Marguerite Porter Zwicker

Marguerite Porter was born in 1904 in Pleasant Valley, Nova Scotia. She studied painting at the Nova Scotia College of Art, and also traveled to the United States to study privately with German-American abstract expressionist painter Hans Hofmann. In 1928, as a senior student at the Nova Scotia College of Art, Porter had one of her etchings accepted by the Society of Canadian Painters, Etchers and Engravers. That same year, she began teaching classes at the College, earning an annual salary of $600 for the next two years. Zwicker taught painting at Acadia University in Wolfville and eventually led "painting and cultural tours" in countries such as Spain, Italy and Portugal. and she exhibited her work at the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and the Art Association of Montreal. Zwicker was a member of the Nova Scotia Society of Artists. Zwicker's Gallery had been established in 1886 by a member of Leroy's family, and up until the 1970s it was the only gallery in Halifax that routinely held art exhibits open to the public; the gallery was a valuable outlet for local artists. The Zwickers continued to operate the gallery themselves until 1968, after which it passed into new ownership. In 1991, Zwicker held a solo exhibit of her work at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Zwicker died in 1993 in Halifax. == Education ==

Throughout the 19th century respectable women often enrolled themselves in finishing school instruction. Here, women practiced 'polite', ladylike activities such as music, embroidery, and watercolour painting. After graduating she was hired at the college and taught there for two years as a junior teacher. While teaching at Acadia, she took a one-month art workshop with Stanley Royle in 1932. == Career ==

Zwicker traveled to Europe on sketching trips with fellow Nova Scotian artists. To accompany her writing, Zwicker drew ink illustrations in her text. Only a handful of Nova Scotian artists were able to support themselves on painting alone, and Zwicker became one of these such artists. The increasing number of art institutions created more opportunities for artists to show their works publicly. This lack of documentation has made it difficult for Zwicker's work to be researched on a scholarly level. == Medium ==

Marguerite Zwicker's artwork is almost exclusively watercolour. Technique, composition, and design are all emphasized as important structural components of Zwicker's watercolours. Her paintings are often viewed as an example of the medium at its most developed point of artistry. Watercolour was typically noted as a "woman's medium" for its lighter, more expressive appearance. However, laying down pigment suspended in water required a confidence not all artists were able to successfully possess. Zwicker herself was quoted saying, "Anyone can paint in watercolour, but very few can paint watercolours well." == Marriage ==

Marguerite Porter married Leroy Zwicker (1906–1987) in 1937. Marguerite continued to pursue cultural activities while married to Leroy. From early on in their marriage, Marguerite and Leroy agreed that creating art was the most important value within their relationship. It was a hobby and career they both enjoyed, which led them to organize their lives around their production of art. Leroy was also a successful painter, and his artwork was featured in many of the same exhibitions as Marguerite's. The pair would travel on weekend sketching trips together. Zwicker and her husband ran Granville Gallery in Halifax between 1942 and 1969. Later in life, Marguerite and Leroy owned the only art venue in Halifax that regularly featured public art exhibitions. It became known as "Zwicker's Gallery" and was a major accomplishment for them both. From 1974 onward, Leroy became increasingly ill and he died in 1987. Marguerite continued painting up until her own death in 1993. == Exhibitions ==

Although the majority of Zwicker's paintings were exhibited within Nova Scotia, she also showed her works in travelling exhibitions across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Ten Nova Scotian Women In the Fall of 1983, the Killiam Lecture Committee at Dalhousie University approached a Nova Scotian art gallery with the idea for an exhibition. The exhibition would show artwork painted by ten Nova Scotian women artists, highlighting their careers. He was especially interested in the art of female Atlantic Canadian artists. Landscapes were a favoured subject matter in this exhibition. Zwicker showed her watercolours in this exhibition almost every year. In some years, both Marguerite and Leroy exhibited their works. Art Gallery of Nova Scotia In 1991, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia developed an exhibition solely around the works of Marguerite Zwicker. The show was meant to pay tribute to Zwicker, acknowledging her long career. Bernard Riordon was the AGNS director and a personal friend of Zwicker's. When Zwicker died in 1993, Riordon commented, "Marguerite Zwicker was a role model ... the enthusiasm, energy, and public spiritedness she exhibited in all her endeavors will be missed." == References ==