John Bennett, residing in Montreal, is deeply immersed in Canadian art history, which intertwines with his family history. His quest involves uncovering and documenting all the artworks created by renowned Canadian painter A.Y. Jackson during his trips to the N.W.T. over seven decades ago. Bennett’s father played a pivotal role in organizing these trips for Jackson.
Recently, Bennett journeyed to Yellowknife, where a collection of Jackson’s pieces is housed. He expressed frustration towards critics who overlook Jackson’s work from these significant trips, emphasizing the beauty and importance of showcasing them to the public.
A.Y. Jackson, a prominent member of The Group of Seven, a renowned collective of Canadian artists, embarked on numerous journeys to the North in the 1920s, focusing on capturing the northern landscape and mining industry. Bennett’s father, W.J. Bennett, facilitated these trips for Jackson in the 1940s and ’50s through his leadership in Crown corporations such as Eldorado Mining and Refining and the Northern Transportation Company Limited.
Upon W.J. Bennett’s passing, John inherited the Jackson paintings obtained by his father and has since dedicated himself to locating all the other artworks connected to his father. His mission has led him to various locations, including Montreal, Ottawa, and Alberta, but seeing Jackson’s works displayed in Yellowknife held a special significance for him.
John aims to compile his research into a book in collaboration with Craig Klinkhoff, an expert in Canadian fine art. During his visit to Yellowknife, he marveled at ten of Jackson’s oil paintings housed in the N.W.T. Legislative Assembly building’s Muskox Room and an additional eleven paintings at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.
Accompanied by Klinkhoff on this trip, they both appreciated the profound beauty and inspiration evident in Jackson’s artwork. Bennett and Klinkhoff aspire to shed more light on this lesser-known aspect of Jackson’s legacy through their forthcoming publication, hoping to uncover further insights into this period of Jackson’s career.