David BLACKWOOD

1941 - 2022

DAVID BLACKWOOD, CM OONT November 7, 1941 - July 2, 2022 David Blackwood died peacefully on July 2, at his home in Port Hope Ontario, in the arms of his wife of 52 years, Anita Bonar Blackwood. A cascade of debilitating illnesses over the past decade made it impossible for him to go on. He remained productive and positive until the end, engaged and working in his studio on the prints and paintings that made him one of Canada's most recognized artists and revered visual storytellers. In person he was modest, discursive, always kind, with a will of steel and a mischievous sense of humour. David, the son of Captain Edward Blackwood and Molly Glover Blackwood, was born 80 years ago and raised in the small Newfoundland cod fishing community of Wesleyville, Bonavista Bay, a place and life he once described as "medieval." His childhood amongst sealers, sea captains, cod fishermen and storytellers provided him with a deep well of creativity from which he drew inspiration his entire life. An artistically gifted child he was encouraged and supported by family and community and at the age of 15, he opened his first art studio in a former general store in his home town. Three years later he was awarded a scholarship to the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. His years at OCA provided him with a critical foundation where he felt privileged to have been instructed by JWG 'Jock' Macdonald, Carl Schaefer, Lily Maley and Fred Hagan. He graduated OCA with Honours in 1963 and was awarded a travelling scholarship along with the Government of France (Ingres) Medal. In his 23rd year one of his etchings was purchased by the National Gallery of Canada. He was appointed Art Master at Trinity College School in Port Hope in 1963, teaching one day each week for 25 years. During those years he organised and presented the works of Canadian artists, encouraging and inspiring hundreds of students, and developing lifelong friendships. In 1969, John Tuzo Wilson, the first Principal of Erindale College, now University of Toronto Mississauga, invited David to become Artist in Residence (1969-1975), where in 1971 he founded the Erindale College Art Gallery. In 1992 a newly built facility was dedicated, in his honour, as The Blackwood Gallery on the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus. The National Film Board's documentary film, Blackwood, was recipient of 10 international film awards including a 1976 nomination for an Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject. He was awarded two honorary degrees in 1992: from the University of Calgary and Memorial University of Newfoundland. In 1993, for his contributions to the preservation of Canadian Heritage, he received the Heritage Award from the Canadian Parks Services, Government of Canada. He was a recipient of the Order of Canada in 1993 and of the Order of Ontario in 2002. He became the first practicing artist to be named Honorary Chairman of the Art Gallery of Ontario (2003-2008). In 1999, a major donation of archival etchings made the AGO the collection of record for his work and along with his fonds, an international research centre for the artist's work. In 2015 he was honoured with the 150th Anniversary Medal from Trinity College School. David's most iconic work was rooted in his Newfoundland childhood, depicting the sealers and codfishers who fought the ice and cold, often dying in the process, and the families left behind to carry on. He elevated the domestic daily life of women and their critical contributions to outport life. Such is the enduring power of his works that they hang in virtually every major public gallery and corporate art collection in Canada, as well as in The Royal Collection in Windsor Castle and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. David was predeceased by his son David Bonar Blackwood (David Judah), also a visual artist, who died in 2005 in his 34th year. He is and will be deeply missed by his wife, Anita; his close friend and devoted studio manager, Janita Wiersma; dear friend and 'sister', Emma Butler; his very close friends/chosen family; by the many collectors of his work, and by the even more admirers of it. During these final months, David received extraordinary care from Anita, his primary caregiver. He was grateful for the ongoing support and care over the last decade provided by Dr Sean Balmain, Dr Robert Gryfe and Dr Alexandré Zlotta all of Mount Sinai Hospital. David was indebted to the guidance and friendship of Dr Jean Marmoreo and in his final days the kindness of Dr Mark Essak, his Palliative Care physician. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date. If you would like to remember David Blackwood and his extraordinary work, please consider making a donation to the Art Gallery of Ontario, Marvin Gelber Print & Drawing Study Centre(www.ago.ca) Trinity College School Foundation (www.tcs.on.ca), or a Charity of Your Choice.