Writer Sheryl Salloum comes to the Surrey next month to speak about an early female artist in B.C. – and it’s not Emily Carr.
Forgotten for nearly 50 years, the full story of Mildred Valley Thornton (1890-1967) is available for the first time. On April 12 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Thursday Artist Talk speaker series at the Surrey Art Gallery, Salloum will draw from her illustrated biography as she explores Thornton’s life and art.
A distinctive painter skilled with watercolours and oils, Thornton completed approximately 300 portraits of First Nations peoples of Western Canada, and vibrant Canada landscapes. Along with the story of this adventurous artist, Salloum rigorously documents reasons why Thornton has been overlooked since her death. The talk will inc
lude images of the artist’s work. Admission is free.
Born in Ontario, Thornton later moved to Regina, and then to Vancouver during the Depression. A fun-loving, driven, and outgoing individual, Thornton was also a journalist, a Vancouver Sun art critic (1944-1959), an award-winning author, an advocate for the rights and equality of women and Canada’s indigenous people, and a community supporter and innovator.
Based in Vancouver, Salloum has been a freelance writer for over 20 years. She has published articles in numerous Canadian magazines and newspapers. Her areas of interest include Canadian art, culture and history, and children’s issues. Salloum’s biography The Life and Art of Mildred Valley Thornton (#4 in the Unheralded Artists of BC series) is nominated for this year’s Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize, which recognizes the book that contributes most to the enjoyment and understanding of B.C. Copies of Salloum’s book will be available for purchase and signing.
There will be time for questions and conversation during and following the talk. The event concludes by 9 p.m. Refreshments are provided. This event is presented by the Surrey Art Gallery Association in partnership with the Surrey Art Gallery, and with support from the Arts Council of Surrey.
The gallery is located at 13750 88 Ave. For further information, call 604-501-5566 or check www.surrey.ca/arts.