A renowned artist who made her home in Vankleek Hill now has a room named after her at the Arbor Gallery.
On Saturday, March 22, the Pemberton-Smith Room at the gallery was officially dedicated in honour of Freda Pemberton Smith. Arbor Gallery moved to its current location at 103 High Street in Vankleek Hill.
“What better name than the Pemberton Smith Room for this exhibition space after her contribution to Vankleek Hill,” said Arbor Gallery Artistic Director Andrea Belcham.
She described Pemberton Smith as a well-loved and ubiquitous resident of the community from the time she moved to Vankleek Hill in the 1960s until her death in 1991 at age 88.
Freda Pemberton Smith’s niece, Harriet Pemberton Smith of Ottawa spoke at the dedication. She highlighted her late aunt’s career as a respected and highly regarded painter.
Freda was born in Montréal in 1902. She studied at the Barnes School of Art, the Monument-National and the École des Beaux-Arts. She also attended life drawing classes at the Royal Canadian Academy and later studied at the Slade in London. Her family was initially reluctant to let her pursue a career in art, but agreed to let her do so as long as she could earn money at it. During the 1920s, she was a successful commercial artist. Her work often appeared in the Montréal Star newspaper. Commercial art success became more difficult during the Great Depression and her work was often rejected in favour of work by men with the excuse that they had families to feed. During World War Two, Freda served as a Red Cross nurse in England. After the war, she taught at a private school for girls in Dunham in the Eastern Townships. She also traveled across Canada and painted at the various places she visited.
Oil paint was originally Freda Pemberton Smith’s preference, but she switched to watercolour in the 1960s. In 1965, she moved to Vankleek Hill and resided in a small house on Farmer’s Avenue.
“She was very happy here,” Harriet commented.
At the dedication, the small audience enjoyed two short television documentaries that had been produced shortly after Freda’s death to highlight her work and life in Vankleek Hill. In a 1991 episode of Regional Contact on CJOH-TV, Artist Susan Jephcott of Vankleek Hill described Freda as a sort of member and always appreciated her determination.
In a 1995 production by Ron Handfield and the late Carol Banks Handfield for the former Rogers cable television station in Hawkesbury, ian Hepburn of Vankleek Hill recalled Freda’s Austin Mini car and visiting her home for the first time.
“There was not a surface that did not have paintings all over it,” Hepburn remarked.
Freda was also remembered for her technique of adding extensions to brush handles and painting while standing.
In the Rogers production, late local arts promoter Phil Arber shared his appreciation for Freda’s spontaneity and love of life.
“You couldn’t help but like her,” he remarked.
Arber also said 30 years ago that something should be done to honour her legacy in Vankleek Hill.
“Something more permanent ought to be installed in Vankleek Hill as a tribute to Freda,” Arber said.
Now, 30 years later, that permanent installation has been established.
Many of Freda Pemberton Smith’s works were on display at Arbor Gallery on March 22. Other relatives of the artist, including Stephen Pemberton Smith of Montréal, his daughter Adalia Pemberton Smith of Brownsburg, and her children Zoe and Juniper also attended.
Photos: James Morgan
