3 November 1987

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Presentation to Members of the Legislature

Hon. Mr. Berntson: Mr. Speaker, before orders of the day I would like to make a small presentation to members of the House. I had planned to do this, Mr. Speaker, during Provincial Secretary estimates, but I would like to do it now.

As you will recall about two weeks ago or three weeks ago, Saskatchewan was honoured with the visit of her Majesty, the Queen, and His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh. And the occasion of that visit was to commemorate the 75th anniversary of this building.

Now for all members of the legislature, Mr. Speaker, I would like to present, to commemorate that occasion, the occasion of the visit of Her Majesty and the 75th anniversary of this building, I'd like to present all members with a print, Mr. Speaker, of this painting, which is a painting of the l egislative building from a perspective of across the lake.

Now the reason that I was asked to do this today, Mr. Speaker, is that we happen to have the artistin the gallery. We weren't quite sure when we would get Provincial Secretary estimates on, and he's a busy man running his medical practice here in town. So if the House would bear with me, I'd like to introduce the artist, and I'll read his biography, because it's well done.

And it would seem that painting as the principal art form is as natural to this country as is the Premier's sport of skating. Why this should be so may be understood by a close scrutiny of the particular environment it offers its inhabitants.

There have been, and are, a number of great Canadian artists who have interpreted the land and the people in individual terms of form and colour on canvas. It is comparatively rare, however, that someone born and raised in another part of the world should develop such an awareness of aspects relating to life in the provinces and record the same in such sharp reality as many of his prairie landscapes.

William G. Hobbs was born in Alderney in the Channel Islands and came to settle in Canada in 1959. Notwithstanding the considerable demands in time alone imposed upon him by his role of physician and surgeon in a rural community, he managed to develop a technical skill in painting which won him first prize in a major Canadian art show in 1978.

He took the first place at the Fifth Texas International Art Show in 1976 and second place at the seventh in 1978. He has been honoured with a number of one-man shows, as well as having his work selected for showing at the International Grand Prix of contemporary Art in Monte Carlo. His work was on exhibit at the winter garden pavilion in December, 1978, under the high patronage of Their Serene Highnesses, the Sovereign Prince and Princess of Monaco.

Much of Hobbs' work reflects the influence his immigration had on him, as is portrayed in a series consisting of six major works on that subject.

Hobbs studied painting for four years in England, and finally switched from the West of England Academy of Art to the medical school at Bristol University. He has also attended courses at the Pan American University, Banff School of Fine Arts, and the Emma Lake Campus at the University of

Saskatchewan.

His work is in many North American and European collections and also in those of Mitsubishi Ltd., Marubeni Ltd. and Tohoku Electric Powerof Japan, and other collections internationally, Mr.

Speaker.

I have provided the Leader of the Opposition with one print and the Speaker with one print for your perusal, and because they are of some size and perhaps a little awkward to deal with in there, all other members will have them delivered to their office. And I would like to ask Dr. Hobbs to rise and be recognized, and I would ask all members to join me with a nice welcome for Dr. Hobbs.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Mr. Blakeney: Mr. Speaker, I would to add my words to those of the Deputy Premier in commendation to Dr. Hobbs for the outstanding painting of the Legislative Building which is to be presented, and the print thereof, a copy of which I have here.

I think just one look at it indicates that Dr. Hobbs has exceptional technical competence in the drawing aspect of painting and prints, and has real feeling with respect to the composition in the painting aspects.

You ask, Mr. Deputy Premier, why Saskatchewan seems to attract painters. I have . . . my son's wife's mother is a professional painter who exhibits her painting not only in eastern Canada but in the eastern United States, and I asked her why this was so -- she once lived in Saskatchewan for a brief time; she's an Austrian woman who came here -- and she said it's the light. Now I don't understand what that means, but I gather that the nature of the light, the sunlight in Saskatchewan, is stimulating to many, many artists. And I think that . . . I don't know what stimulated Dr. Hobbs, but it was obviously very successful in allowing him to produce works of this calibre.

I close, Mr. Speaker, by noting that the print I have is number 249 of 250, and I say, "How soon they forget!"

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!