A family that’s been creating art both inspired by and for Canada for a combined 150 years will be showing what three generations of Heine-family work looks like at the MAC.
Eighty-two pieces by Harry Heine, his children Caren, Jennifer and Mark, as well as Mark’s daughter, Sarah, will be on display for the month of May, with the opening reception taking place Saturday, May 6.
It’s the first time three generations of the family have shown their work together, said Mark.
But the exhibition isn’t just a family one — it’s a Canadian one, too.
The late Harry Heine was one of Canada’s foremost marine artists, painting the West Coast working life in water colour, often featuring boats and ships. His work hangs in the provincial Legislative Buildings of British Columbia, in the Provincial Maritime Museum of B.C. and in galleries in England, the U.S. and elsewhere in Canada. He also did coin designs for the Canadian Mint, and even has work hanging in Buckingham Palace, said Mark.
Perhaps Heine’s highest accolade was in becoming the first Canadian to be elected to the Royal Society of Marine Artists in 1980.
Caren and Mark have continued the tradition of contributing art to Canadian institutions, said Mark.
Caren designed several coins for the Canadian mint, while Mark created four stamp designs for Canada, as well as 38 more for other countries.
“We’ve had our noses in Canadian sort-of history, in the background for quite a while,” said Mark.
So perhaps it’s not a coincidence that, when you count up all their years as professional artists, it totals 150 years, just in time for Canada’s 150th year. That the exhibition is happening in Parksville is a bit of a return to the start, said Mark.
Heine, who passed away in 2004, began his artistic career in the early ’70s after a great family getaway to Lantzville. Determined to leave Edmonton and find a new family home on Vancouver Island, Heine eventually found a cabin in Qualicum Bay, said Mark.
“That’s where dad started his painting career,” he said.
Caren and Mark began showing their art not long after, at the tender ages of 12 and nine, respectively, at a flea market in Qualicum Beach, said Mark.“I was painting rocks to look like ladybugs and she was doing drawings of flowers,” he said.
Caren’s work continues to focus on the botanical world, while Mark has veered away from bug paintings on rocks.
Most of his work in the exhibition will be of a newer series, called Sirens — oil paintings of Sarah and a family friend in flowing dresses while under water.
Jennifer’s work is wide-ranging, including portrait painting, still life and animals, while Sarah will be presenting local lifestyle photos. Asked what his dad would think of the multi-generational show, Mark said, “he would be thrilled.”
Heine was always the one bringing people together, hosting barbecues and parties, said Mark. Having a dad for an artist also meant that, if you said you wanted to be an artist when you grew up, you weren’t told to get a “real job.”
“We grew up with him out in the studio painting. When we had the opportunity to pursue art, we were encouraged, and I think that makes quite a difference.”
The opening reception for the HEINE: Canadian Legacy Exhibit: 150 Years of Art in one B.C. Family show takes place on Saturday, May 6 at the the MAC from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.