“From Africville: The Paintings of Edith MacDonald-Brown” exhibit opens February 15
Courtesy of the Brown-Howe Family, Africville, NS
In celebration of the artistic legacy of underrecognized African Nova Scotian painter Edith MacDonald-Brown, the MSVU Art Gallery will present an exhibit curated by David Woods featuring nine of thirteen known oil paintings produced by the artist between 1898 and 1913.
For many years David Woods has dedicated significant efforts to uncovering MacDonald-Brown’s work while collaborating with her descendants and the MSVU Art Gallery to preserve her art. This is the first solo exhibition of Edith’s paintings.
Join the MSVU Art Gallery (located in the Seton Academic Centre on campus, 166 Bedford Highway) for the opening reception on February 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. The event will begin with opening remarks followed by an informal presentation on Edith MacDonald-Brown’s work by David and refreshments at 1:45 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
About Edith MacDonald-Brown
Edith Hester MacDonald-Brown (1886 – 1954) was the daughter of Jessica Brown and Thomas George Washington MacDonald, and the great-granddaughter of William Brown Sr., one of the original deed holders in Africville, an area destroyed by the city of Halifax in the late 1960s. Born in Africville, Edith moved with her family to Montreal in 1898 where she began taking painting lessons. Though many of her paintings from this time were reproductions of original works of other artists, what stands out is the excellence of her paintings, especially considering her age at the time. There is no evidence of Edith’s work being presented or sold, instead going into the family’s private collection for generations to come.
Collection of the Brown-Howe Family, Africville, NS
After moving back to Africville around 1914, Edith married William Henry Brown (1889 – 1943) and had five children. Though this was the end of Edith’s painting career, her daughter Ruth Johnson (1919 – 2003) discussed the family tradition of having each child receive private instruction in a craft or artistic discipline (Edith’s was painting, while Ruth chose violin and piano).
Edith’s daughter Ruth went on to become a community activist and tireless advocate for Africville, the place that she once called home. Ruth’s work was recognized by MSVU in 1991 when she received the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa (DHumL) from the university.
The “From Africville” exhibit at the MSVU Art Gallery will run from February 15 to April 26, 2025.
Untitled (Sweet Peas), 1913. Oil on canvas.
Collection of the Brown-Howe Family, Africville, NS