Carl Ahrens Day Exhibition
The April 28th, 2007 general meeting for the Waterloo Historical Society was dubbed Carl Ahrens Day, in celebration of a Waterloo County painter who has, until recently, been overshadowed by Homer Watson in the local history books. The meeting took place at the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery - 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario. It was open to the public and roughly 150 people attended, many of whom were not members of the WHS.
With approximately 35 pieces of art on display, courtesy of the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, the Government of Ontario Art Collection and many private lenders, it was the largest public showing of Carl Ahrens' paintings and prints until 2015, when the Dundas Museum & Archives put on an exhibition called Parallel Destinies, featuring the art of both Homer Watson and Carl Ahrens.
Kim Bullock, a great granddaughter of Carl Ahrens, was the keynote speaker. She outlined aspects of Carl's life and art and also brought along a number of family artifacts pertaining to him. Other speakers included Wilfrid Laurier professor Paul Tiessen, Kitchener mayor Carl Zehr, K/WAG director Alf Bogusky, WHS president rych mills, WHS publications editor Susan Hoffman, K/WAG curatorial assistant Cindy Wayvon and Kitchener Centre MPP John Milloy.
April 28th was also the release date for the 2006 Waterloo Historical Society annual volume featuring Carl Ahrens on the front and back covers. A large article on the painter by Bullock appears in the volume.
Featured Art
Untitled Landscape with Figure and Stream
Oil on canvas
15 x 18 cm
Signed / Undated
Private Collection
Photo by Lorna Ferguson
This painting may have originally belonged to landscape painter, Homer Watson, a good friend of Carl's.
Untitled Landscape with House and Pond
Oil on canvas
20 x 25.5 cm
Signed 1929
Private Collection
Photo by Lorna Ferguson
Possibly painted for fellow landscape painter, Homer Watson.
The Pool
Oil on canvas
61 x 46 cm
Signed between 1909 and 1911
Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery Gift of the Volunteer Committee, 1985
Photo by Chris Keith
This painting, along with the rest of the Mercer Collection, was exhibited in the Toronto Reference Library in October of 1911.
Landscape With Figure Carrying Sack
Etching and aquatint in brown
12.5 x 10 cm
Signed
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Chris Keith
Midsummer
Oil on canvas
51 x 41 cm
Signed c. 1917
Private Collection
Photo by Sandu Sindile
This painting was originally part of the estate of George G. Nasmith (1877–1965). Mr. Nasmith was a friend of Carl's and took over as patron after the death of Major General Malcolm S. Mercer.
Nearing the Night
Oil on canvas
66 x 82 cm
Signed 1895
Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery Purchased 1977
Photo by Chris Keith
Washing at the River
Watercolor on paper
33 x 25.5 cm
Signed lower right / Undated
Collection of George and Dora Pepall
Photo by Deborah Downes
The Picnickers
Etching and aquatint with surface tone
25.5 x 20 cm
Signed
Collection of Fred and Deborah Downes
Photo by Sandu Sindile
Ripe Corn Time
Oil on canvas
65 x 80 cm
Signed 1895
Government of Ontario Art Collection / Archives of Ontario
Photo by Chris Keith
The Road to Town
Etching with surface tone
30.5 x 25.5 cm
Signed
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Chris Keith
Self Portrait
Watercolor on paper
10 x 7.5 cm
Unsigned c. 1886
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock
According to the notes on the back of this painting, this was among Carl Ahrens' first pieces. It is one of the few left unsigned. It is still in the family, so we are certain the work is his.
In the Woods / Tree Roots 1933
Etching and aquatint with surface tone
18 x 14.5 cm
Signed
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Chris Keith
Wooded Landscape with Turkeys
Drypoint and aquatint with surface tone
20 x 15 cm
Signed
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Kim Bullock
Woodland Path
Oil on canvas
34 x 26.5 cm
Signed
Collection of rych mills
Photo by Sandu Sindile
Laird
Oil on canvas
Signed c. 1920
Private Collection
Photo by Chris Keith
Please note: The background in this image has been altered to minimize the reflection in the photograph. Laird (1906–1986) was the son of Carl and Madonna Ahrens.
Picnic Scene
Watercolor on paper
23 x 18 cm
Signed 1933
Private Collection
Photo by Lorna Ferguson
The Evening Sun
Etching with surface tone
18 x 14 cm
Signed
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Chris Keith
Experiment
Etching, aquatint and drypoint in grey
10 x 9 cm
Signed
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Chris Keith
Untitled Forest Interior
Oil on canvas mounted on board
30 x 20 cm
Signed (Circa 1917–1919)
Private Collection
Photo by Sandu Sindile
This painting was originally part of the estate of George G. Nasmith (1877–1965). Nasmith and Charles Burden took over as Ahrens' patrons after the death of Major-General Malcolm S. Mercer in June of 1916.
Forest Interior
Oil on board
26.5 x 21.5 cm
Signed / Undated
Collection of Sandu Sindile
Photo by Sandu Sindile
Turkeys
Etching with surface tone
18 x 14 cm
Signed
Private Collection
Photo by Lorna Ferguson
Untitled Landscape with Birches
Watercolor on paper
38 x 28 cm
Signed
Collection of Kevin and Kathleen Mortensen
Photo by Kathleen Mortensen
Landscape With Stream
Watercolor on paper
38 x 28 inches
Signed / Undated
Collection of Kevin and Kathleen Mortensen
Photo by Kathleen Mortensen
Forest Interior
Oil on board
26.5 x 21.5 cm
Signed / Undated
Collection of Sandu Sindile
Photo by Sandu Sindile
Seascape with Purple Sky
Watercolor on paper
Signed lower left
Collection of Greg Chard
Likely painted in Rockport, Massachusetts in 1921.
Untitled Landscape
Oil on plywood
40.5 x 35.5 cm
Signed 1935
Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery Gift of Joan and Ross Murray 1985
Photo by Chris Keith
Beech Trees
Etching, drypoint and aquatint with surface tone
18 x 14 cm
Signed
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Chris Keith
Figures in the Woods
Watercolor on paper
23 x 18 cm
Signed 1936
Collection of Fred and Deborah Downes
Photo by Deborah Downes
Carl Ahrens died in February 1936, so this is one of his last paintings. The final months of his life were spent at the Toronto Psychiatric Hospital, where he had no access to scenes like this one.
Big Trees
Oil on board
Signed after 1923
Private Collection
This painting is of the Ahrens home in Galt, Ontario.
Wooded Landscape with Reflective Pool
Oil on panel
20 x 15 cm
Signed / Undated
Collection of Rick Taylor
Photo by Rick Taylor
Field and Forest
Oil on canvas
29 x 22 cm
Signed lower left / Undated
Collection of the Homer Watson House and Gallery in Kitchener, Ontario. Donated in 2002
Photo by Chris Keith
Carl Ahrens and Homer Watson were close friends throughout much of their adult lives and had great admiration for each other's work.
By the Grand River
Oil on board
15 x 23 cm
Signed 1930
Collection of Kim Bullock
Photo by Deborah Downes
Path in the Woods
Watercolor on paper
21.5 x 18 cm
Signed 1934
Collection of Fred and Deborah Downes
Photo by Deborah Downes
Event Photos
Photo by rych mills
Photo by Mike Ahrens
Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, Ontario
Photo by Deborah Downes
Photo by rych mills
The current owner of this violin, a Waterloo resident, happened upon the Carl Ahrens Day event and kindly allowed me to share an image of it here.