Class of '32: Paintings by Jean M. Johnston at the Snelgrove Gallery

Jean M. Johnston (class of ‘32) was one of the first professional artists to graduate from the University of Saskatchewan. An impressive selection of her work, including oil paintings, watercolours and commercial art was recently donated to the University Collection and the Department of Art and Art History through her estate. Many of these works will be on display at Gordon Snelgrove Gallery from June 23 to July 11, 2008 in an exhibition entitled “Class of ‘32: Paintings by Jean M. Johnston,” curated by Bruce Russell. Everyone is welcome to attend the public reception on Monday, July 7 from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Jean Johnston was born in Saskatchewan in 1912. After graduating from the U of S in 1932, she attended one of the first Emma Lake Workshops in 1938. While there, she worked under the instruction of Augustus Kenderdine (of whom she painted a portrait that appears in the exhibition) and alongside artists such as Winona Mulcaster and Reta Cowley. Unlike many educated women of her generation, Johnston did not aspire to become a teacher. Instead, she headed to Pittsburgh, PA and successfully supported herself as an artist for many years, painting portraits and creating storyboards and advertisements for companies such as Westinghouse. In her mid-80s, she returned to Saskatchewan where she remained until her death in 2005.


Susan Shantz with the White family at the opening of Class of '32