President: Rayne Tunley
1st Vice-President: Jean Pederson
2nd Vice-President: Vacant
Past President: William Rogers
Directors at Large:
Gill Cameron
Vera Bobson
Alan Brain
Garry Hamilton
Peter Marsh
Micheal Zarowsky
Regional Directors:
Eastern Ontario: Robert Shackles
Central Ontario: Lin Souliere
Northern Ontario: Ellen Catherwood
Western Ontario: vacant
British Columbia: Sam Boehner
Alberta/Prairies: Rex Beanland
Quebec: Murielle LeBlanc
Atlantic Canada: Nora Gross
Administrator: Anita Cotter
History
The Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC) was founded in 1925 by some of the most illustrious artists in Canadian art history who passionately believed in the importance of watercolour as a medium. The CSPWC encourages experimentation while honouring the transparent tradition of the medium.
With a strong base of volunteers, the CSPWC:
- honours excellence in watercolour through Open Water an annual juried exhibition with major awards, open to all artists.
- presents regional, national and international exhibitions of work by members.
- organizes workshops and demonstrations across the country.
- collects contemporary and historical Canadian watercolours.
- Education is an important part of our mandate. Since 1991 we have been sponsoring Awards for Excellence in Watercolour at Colleges of Art & Design in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta. There is also the Ethel Racius Award available at the high school level.
Beginnings
CSPWC meeting in the Library of the Grange, Toronto c. 1932.
Left to right: Joachim Gauthier, Franklin Carmichael, A.J.Casson, Thomas W. MacLean and Conyers Barker.
Photograph by Charles Comfort.