Historical war-related art exhibit began in Moose Jaw
The Keepsakes of Conflict: Trench Art and Other Canadian War-related Craft exhibit is just finishing its appearance at the University of Calgary’s Founder’s Gallery, but the historical exhibit was originally conceptualized at the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery before embarking on its multi-year tour.
Guest curated by former MJMAG curator Heather Smith in 2016, the exhibit began taking shape as an examination of war-related craft for the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
The term “trench art” denotes an admittedly limited perception of the types of work that Smith included in the final collection, as many of the pieces were not created in the trenches specifically.
Rather, the term is a catch-all phrase used to indicate any craft or artwork created by soldiers, civilians, prisoners of war that is related to an armed conflict or its consequences. Many pieces feature materials one would expect from the trenches — spent bullet casings, for instance or used socks discarded by soldiers.
Many other pieces are more intricate, such as the ship inside a light bulb crafted by a prisoner of war during their time held by enemy forces. Artwork from Canadian prisoners of war is far less common than artwork from German prisoners of war, as German prison camps were tighter with resources especially near the end of the war.
Some pieces were made as souvenirs for soldiers to bring home for loved ones. Others are carved statues done as a rehabilitation therapy for veterans or the wounded. One of the feature pieces in the Calgary leg of the tour is a painted cowhide story robe telling the story of Corporal Mike Mountain Horse during the First World War. The story robe is the original, on loan from the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat, AB. The difference between trench art and works by official war artists is that while the artists were attempting to make their audience feel the experience of war, from a removed standpoint, items considered trench art are instead made out of the personal experience of war — with no deeper, psychological intent.
“It’s a fascinating exhibition because it brings together artifacts from all over the country, from coast to coast,” said Jennifer McRorie, curator at the MJMAG. “It gives a real, personalized view of how those soldiers were processing the experience they went through, and you get the feeling that they were really yearning for home.” Smith was intrigued by that concept and thus built the collection because she wanted to showcase the story of war through a different lens: less historic and more personal, emotional, practical.
“Heather was a curator that liked to create shows around little-known histories, and there hasn’t been a lot written, especially in Canada, about trench art,” said McRorie. “She always wants to find untold stories.”
The traveling collection debuted at the MJMAG in 2016, before moving on to feature in Red Deer, AB and Fort St. John, B.C. in 2017, and then in Medicine Hat, AB, Thunder Bay, ON, and Swift Current in 2018. The exhibit was supposed to finish after its time in Swift Current, but continued requests prompted the MJMAG to extend its tour.
“I think people found that show really fascinating, and it’s great that it’s traveled for as long as it has,” said McRorie. “The Founder’s Gallery in Calgary [told] us they had great responses, a lot of interest from their audiences, so it’s good to hear that people are connecting to it in the communities it’s gone to.”
The MJMAG website features detailed information about the exhibit, with more background on the pillars of trench art featured.
The Keepsakes of Conflict show will continue on its extended tour to the Fort la Reine Museum in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.