Thursday 12 April 2018

K is for Klee Wyck ...



Klee Wyck ("Laughing One") was the name given to the legendary Canadian artist and author, Emily Carr, by the Native people of the west coast ...

Emily


... I've been finding out about her since I arrived ... and recently went to an exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery ... so will write a separate post in due course.





Her book with the story sketches
she wrote during her early visits into
and up Vancouver Island as well as inland




But it's lovely to have been given a nick-name that's withstood the test of time ... so I had to use Klee Wyck for my K in this year's A-Z ...








Emily Carr: Kitwancool (1928)
{It is now a national historic site}


Emily Carr (1871 - 1945) was primarily a painter, but she first gained recognition as a writer ... in the book above are twenty one sketches she wrote after visiting and living with the Native people, painting their totem poles and villages, many of them in the wild and remote areas.



That is K for Klee Wyck, Emily Carr's affectionate nickname by the Native peoples she met in British Columbia .... from Aspects by a British 'girl' in Canada ...


Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

39 comments:

Liz A. said...

She sounds fascinating.

Inger said...

I love that painting, there's so much to it, in it. Such beautiful colors. I'm now going to the letter I as you suggested.

Inger said...

I read Susan't take on friendly relations. It's so simple isn't it, just get along, what's so difficult about that?

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Always glad to learn of an artist before unknown to me - and I like the looks of Klee Wyck's style! (When I was in Halifax, I discovered the art of 'Maudie' - totally in love with it!) YAM xx

troutbirder said...

Most interesting. Going back one post I love your photo of Maligne Lake. My bride and I saw it on our honeymoon somewhere near Butchart garden if my memory serves me right...:)

Chatty Crone said...

Sounds like she was a happy gal - the laughing one. Cool.

Lenny Lee said...

totem poles are neat and important culturally. i'm glad she got to know the native people and wrote about them and painted about their way of life. they must have liked her a lot to give her such a special name. bet she smiled and laughed and they enjoyed her visits. cool post.

Sue Bursztynski said...

She must have been a nice, cheerful lady to get the liking and respect of the locals! Never heard of her, so it’s good to lean something new. Thanks, Hilary!

K Is For Robin Klein

https://suebursztynski.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/a-to-z-blogging-challenge-2018-k-is-for.html

Elephant's Child said...

What a WONDERFUL nickname to earn, to be given, to carry. I look forward to learning more. Thank you.

Nilanjana Bose said...

She sounds like a delightful person - how cool to be given a nickname like that.

Rhodesia said...

Interesting character and I look forward to your blog about her. Keep warm Diane

Lynn said...

That a wonderful name to be given - she sounded lovely.

Jz said...

I'll bet that is one interesting book. Have you read it yet?

Nas said...

She sounds fascinating and interesting.

Keith's Ramblings said...

If the painting you've posted is typical of her work then I really need to explore further! Interesting.

A-Z of My Friend Rosey!

Jean Davis said...

At least they picked a cute name for her. The painting looks quite modern. I would not have guessed it was from her time period.

Joanne said...

very unique K word and person. Quite intriguing

Anonymous said...

I would love to be called Laughing One. It means I'm always smiling! :)

Elsie

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

I love the name (and it’s translation) that they gave her. Her work is lovely.

quietspirit said...

An interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

Deborah Weber said...

To be given such a wonderful name - what a gift! She's new to me, and I greatly appreciate the introduction.

Patsy said...

With a nickname like 'Laughing One' andher various talents, I'm guessing she was an intersting person to be around.

Computer Tutor said...

What beautiful pictures. I love that she captures not just photographic images but their emotion. Thanks, Hilary.

Emily in Ecuador said...

What a fun nickname for Emily. It reflects on what her temperament must have been. Thanks for a fun introduction, Hilary!

Emily In Ecuador | Kayaks, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador

Susan Scott said...

Klee Wyck ...this name makes me smile. I agree with your commenters Hilary - her name is a gift from the elders ... looking forward to more on her, I know you're doing your research -

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Liz - I'm certainly looking to find out more ...

@ Inger - yes lots more of her paintings to come; Susan's Hans Island story is such fun isn't it ... and why can't we all just happily get along - as these countries do ...

@ Yamini - yes a Canadian friend recommended her to me - so as soon as the opportunity arose I had to get there ... and will be learning more. I wrote up the film 'Maudie' that I went to see earlier in the year: February ... I also wrote about 'Loving Vincent' a film I saw in March ... both excellent ...

@ Troutbirder - the photo of Maligne Lake is in Jasper National Park ... there are lakes outside of Victoria, where the Butchart Gardens are to be found on the Saanich peninsula by an inlet that runs deep in towards Victoria ...

@ Sandie - she must have been one interesting character ...

@ Lenny - yes totems are special to the different native peoples - I'm going to try and find out more; Emily Carr obviously gave us a different perspective of the different cultures of the local populations to be found here. Exactly she must have been special to them ... I'll be writing more ...

@ Sue - exactly ... Emily must have been one special lady - who took to understanding their way of life ...

@ EC - I know it's a delightful nickname isn't it ... I'll be back with more ...

@ Nila - I'm looking forward to reading more about her travels, read her stories and see more of her art ...

@ Diane - yes still chilly ... but warming very slowly ... and I'll try and put up a post on her soon ...

@ Lynn - she must have been one intrepid woman ...

@ Jz - I'm afraid I haven't ... but it is sitting here for me to read sometime soon ...

@ Nas - I know I'll be finding out a lot more about early life here, as well as indigenous culture ...

@ Keith - yes ... her paintings are along the same lines - not all ... but many; while her stories I'm sure will explore native culture ...

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Jean - didn't they give her a delightful name ... while her paintings weren't readily accepted ... she explored the artistic styles of the late 1800s, and early 1900s ... interesting point you make about how you'd have thought the painting came from a different time period.

@ Joanne - yes my 'K' was easy for me this year ...

@ Elsie - isn't it a great nick-name ...

@ Arleen - as you say such a fun name, as well as knowing what its translation means ... her work is certainly interesting ...

@ Cecilia - thank you ... glad you enjoyed it ...

@ Deborah - I'm sure she saw her nick-name as a gift and an honour. So glad you 'took' to her and her art, as well as her writings ...

@ Patsy - she was pretty forthright by the sound of it - but fascinating to be working with ...

@ Jacqui - her art work is pretty extraordinary - scenes one doesn't think about ... well I do now I'm here!

@ Emily - she was one strong lady ... and I guess her ability to laugh took her through many a funny situation that she came across out in the wilds of British Columbia ...

@ Susan - thanks for prompting re this ... yes I'm sure her name came from the elders - and I'll be writing more ... on her and on the populations found in British Columbia ...

Thanks so much for coming by and being interested in seeing and reading more about Klee Wyck = Emily Carr ... she was one very interesting character recording the history of the west coast - cheers Hilary

Anabel Marsh said...

Interesting! I have heard of Emily Carr but not her nickname.

diedre Knight said...

Fantastic post, Hilary! I did not know she was given a nickname. She was obviously well-liked.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

She WAS a good artist. Love the sample from the historic sight. I have to admit, that nickname though...hmmm.

John Holton said...

I like this kind of art. Simple but effective.

Unknown said...

Hilary how delightful. What a wonderful name to be given by people who love you.
I have long enjoyed her work and am looking forward to learning more.
Thank you soo much.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Anabel - she is one amazing artist and such an important recorder for this side of Canada - early 20th C history recorded in art and stories ...

@ Diedre - thanks ... she's pretty special ... but I'll write more about her in May ...

@ Teresa - she certainly was an innovative artist and became recognised as such later in life - now is revered. I think her nickname probably is a good choice ... I expect she laughed a lot - as she had no way of easily communicating with them ... don't we do it now? I've seen it done by good communicators ... laugh our way through ...

@ John - yes she certainly portrayed life as she saw it ..

@ Leslie - I agree a 'familiar' name - one she was happy to have as hers ... that's great you know about her - and good that I'll be able to share some more of her work ... and ideas ...

Great to see you all - and excellent you know of her work and her art ... cheers Hilary

Deniz Bevan said...

Love Emily Carr. I feel like rushing home and rereading all her books now. It's so lovely to have both her art and her own words, to get to know her as we admire her paintings.

Unknown said...

Hi Hilary. What lovely, interesting snippets of information you are feeding us with your alphabet challenge. Looking forward to finding out more about Emily Carr.

Lynda Dietz said...

I like the artwork you've shown! I'm looking forward to your future post about her.

M. Denise C. said...

Looking forward to reading your post on Emily to come later . . .

DMS said...

So interesting. Fascinating artwork! She sounds powerful. :) Thanks for sharing!
~Jess

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Deniz - oh great ... that you're thinking about re-reading Emily's books ... and I know she's one of your favourite artists (and author) ...

@ Kim - that's great ... I must write up my post on her exhibition at the art gallery for May sometime ...

@ Lynda - so good to know you're looking forward to finding out more about Emily, her art, her books and her travels ...

@ Denise - and you too ... it's great to read another friend is looking forward to finding out more ...

@ Jess - I think she must have been a tour de force ... in so many ways ...

Cheers - and it's wonderful Emily or Klee Wyck - is being appreciated ... I'll get to the post on her soon ... Hilary