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By Vincent J. Varga, Museum Director
In 2018, with the help of our community the Whyte Museum celebrated its 50th Anniversary by presenting a vigorous series of exhibitions, educational and community outreach programs. The centre piece of our anniversary program was an exhibition and publication dedicated to our founders Artistry Revealed: Peter Whyte, Catharine Robb Whyte and Their Contemporaries. This exceptional initiative was made possible through the efforts of many. This legacy and celebrations emanated from Peter and Catharine’s enduring vision. In addition, what has been accomplished by the Museum over these past five decades is a testament to the passion and commitment of our Board, volunteers, community members and professional staff. There are far too many friends and supporters to list here. Thank you to all!
I would like to thank the Whyte Museum staff for its commitment to Artistry Revealed that celebrates the work, life and legacy of these two remarkable Canadian artists and founders of this extraordinary gem. Our Curatorial team consists of Anne Ewen, Pamela Knott, Ciara Linteau and Michael Cameron; Exhibition Design & Photography, DL Cameron and Digitization, Brittany Watson; the Archives and Library with Elizabeth Kundert-Cameron, Nicole Ensing, Lindsay Stokalko, Dagny Dubois, Amie LaLonde and Lena Goon. Thank you to all the contractors who supported the project; Enza Apa, Multimedia Producer; Don Murchison, Calgary Art Conservation; Jarvis Hall of Jarvis Hall Gallery & Fine Frames and Douglas MacLean of Canadian Art Gallery. To our dedicated volunteers, we extend a special thank you.
Many external contractors were engaged to fulfill specialized roles from developing a digital tour of the Whyte home (Enza Apa); frame replication by Jarvis Hall; conservation evaluations by Douglas MacLean; essays by Lisa Christensen and Monique Westra. For their work on this publication, we extend much gratitude to editors Pat Myers and Haijo Westra, translator Nicole Giguère and to book designer Linda Petras.
For the generous support of Artistry Revealed and the accompanying publication, the Whyte Museum acknowledges and thanks numerous financial contributors including the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Museums Assistance Program, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation and the Canadian Rockies Annual. Special thanks to Grit and Scott McCreath who provided an extraordinary donation in support of this publication.
To complement Artistry Revealed the Museum organized a series of events and openings and a Community BBQ to honour our 50th Anniversary. The Whyte Museum is deeply appreciative of the guidance and support of the Board of the Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation, the Fund Development Committee of the Board and the 50th Anniversary Special Event Committee to these landmark projects. To the 50th Anniversary Committee a heartfelt thanks to Honorary Co-Chairs, Anne and Glen Sather; Chair, Marty von Neudegg and committee members Roy Andersen, Marino DiManno, Grit McCreath and George Schwarz. We are also very appreciative of the 25 individuals who purchased tickets for this exclusive dinner held on July 10 at Peter and Catharine’s home and on the Museum grounds.
I would also like to acknowledge the support of the Town of Banff, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Banff YWCA, Wild Bills Legendary Saloon and the Rocky Mountain Outlook and our many community partners for helping us prepare for and host the Community BBQ.
A very special thanks to all of our volunteers, Board members and staff who supported our 50th Anniversary activities. In particular, I would like to acknowledge volunteer Kurt Bagnall who was instrumental in giving shape to and delivery of the Community BBQ on June 17. I would also like to extend deepest thanks to Monte Greenshields and Nathalie Delbecq for their instrumental roles in overseeing the 50th Anniversary events. Thank you to Brett Oland, Foundation CEO for his financial and logistical oversight. Special thanks to Pam Marks, Meghan Walsh and Kayla Cazes for marketing and communications for the 50th Anniversary celebration and to the Visitor Services and Museum Shop team including Janet Boger, Sayoko Kagitani, Jacqueline Dolan, Junko Yokura and Marion Berchold for welcoming our guests and visitors, making them feel at home. Ryan Linskill, Ariel Manalaysay and Jay Ocampo have provided extraordinary maintenance and event facilitation support for our day-to-day operations and for our 50th events.
Thank you to all for helping us keep Peter and Catharine’s vision for the museum alive into the future!