The contemporary art scene in Canada in the late 60s and early 70s was punctuated by spots of brilliance from art centers in Montreal, Kingston and Toronto. But very very few of the names of the day were women. Artists movements led by the likes of Jennifer Dickson and others created some of the most memorable pieces of art from this time. Many women in these groups were caught between an earlier era of how a woman should live her life (become a mother and stop working & their love of working). Sylvia Engel is such a woman. Having extraordinary talent, she opted for motherhood and shelved the art career. Now she is back at work. Today, women outnumber men at art schools, and "women artists" seems like a category that is ripe for retirement, if not plain embarrassing. However, it is worth remembering that 20 years ago only a handful of female practitioners were even significant dots on the Canadian art map. In that context, the accomplishments of the likes of Janet Cardiff, possibly the most visible Canadian in the international art world, are considerable. Female artists certainly cannot be said to speak with a single voice, but there is no question that they are being heard. Sylvia Engel is one of those unheard women whose work is truly extraordinary for the time, and who continues to produce a large number of pieces for her collection and an accelerating rate.
Here is some of her work.
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