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visual arts F R E D A M E S S -- by Jack Shadbolt Those who knew Fred Amess remember the legend as much as the person. He seemed larger (literally), more extravagantly alive to living than most of us see ourselves. At the Vancouver School of Art (VSA). where he was principal for many years, he was jocularly thought of as the good Sir Grummore Grummorson from the book. The Ill-made Knight by T. E. White, who after elaborate fussing and with much help, finally mounted his horse, and grasping his lance, charged off in all directions. Fred went to school with Percy Williams who became our adored Olympic 100-yard cham pion and Fred was himself an aspiring sprinter. In fact I first met Fred on the track... There were four of us entered in the quarter-mile sprint; Williams, a lead runner named Cathcart, and Fred and myself. The result was ludicrous for me - I came in about a lap behind the rest and drew a faint, amused applause from the crowd. Fred, with his wonderful human compassion and humour spoke to me after and we joked about it. I did not meet him again until 1938 when we both turned up on the staff of the VSA and became permanent friends. Fred had his heroes and was delighted to emulate their example; Frederick Varley was number one. He wanted to paint with Varley's fluency and Fred's watercolours carried this fluid dream forever. He painted mainly in that medium as it allowed him a quick, easy, sometimes superficial rhythm. A strong heavy man who was light on his feet, the overall effect of his painting was buoyant, with a floating, rhythmic quality. As a student under Varley and Fred's spirit and love for BC inspired his students when years later he continued to go on sketching trips as an instructor. He sent his students out to record the environment and to enjoy it. He had an easy approach to his students, immediately becoming friends with them and getting to know their personal lives. He was "Freddie" to everyone except to the school board members who weren't sure about the status of the arts school where perforce he had to play the role of Mr. Amess. The qualities that were vital for the VSA as Fred conceived it were passion and laughter and social responsibility. He loved life and communicated that love constantly. The school was near the False Creek area where workers and down-andout's had their colony. Our models were men and women of the streets. The backgrounds were broken landscapes. In contrast to this backdrop was Fred's obsession with improving the city. It was he who started the Art in Living group which was concerned with modern architecture. His motto, "Grass on Granville Street," made the city human. Artists interested in serious status tended to pass Fred by - he had given so much of himself to causes other than his own art: to teaching, to defending his dream against a mundane and querulous school board to dealing with personal problems and his ultimate struggle with diabetes. Fred Amess in the landscape much. Selections from the City of North Vancouver's Memorial March 1995 Photo: courtesy of N o r t h Vancouver Museum & Archives. Amess Collection. he loved so Jfjt 7 to April 9. IsML SB Jock McDonald, Fred would head up into the Garibaldi valley on sketching trips. Fred picked up Varley's rhythm in his drawing and assimilated il into a graceful, larger open cadence in his watercolours. I was with Fred through his administrative as well as his artistic life and can vouch for everyone who knew him. He was a wonderfully charismatic tonic to the routine deadness of existence. He was a tower of courage and conviction. It is fitting his memory should be celebrated by an exhibition of his artwork which was. after all. his one true if unfulfilled love S : Jock Shadbolt is one of the most respected artists in Vancouver. In 1988 he and his wife Doris founded the Vancouver Institute for the Visual Arts (VIVA) which makes annual awards to artists.