mina" Alexander (born July 2, 1871 – died November 7, 1961) was a Canadian artist. She was an oil painter and also a generous person who helped others. Mina was from Hamilton, Ontario.

Mina Alexander mostly painted beautiful landscapes and still-life scenes. She also painted nature, including both water and land. Her art was shown in important places like the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. She also exhibited at the Women's International Exhibition in Detroit. Her work was seen at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts between 1929 and 1935.

Before this, she was the president of the Women's Art Association of Canada in Hamilton. Even after her time as president, she stayed involved for many years. In 1953, Mina helped decide to build a new art gallery in Hamilton. She also supported young artists. She let them show their art next to hers in exhibitions at her own home. Her paintings are known for being very colorful and lively. She is especially famous for her flower paintings. Mina was an important person in the art world of Southern Ontario in the early to mid-1900s. You can find out more about her life and work through the Women's Art Association of Hamilton.

Who Was Wilhelmina Alexander?

Wilhelmina Alexander was born in Hamilton, Ontario, on July 2, 1871. She lived at 176 Hughson Street South in Hamilton. She studied art at the Hamilton Art School. Her teachers there included John Ireland, John Gordon, and "Miss Howell." Later, she continued her studies privately. She learned from G. Horne Russell in Montreal, Quebec.

What Was Her Painting Style Like?

Mina Alexander's painting style was similar to Impressionism. It also reminded people of the Canadian Group of Seven Artists, especially Tom Thomson. Her artwork is famous for its bright and strong colors.

What Did Mina Alexander Paint?

She is most well-known for her paintings of flowers. But she also painted many other things. These included landscapes, which are outdoor scenes. She also painted still-life scenes, which are pictures of objects. Many of her landscapes showed places in Southern Ontario. These included the Georgian Bay and the Muskoka Lakes areas. She also painted scenes from England, South Carolina, and Bermuda.

Her flower paintings were very popular. She showed her floral scenes three times in Toronto and Montreal. These were at exhibitions by the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. She also often showed her flower paintings at the annual exhibitions. These were held at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Some of her famous flower paintings include Bowl of Zinnias and July Garden. Others were Phyllis and Bittersweet, Canterbury Bells, and Pom-Pom Zinnias.

How Did She Support the Arts?

Mina Alexander was involved in many art groups throughout her life. She attended the very first meeting of the Women's Art Association in Hamilton in 1894. She stayed involved with this group for over 50 years. In 1914, she joined a group of citizens. They worked to create a new art gallery in Hamilton. This group was later called the Women's Committee of the Art Gallery of Hamilton.

Her Leadership in Art Groups

Mina served as president of the Women's Art Association. She held this role from 1925 to 1928. She was also a trustee for the Hamilton Art Association. This was from 1935 to 1942, until the association closed. In 1953, Mina was very involved in creating a new location for the Hamilton Art Gallery. This new site was on Forsythe and Main Street West. To thank her for her constant support, she was given the honor of 'turning the first sod' at the new site. In 1951, Mina Alexander received the Woman Citizen of the Year Award.

Where Was Her Art Shown?

Mina Alexander's art was shown in many important places. These included the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in Toronto and Montreal. Her work was also displayed at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. She was even invited to show her art at the Women's International Exhibition in Detroit.

How Did She Help Others?

Mina Alexander was a kind and giving person. In 1911, she organized a "tag day." On this day, she collected money from people passing by. In return, she gave them a tag to show where their donation went. All the money she collected went to the Young Women's Christian Association.

Supporting Young Artists

For much of her career, Mina helped other local artists grow. In the 1930s, she used her home as a place for young artists to show their work. More than 200 people from Hamilton were invited to these events. In the 1940s, she used her home as an exhibition space to raise money. This money went to help with the war effort. After the war, she continued to use her house as a gallery. She raised money for the Art Gallery of Hamilton.

Her Lasting Impact

Wilhelmina Alexander passed away in St. Peter's Infirmary in Hamilton, Ontario. She died on November 7, 1961, at 90 years old. In many writings, she is known by different names. These include Mina Alexander, Wilhelmina Towers Alexander, and Mrs. S. H. Alexander.

The city of Hamilton still remembers Mina Alexander. She is recognized for her important contributions to the art scene. This was during the early to mid-20th century. You can still see her art today in the Hamilton Art Gallery. Before she passed away, the Women's Art Association in Hamilton honored her. They made her an honorary president and a life member.