Anr Desiree Burford – Painter of the Elements – Crystals , Water, Galaxies and Flamboyant Fire

Anr Desiree Burford (nee Carruthers)

Desiree Burford was born in Eston, Saskatchewan on November 15^th 1921 – and passed in 2001. She was a Canadian painter,registered nurse, mother of six and loved painting.

Life and Work Desiree was a major influence and taught painting to her daughter Della Burford. They did paintings inspired by the Elements of Water, Ice, Plants, Fire and Galaxies. This photo below is when they had a show together in Edmonton at the Centennial Library for the Celebrating the Environment Performance by Maria Formolo Dance.

Desiree was working with acrylics as a medium in the 1960’s. She moved from Landscapes, Still Life’s to Abstract Colorism. She studied with many noted artists including Jock De Tonnacour and Shadbolt. She showed in the Celebration of Woman in the Arts and had many one woman , duo and group shows. Her art is flamboyant in color and shows the influence of the many countries where she travelled. The vibrancy and life in her art was shared by many doctors , care givers at the Cross Cancer Clinic and collectors in the later stage of her life. She painted for 30 years, and is known as an Abstract Colorist.

Studying Desiree studied at the New York School of Interior Design and The National School of Radio Broadcasting. She studied painting at the Edmonton Art Gallery and the University of Alberta Extension Department in Drawing, Perspective, Painting. Print Making, Graphics and Pottery. She studied specialized workshops with noted artist such as Shadbolt, Leroy Stevenson, J.A.S. McDonald, Jock De Tonnacour, Alex Colville, and Walter Hooke.

She spent many years experimenting with color and techniques related to the natural elements. She taught for the Edmonton Parks and Recreation. At the Department of Culture she was listed as a Professional Artist to do workshops throughout the province. Desiree owned and operated Fireside Antiques from 1968 – 1980.

Organization and Associations: Life Member of the Alberta Society of Artist. Member of the Celebration of Women in the Arts. Past Chair of the Edmonton Branch of the Federation of Canadian Artist 1985 – 86.

Producer Produced and Directed Live Shows “A Hundred Years of Fashions” from her own collect of authentic and collectable clothes which at the time was said to be the largest private collection in Canada. Part was purchased by the Provincial Museum in 1970 which is now the Royal Albert Museum. Desiree Hosted and Produced the Television Program “Collectors Items” for C.F.R.N. – 62 ½ hour Programs. Desiree owned and operated Fireside Antiques from 1968 – 1980.

Collections: Government of Alberta, Bell Telephone Co., Amoco, Northwestern Utilities, Eatons Trust. Her work is in Collections in United States, Hawaii, Costa Rica and England. Desiree donated 22 paintings to the Cross Cancer Center which were in various offices at the Centre. Later she donated painting for the Cross Cancer Center’s Fundraising Auctions.

Artist Exhibitions – One Woman Show – Two Small Rooms, Hilton International Courtyard Café, Graphica, and Oppenheimer . Her works have been shown at the Edmonton Art Gallery (Art Gallery of Alberta) , Downstairs Gallery, Jacox Gallery, Timberline Gallery, Gulf Gallery, Canadiana and the Muttart Art Gallery – many Duo and Group Show. Desiree in 1991 -Duo show – Centennial Library for the Celebration of the Environment. Travelled extensively painting : Canada, Arizona, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Portugal, England and Japan.

Links:

Anr Desiree Burford – Webpages

Celebration of Women in the Arts – 1987 https://www.theworks.ab.ca/archive-1987

Group show – International Visual Arts Society -Alberta Society of Artists – 1989 https://www.theworks.ab.ca/archive-1989

Duo show – Centennial Library – Edmonton -1990 https://dellaburfordartist.ca/2020/09/30/wonder-years-in-dream-wheels-book-by-della-burford/

Views from Alberta – 1991 Bradley, Ross; White, Richard L.. Views from Alberta. Calgary, Alta: Muttart Art Gallery, 1990.
DOSSIER: 352 – ART GALLERY OF CALGARY (Calgary)

Edmonton Journal 1991 Downtown Library celebrated the Environment – Duo show – https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/473884341/

Federation of Canadian Artists – https://annesleystudio.com/blog/2021/4/21/federation-of-canadian-artists-its-a-long-storyAnnesleyStudio.com/blog

Influenced by specialized workshop with Shadbolt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Shadbolt

Influenced by specialized workshop with Jock De Tournacourr https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_de_Tonnancour