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Artist/Sculptor: Barbara Paterson
Barbara Paterson with a bronze model of the proposed statue. (Photo - Copyright M. Forster).
Barbara Paterson is an Albertan who studied at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where she received a Diploma of Arts with a major in Painting.
In 1988 Barbara graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a major in Sculpture. Her work includes sculptures of welded steel, bronze, wax and stone.
In September 1997 Barbara was selected to create two monuments to the Famous Five through a national competition in Canada. The first Famous Five Monument was unveiled by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson in Calgary at the Olympic Plaza to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Persons Case on October 18, 1999. The monument in Ottawa was unveiled at a ceremony on October 18, 2000 that attracted thousands of people.
Barbara Paterson is the Canadian sculptor who created the first permanent monument on Parliament Hill which commemorates Canadian women. She is also the first woman to have her sculptures appear there. Ms. Paterson developed the bronze statues known as the Women are Persons! Monument (Famous 5 Monument). The memorial was commissioned to honour the Persons Case and the Alberta women who launched the legal challenge to gain recognition of Canadian women as "persons" eligible to sit in the Senate. In 1999, an image from one of her Famous Five monuments was featured on a Canada Post stamp, and is currently pictured on the Canadian $50.00 bill.
Her work is often described as whimsical explorations of the world, containing playful depictions of animals and people in everyday life. Many pieces have been publicly exhibited across Canada, Bulgaria, Singapore and New York.
Barbara Paterson serves on the board of directors of the Alberta Society of Artists. Her life-size bronze sculptures have been installed at an elementary school in Edmonton, the St. Albert City Hall and the Ghosts Project in Red Deer. An artist with an international reputation, Barbara Paterson had her work exhibited widely, from Bulgaria to Singapore. Her current projects include a monument in Victoria, B.C. to commemorate the talented artist Emily Carr, a monument in St. Albert to commemorate the former Alberta Lt. Governor Lois Hole, and a monument to honour Dr. Moses M. Coady at St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia unveiled in 2007.
Prepared from media release for the Famous Five unveiling and the Dr. Moses M. Coady unveiling and conversations with the artist. A.Geddes October 30, 2008
More information and links to Barbara Paterson and her work:
Barbara Paterson’s commercial gallery
Barbara Paterson and her Work - Alberta Society of Artists
MONUMENTS & COMMEMORATIVE ISSUES
Alberta Online Encyclopedia
Wikipedia - Barbara Paterson
Artist, sculptor
Statues on Parliament Hill