The following was submitted by the staff of the Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH)
While researching artists for a recent exhibition, longtime OMAH volunteers Jane Bonsteel and Sheila Davis discovered an interesting friendship between local artists Youdan Stanton (1912-1987) and E. Conyers Barker (1909-2004).
Below is an excerpt of their research and a brief glimpse into their relationship.
James Harry ‘Youdan’ Stanton was born in Montreal, and moved to Orillia in 1914 to live near his Stanton cousins. He attended the Ontario College of Art in Toronto (now OCADU) in the late 1920s. There, Stanton was influenced by the Group of Seven, who shared his love of the outdoors.
Upon graduation, he returned to Orillia to paint and teach art in his home/studio at 520 Laclie St., which he did for more than 40 years. In addition to sketches, oil paintings and watercolours, Stanton did the etchings for the booklet titled Orillia Portraits.
His sketches served as a template for his paintings, often having the colours he intended to use written on them. He also enjoyed sketching from a canoe while exploring lakes and streams.
While still at art school, Stanton developed multiple sclerosis. The progress was very gradual, but over time it affected his ability to go on sketching trips and made painting increasingly difficult. Rather than a cane or crutch, a canoe paddle was used for support when mobility became compromised.
E. Conyers Barker was born in Toronto and was educated at Central Technical School and the Ontario College of Art. He, like Stanton, had the benefit of exposure to the Group of Seven in the classroom and galleries.
By the age of 18, his work was shown at the Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario). Recuperating from a broken arm at age 11 and later recuperating from polio-related surgery, he began exploring painting to occupy his time. This was the beginning of a lifelong passion.
In a letter to OMAH dated Oct. 28, 2002, Barker explained he would drive from Barrie in his Volkswagen to pick up Stanton from his home on Laclie Street in Orillia. They sketched together in Severn Township, north of Lake St. George.
OMAH is fortunate to have several works by both Stanton and Barker in our permanent collection either through donations or purchases.
