"The Regina Five have made a tangible and valuable gift to the University that marks a time of great creativity and change in the history of our institution," said David Barnard, President of the University of Regina. "The installation of their work in a permanent site on campus also marks a beginning for us - a new time in which we more consciously celebrate the creative work that has been and is being done at our University."
Ken Lochhead, Art McKay, Ron Bloore, Ted Godwin and Douglas Morton were brought together in Regina and became known as the Regina Five in 1961 when the National Gallery of Canada held an exhibition of their work entitled "Five Painters from Regina."
The Regina Five were affiliated with the School of Art, Regina College of the University of Saskatchewan in the 1950s and '60s. They contributed to the cultural heritage at the University of Regina through their teaching and direction of the School of Art and the Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery.
"These five men weren't afraid to try new things and unquestionably, they put Regina on the arts map. These are very important works by highly talented painters. We are proud to accept these into our collection," Barnard said.
The five pieces were installed on the second floor of the Riddell Centre at a January 30 ceremony and include the following:
The Regina Five received honorary degrees from the University of Regina in October 2001, with Art McKay's awarded posthumously. See backgrounder for information on individual artists.
BACKGROUNDER
The Regina Five
The members of the Regina Five are recognized as a diverse group of painters
with a common passion for and belief in the meaningfulness of painting
and art making. In the late 1950s and early '60s Saskatchewan provided
conditions under which a vibrant contemporary art community flourished.
Regina Five activity is a rich inheritance from that era.
The University of Regina recognized the Regina Five for their contributions with honorary degrees in October 2001, with Art McKay's awarded posthumously. At that time, members of the Regina Five offered to donate a piece of work each to create a permanent installation representative of their time in Regina.
Ken Lochhead arrived in Regina in 1950 as a 24-year-old to direct the School of Art at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina College and begin development of the Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery. Lochhead also revitalized the Emma Lake Artists' Workshops. He was described as a remarkable and exceptional "modernist phenomenon" by art historian John O'Brian. The new Emma Lake brought the most significant players in the international modern art world to Saskatchewan. The workshops nurtured contemporary art in the province and brought attention and recognition to it, especially to the Regina Five. Lochhead was born in Ottawa and studied in Philadelphia and several European locations. Lochhead was the first to leave the province and went on to accept teaching positions at the Universities of Manitoba, York and finally Ottawa. Lochhead still lives and paints in Ottawa.
Art McKay came to Regina in 1952 to teach at the School of Art at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina College. McKay also attended the Emma Lake workshops. He was born in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, in 1926 and studied in Calgary, Pennsylvania, New York and Paris. He became known as one of Canada's foremost abstract painters. McKay retired from the University of Regina in 1987. He died in August 2000.
Ron Bloore arrived in Regina in 1958 to direct the Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery. Bloore was born in 1925 in Brampton, Ontario, and studied in Toronto, New York, St. Louis, Brussels and London. He taught briefly in Toronto and England before being appointed to teach art and archaeology at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina College in 1958. Bloore's work first achieved national attention while he was here. At the same time he was a dynamic catalyst and stimulant for the Regina arts community. His passionate commitment to bringing challenging ideas forward through exhibitions, acquisitions and programs while he was director of the Norman MacKenzie has been a highly significant legacy. Bloore left Regina in 1966 to teach at York University where he remained until retirement. Bloore is living in Toronto, where he continues to be active in the arts scene.
Ted Godwin was born in Calgary in 1935. He studied at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and Art and began participating in the Emma Lake workshops in 1959. In 1964 he was hired to teach at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus and remained until his retirement in 1985. He currently resides in Calgary. Godwin is best known for his work produced during the Regina Five era. He continues to be a prolific painter, active community member and author. Godwin has been successfully pursuing landscape painting.
Doug Morton was born in Winnipeg in 1926. He studied in Winnipeg, Los Angeles, Paris and London, England. Between 1954 and 1967 he was both a businessman and artist in Regina, achieving national recognition as a painter at this time. In 1967 he joined the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus as an associate professor and director of Visual Arts. In 1969 he moved to York University and he had a distinguished career as a senior academic arts administrator holding positions including dean of Fine Arts at the University of Victoria from 1980 to 1985 and first president of the Alberta College of Art from 1985 to 1987. In 1987 he retired from administration but continued to teach and paint. Morton lives in Victoria.