Totem Walk at Sitka

12 August 2013

Emily Carr

Emily Carr (1871 – 1945) was born in Victoria, British Columbia to a well off British family.  Throughout her life, she would continually push the boundaries of artistic, cultural, societal and gender based expectations.  Carr was orphaned while still a teen, and left for San Francisco to study art.  A decade later, she would learn the newest painting techniques in Paris.  She used her artistic talents to study and document the art and culture of the indigenous peoples of British Columbia.  Unable to earn a living through her art, she ran a boarding house she called “The House of all Sorts.”  She later traveled and painted for months at a time in a trailer she dubbed “The Elephant” due to its size.  Her travel companions were an assortment of animals, including a monkey.  After suffering from heart problems in 1937, Emily turned her attention toward writing.  Her mostly autobiographical works are a testament to an enduring pioneer spirit.

Find out more a the Emily Carr House Website.