Art by Anne Meredith Barry
Anne Meredith Barry was an award-winning painter and printmaker known for her colourful, lively landscapes of remote places. Barry was born in Ontario in 1932. She started painting full time after graduating from the Ontario College of Art in 1954.
Barry is recognized not only for her work, but also for her involvement in, and support of, Canada's visual arts community. She tirelessly served on committees and organizations including The Art Gallery of Newfoundland and LabradorView glossary definition, St. Michael's PrintshopView glossary definition, and the Royal Canadian Academy of ArtsView glossary definition. She was a lobbyist for artists' issues, emphasizing how important it was for an artist to be able to make a living.
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Newfoundland artist Christopher Pratt described her work as a visual song. Pratt said when he looked at one of her works he never thought it was realism, surrealism or abstract. "What occurs to me immediately is that it's Anne's," he said. Barry was honoured over the years for her art and her contribution to the community. She received the Queen's Jubilee MedalView glossary definition from the Royal Canadian Academy of ArtsView glossary definition - one of only two Canadian artists selected for the honour. She also received an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Memorial University of NewfoundlandView glossary definition in 1997. She told her fellow graduates: "Artists don't paint things, they paint ideas."
Barry died of cancer at the age of 71. She spent the last few days of her life in her studio.
[Excerpt from: CBC Artist Biographies: Anne Meredith Barry]
