On Tuesday, Nov. 24 artist Patricia Richardson Logie of Hopkins Landing was celebrated at an event held at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

The event was held to thank the portrait painter for her donation to the UBC library of Chronicles of Pride, 31 original paintings in a collection that honours First Nations people.

“It was smashing,” said Logie when reached at her home a week later. “The event was held in a small gallery, but it was just filled with people.”

Logie’s husband Bob and her extended family as well as UBC staff were all on hand, although only a few of the paintings could go on display for the occasion. The entire collection will be on display at the learning centre of UBC next March.

The library’s communications officer, Glenn Drexhage, said that the UBC Library is honoured to receive this exceptional donation.

“Her generosity, talent and determination have enabled us to obtain a fascinating collection of First Nations portraits that include community and Band leaders, artisans, teachers, professionals, elders and more. Thank you so much, Patricia,” he said.

Logie has spent a lifetime painting mostly portraiture until recent years when she embarked on a series of tree paintings. Her technique is strong and vibrant, with a great sense of life force. Between 1970 and 1983, Logie painted in London, England, where she attended Sir John Cass College and exhibited extensively with The Cass Group, The Royal Society of Portrait Painters, The Society of Women Artists and The Pastel Society. During that time she also exhibited in Canada with the Federation of Canadian Artists and The Society of Women Artists, and she taught portraiture at the Federation and at UBC.

In 1983 she turned her energies to Chronicles of Pride. The portraits of individuals highlighted the contributions being made to society by contemporary Canadian Aboriginals. Logie believed that it was her responsibility as an artist to show Aboriginal people in their true light. Some are well known, others are not, but they all inspired the author with their personal characteristics and their contributions. In 1990 a book also entitled Chronicles of Pride was published and in 1991 a teacher’s resource guide accompanied the book.

Logie’s artist’s statement at that time expressed the view: “In painting the Aboriginal people, I wanted to show the dignity emanating from them. I wanted to show the life, the talent, the knowledge, intelligence and spirituality.”

Logie’s health has not been good in recent years and she was concerned that the paintings would not find a good home where they could be viewed.

“The paintings are very precious to me,” she said.

She was delighted when a good friend, Barbara Diggins, worked together with UBC staff to organize the donation. “She’s done a great deal. I couldn’t have done it without her.”

Logie has stopped painting for now. “I just stopped suddenly,” she said. “I have to get my health back.” But tentative plans have been made to hold a show of her work at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery next year. The show would feature professionally-done photos of the Chronicles of Pride so they would be accessible to the Coast community.