Making the Sault more artsy, since 1948

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:

Bringing art to life is a skill that people dream of one day achieving. While many take countless classes to be among the greats, others seem to be able to lift their fingers and make a masterpiece out of thin air. 

There is a certain group in Sault Ste. Marie that has helped people on both spectrums for 70 years, and that is the Algoma Art Society. During this period they have hosted members of the Group of Seven, Robert Carmichael, and many more who have all helped to develop the rich art community in the Sault.

The Algoma Art Society was formed in 1948, to create and develop an interest in art in Sault Ste. Marie. They also planned to encourage and help young people with talent to study art, as well as attempt to attract Canada's famous artists back to the Sault. Over the years, the Algoma Art Society has introduced competitions, classes, sketching trips and lectures along with promoting exhibitions.

Before the Algoma Art Society was indeed a "society", there were no art galleries, no studios or workplace facilities and no art supply stores. However, that didn’t stop early painters in Sault Ste. Marie. 

The Society's earliest records go back to September 1947, when five local artists showed their art at an exhibit at Leask's Stationary Store, once located at the foot of Pilgrim Street. Participating artists included Stuart MacDougall, Jean Beaton, E. Creery, Harry Foster, and Laurel Bowman.

The exhibit was well received and was given favourable publicity by the Sault Star.  The next month, the Community Board ran a series of films at the Sault Ste. Marie Carnegie Library about the members of the Group of Seven, as well as other famous Canadian artists.  The Chief Librarian at the time, Jean Smith, invited the Leask exhibit participants to display their artworks during the event.  With gratitude and credit to Smith's actions of inspiring the artists, the group of painters banded together to form the Algoma Art Society. 

The first meeting of the newly formed Algoma Art Society was held at the old Carnegie Library on January 16th, 1948.  Stuart MacDougall, was elected as its first president during this first meeting.

According to a Sault Star article, during the first year of the club's formation, 50 members were recruited. Its first exhibition was held at the Public Library from November 9-15, 1948, with 18 artists participating with a showing of 50 or so paintings. Later in 1959, the Algoma Art Society sponsored Robert Carmichael’s first "one-man show”. Carmichael became well known in later years for designing the "Loonie".

During the Society's first 20 years most members were not aspiring to be anything more than simply educated amateurs, however there have been many who have gone on to achieve national and international acclaim for their art.  

The society has had the honour to host many famous Canadian artists, such as the F.H. Varley, A.J. Casson and A.Y. Jackson, three of the seven members of the Group of Seven. 

The Sault has become substantially more art-focused since the Algoma Art Society's presence first began in 1948. 

Art appreciation courses open to the public are another one of the invaluable contributions that the Algoma Art Society has made to improve the quality of life in the Sault throughout the many years.

The early efforts of the Algoma Art Society laid the foundation for the creation of the Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault College's art department, the Algoma Fall Festival's Visual Arts program and the Summer School of Fine Arts. 

Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provides SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.

Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns her