Gordon Peters exhibit and sale on now at DC Museum

July 2, 2014 · 0 Comments

The Gordon Peters Exhibition and Sale began on June 28th and will run through to August 3, in the Silo Gallery at the Dufferin County Museum.

To understand the magnitude of one man’s life and the impact that life held for so many, one must on occasion begin to explain by making reference to an ending of sorts. According to his daughter, Arlene Peters, 93 year old Peters had a difficult winter and the thought of his upcoming art exhibit was a goal he strove to attend while living at Shelburne Residence with his precious wife, Lois. Sadly, a week before the exhibit opened, Peters passed away on June 22, and like the man, resilient and loved, the show went on.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1920, Peters arrived in Montreal with his family in 1923. By all accounts, Peters dedicated his life in pursuit of painting the landscape he loved and this accomplished water colourist was definitely not a modernist. Following a four year career in WWII, Peters married his beloved wife and friend, Lois in Toronto and immediately set out for New York where he continued to study his passion at the New York Phoenix School of design. Returning to Toronto to build a family, Peters worked in the commercial art field. At age 50, Peters discovered the landscape that would carry him to the Caledon Hills where his passion thrived in the inspiration of that landscape. A long time member of the American Watercolour Society and life-long member of the Arts and Letters Club in Toronto, Peters, according to his son, Jeff Peters, was also friend to the Group of Seven.

During opening ceremonies of the exhibit where friends and family filled the museum, the sombre mood for a man who will be missed was eclipsed by the talent, the humour, and the life of the man. Peters’ life was nothing less than extraordinary just like his exceptional art work. Accurate clean lines, perfect depiction of landscapes in colour and scale, Peters had the uncanny ability to draw the observer in.

Peters’ daughter, Arlene, revealed during welcoming speeches what a baffling shock it was for her father to realize he – of all people – could have had a daughter who appreciated modern art! Arlene Peters thanked the Shelburne Residence for making her father’s stay with them, comfortable, dignified, and respectful. Peter’s humor was brought to the attention of those who gathered as Jeff Peters spoke about his father, “ As father and son, we didn’t always get along. I remember my Dad not wanting to take me fishing once, and when I remember this, I remember swimming back to shore! My dad left a heck of a legacy. It’s nice to know my father’s work is all over the world. If you find one of my father’s painting you should look on the back for a scribbled note, a list or dates he would write. He was a great dad and a fantastic artist.”

It was Shelburne Residence Personal Support Worker, Meagan Langer who had helped care for Peters since March 2014 commenting, “He was a really compassionate man. He always told me I was an angel, he was always grateful, never made a fuss about himself, and as long as he was with Lois, he was fine. He did have some of his art in their room and we will really miss him.”

Director and Curator of the DCM, Wayne Townsend revealed, “One of the great secrets of life is to discover that things outlast us when we die. We are thankful we get to know him again, discover him again and thank him for living in our community.” And to complete the explanation of the man’s life, where an ending of sorts was referenced, one must only look to Peter’s passion, and that which began in the hand of Peters will live on as seen in the eyes of all who behold his exceptional art. Sketches, watercolours, are available at the exhibit and sale. Once again, Shelburne can boast a world- wide known famous artist lived in Shelburne.

For more information on this Exhibition and Sale, contact the Dufferin County Museum at 705 435-1881 or e-mail info@dufferinmuseum.com

By Alex Sher

A fine example of artist, Gordon Peters’ work now featured at the Dufferin County Museum during the ‘Gordon Peters Exhibition and Sale’ which runs until August 3 in the Silo Gallery.

Shelburne Residence Personal Support Worker, Meagan Langer remembers world famous Artist, Gordon Peters affectionately having cared for him only a short time.

Photos by Alex Sher
(L to R) World renown artist, Gordon Peters’ daughter, Arlene and son, Jeff Peters, stand in front of a display of their father’s work marking the exhibition and sale of a large body of Peters’ work featured at the Dufferin County Museum.