Unity Bainbridge | In Memoriam

We are sad to announce the passing of one of our most loved and respected alumni, artist Unity Bainbridge, a 1936 graduate of the Vancouver School of Art. We are sharing her obituary, lovingly written by her daughter, Deb Ryan.

Unity (Bainbridge) Brewster, a long time resident of West Vancouver, passed peacefully in her sleep in the late hours November 30^th 2017. Unity was predeceased by her parents, George P. and Deborah Bainbridge, and her sister Ursula Ridgeway. Unity is survived by her daughter Deborah Ryan (Rick), granddaughters Lisa Denton (Caley), Cindy Devlin, grandchildren Isabelle and Emma Denton, Chase and Hudson Devlin. Also left to mourn are sister, Monica Resnick and many nieces and nephews.

Unity, an early pioneer Canadian artist, was born in Victoria BC on July 6^th 1916. Her talent was exhibited as a child and perfected as a student at the Vancouver School of Art (Emily Carr University) from which she graduated in 1936. She felt a kinship with other artists who shared her love of nature. She was a classmate contemporary of Ed Hughes and was influenced by her discussions and visits with “Group of Seven artists Frederik Varley and Lawren Harris.

“History must be left intact” is a phrase often associated with the work of Unity when one views her work and reads the details of her subjects in her books and the marginalia integral to her art. Unity saw and experienced the mystical magic of the world and always sought to reflect that mysticism in her work.

Unity never ceased to remind people “We were taught at Art School to always draw from life and strive to do as well as Leonardo. Art is life and life is Art. We would have been expelled if we were found copying. I along with my class mates were taught that you do not paint to sell: you paint because you are passionate about something and to embrace that passion so others can experience it.”

Unity’s art has been exhibited in galleries, large and small, from the early thirties to the present day. She had her first large one woman show in the early fifties. Her work is in the permanent collection of Buckingham Palace, Canada House, Imperial War Museum, the Diefenbaker Museum, Vancouver Art Gallery, as well as in numerous galleries and homes around the world.

Unity was always drawn to the Indigenous people. She believed the First Nation traditional culture provides the foundation blocks for creating a healthy, compassionate society possessing respect for the power of nature.

Unity received many awards over her lifetime including the Province of British Columbia’s highest honour, the Order of British Columbia.

If you wish to honour Unity Bainbridge’s memory through a gift to Emily Carr, please visit CanadaHelps.org or forward a cheque issued to Emily Carr University of Art + Design to the attention of the advancement Office, 520 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver BC, V5T 0H2.

Read the North Shore News tribute to Unity Bainbridge.