The art of generosity
The Rooms exhibit displays donated collection of late Newfoundlander
Edwin Procunier’s passion for the arts might be considered a work of art in itself.
The high school teacher and professor of English and theatre at the University of Western Ontario was also a celebrated playwright, theatre director and opera aficionado.
“He lived for arts of all kinds,” says Peter Caldwell, the trustee of his estate who refers to Procunier as his logical father as opposed to his biological.
“He didn’t have a son and I never had a father.”
It was a role they filled for each other. Caldwell is in town for the opening of an art exhibit at The Rooms called “The Edwin R. Procunier Collection: A Gift of Canada.”
Procunier was from Newfoundland, but spent most of his life in Ontario.
Since the 1960s, a huge aspect of his life was given over to collecting Canadian art, with a sharpe focus on landscapes.
Procunier first donated 10 artworks to the Memorial University Art Gallery in 1985. The collection which is in the care of The Rooms totals 372.
“He knew his entire life he was going to leave his entire estate to Newfoundland,” says Caldwell.
The exhibit includes pieces from artists such as Emily Carr, Maurice Cullen and Sir Frederick Banting. Procunier has donated pieces from all members of the Group of Seven, except for Tom Thomson.
As impressive as the collection is how Procunier came to acquire it.
“He was never wealthy. There was no family money,” says Caldwell. “He was a very astute purchaser and he bought things that appreciated in value.”
Starting in the 1960s, when Canadian art was affordable, Procunier purchased what came his way. Some of those early pieces he bought appreciated impressively in value, which allowed him to focus more on pieces he really wanted through trades.
“In a way, he shows that almost anyone could start a small collection and then grow it over time,” says Caroline Stone, curator of the exhibit. “The second thing that’s extremely admirable is his generosity in leaving it all to a public collection at the end of his life.”
The exhibit, which opens today at The Rooms, illustrates Procunier’s uncommon vision to represent Canada through the country’s artists, but also through the geographical landscapes found coast-to-coast.
He also left the bulk of his estate to Memorial University, which has used it to offer four full scholarships to the school of music.
“The Edwin R. Procunier Collection: A Gift of Canada” runs until Oct. 18.