Earlier this week, we spoke with Glenbow’s outgoing Director of Collections & Curatorial, Daryl Betenia, about her incredible 42-year career at Glenbow. Nobody knows Glenbow’s collections better than Daryl, so today, we asked her to tell us about just some of her favourite art, objects, and belongings. Our sincere thanks to Daryl for sharing with us, and for her extraordinary contributions to Glenbow!
Melanie Blondeau, tea cosy, date unknown, Collection of Glenbow.
“This was made by Melanie Blondeau, who was a Métis woman from Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, we don’t have a date for it. I think it’s beautiful – her workmanship is amazing, and I find the blend of the most English of things: a tea cosy; and a very traditional Métis art: quillwork; interesting.”
Man’s Eider Parka, date unknown, Collection of Glenbow. Gift of the Devonian Foundation, 1979.
“Again, I think this parka is beautiful. The first time I saw it and a colleague explained that it was made largely of bird feathers I was blown away – both at the workmanship and the idea of it.”
Baskets, dates unknown, Collection of Glenbow.
“I love all these small Nuu-chah-nulth baskets. Again, it’s the workmanship and the artwork involved in creating them. The details are tiny and perfect, and there is a great variety to the patterns, shapes, and designs.”
Jack James, mask, mid-20th century, Collection of Glenbow. Gift of the Devonian Foundation, 1979.
“This is a half wolf, half sisiult [a legendary creature specific to Indigenous cultures of the Northwest Coast] Kwakwaka’wakw mask created by Jack James. For me, it represents all the Northwest Coast masks. I find them very powerful.”
Janice Wright Cheney, Widow (detail), 2012, Collection of Glenbow. Purchased with funds from the Historic Resources Fund, 2015.
“What can I say? She’s fabulous. And the only piece in the collection I refer to with a gender. I find her beautiful and dramatic, particularly when I consider that she is a widow and is grieving.”
Evan Penny, L. Faux: White, 2000-01, Collection of Glenbow. Purchased with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts Acquisition Assistance program/Oeuvre achetée avec l’aide du programme d’aide aux acquisitions du Conseil des Arts du Canada and with funds from the Glenbow Endowment Fund, 2002.
“I love how startling this piece is. The reality of it, combined with the size of it (it’s approximately five feet high) sometimes throws people off and can make them uncomfortable, but I find it appealing. I am fascinated by how the artist achieved that degree of reality, its perspective (both two dimensional and three dimensional), and how L. Faux appears to be absolutely present in the space.”
Watch, mid-17th century, Collection of Glenbow.
“I am fascinated by British history, and this watch represents a pivotal point in that history. It was given by Oliver Cromwell – before he became Lord Protector – to General Fairfax, one of his most important generals.”
Coffee Roaster, date unknown, Collection of Glenbow.
“Although it looks quite humble, this coffee roaster tells a great story. It was used in one of a chain of grocery stores run by the Jenkin family: Jenkins Groceteria Ltd. Henry Jenkins came to Calgary from Prince Edward Island as a young man, got a job in a groceteria, and eventually owned a chain of stores of his own, along with a wholesale business. This roaster was used in a store in Bridgeland. According to Glenbow records, Jenkins introduced self-service grocery shopping to Canada.”
Afternoon Dress and Jacket, 1910 – circa 1914, Collection of Glenbow.
“This dress and accompanying jacket were made for Queen Mary of England, wife of George V. I love them because of the very intense colour, the design, and the incredible stitching on the collar, cuffs, and hem. I never get tired of looking at that stitching.”
