The story of Molly Morpeth Canaday 1903 - 1971
Molly Morpeth was born in Wellington in 1903. In her early years she studied art at the Wellington Technical School.
In 1928 Molly met Frank Canaday on a trip across the Tasman Sea aboard the S.S. Ulimaroa. Molly was coming back to New Zealand with her parents and Frank was on a business trip around the world. They saw each other only for a brief period and after lengthy correspondence, they were married in Toledo Ohio in 1932.
On the art scene at that time 'modern art' was beginning to emerge in America, coinciding with the opening of Museum of Modern Art in New York. Molly saw American expressionism in art developing, particularly through the works of Piet Mondrian and his move from realism to abstraction. Her paintings of this period can be clearly seen as being influenced by this new 'abstract' approach to painting. There was a lot of art discussion in the art communities at the time and Frank Canaday, in his book, referred to this discussion as 'futile attempts to disentangle art definitions'. He was referring to the art critic E.A. Jewel who wrote about the new abstract expressionism...
“There can be no doubt, I think, that the general public is prone to accept art that is completely or relatively 'naturalistic', and reject - or, at least, to be extremely wary of - art that completely, or in large measure departs from such procedure.”
Molly was passionate about painting and in the 1960's showed her maturity as an artist when her works became confident, colourful; totally embracing expressionism. Her life drawings need not be overlooked either. They are exquisite loose renderings, as portrayed in the book about her work 'Triumph in Colour'
A number of New Zealand galleries have displayed works of Molly Morpeth Canaday, and many are owned by the National Art Gallery.
According to the register of her completed works, at present there are over 300 held in private and public collections here and overseas.
Of equal importance have been the moves made by Frank H. Canaday to assist the arts in New Zealand, by the establishment of a series of funds. The Molly Morpeth Canaday Trust in Whakatāne is one of the few remaining. It benefits emerging artists nationwide in 2 and 3 dimensional work: the Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Award and the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award for painting and drawing*
Why Whakatāne? When Frank was setting up the trust after Molly's death in 1971, he worked in contact with solicitor Rex Morpeth, (Molly's cousin) on the wording that would cover Frank's wishes for the trust document. Rex lived in Whakatāne.
" I'm aware there are varying opinions on the talents of Molly, but putting that aside it makes for a very romantic story. Molly was passionate about painting and Frank was passionate about Molly, it's a good love story." - Brian Morpeth 2010.
In 1928 Molly met Frank Canaday on a trip across the Tasman Sea aboard the S.S. Ulimaroa. Molly was coming back to New Zealand with her parents and Frank was on a business trip around the world. They saw each other only for a brief period and after lengthy correspondence, they were married in Toledo Ohio in 1932.
On the art scene at that time 'modern art' was beginning to emerge in America, coinciding with the opening of Museum of Modern Art in New York. Molly saw American expressionism in art developing, particularly through the works of Piet Mondrian and his move from realism to abstraction. Her paintings of this period can be clearly seen as being influenced by this new 'abstract' approach to painting. There was a lot of art discussion in the art communities at the time and Frank Canaday, in his book, referred to this discussion as 'futile attempts to disentangle art definitions'. He was referring to the art critic E.A. Jewel who wrote about the new abstract expressionism...
“There can be no doubt, I think, that the general public is prone to accept art that is completely or relatively 'naturalistic', and reject - or, at least, to be extremely wary of - art that completely, or in large measure departs from such procedure.”
Molly was passionate about painting and in the 1960's showed her maturity as an artist when her works became confident, colourful; totally embracing expressionism. Her life drawings need not be overlooked either. They are exquisite loose renderings, as portrayed in the book about her work 'Triumph in Colour'
A number of New Zealand galleries have displayed works of Molly Morpeth Canaday, and many are owned by the National Art Gallery.
According to the register of her completed works, at present there are over 300 held in private and public collections here and overseas.
Of equal importance have been the moves made by Frank H. Canaday to assist the arts in New Zealand, by the establishment of a series of funds. The Molly Morpeth Canaday Trust in Whakatāne is one of the few remaining. It benefits emerging artists nationwide in 2 and 3 dimensional work: the Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Award and the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award for painting and drawing*
Why Whakatāne? When Frank was setting up the trust after Molly's death in 1971, he worked in contact with solicitor Rex Morpeth, (Molly's cousin) on the wording that would cover Frank's wishes for the trust document. Rex lived in Whakatāne.
" I'm aware there are varying opinions on the talents of Molly, but putting that aside it makes for a very romantic story. Molly was passionate about painting and Frank was passionate about Molly, it's a good love story." - Brian Morpeth 2010.
Compiled by Heather Hourigan, 2010
References 'Triumph in Colour' Frank H. Canaday, Phoenix Publishing, 1977 with permission.
Article 'The Art Gallery and Museum Association' Vol 6, 1975.
'In Retrospect' Whakatane District Museum and Gallery, 2010.
Header Image: Frank Canaday in Molly Morpeth Canaday's New York studio after her death in 1971
Converations with Brian Morpeth, 2010.
* In 2023 2D & 3D merged to form one award
References 'Triumph in Colour' Frank H. Canaday, Phoenix Publishing, 1977 with permission.
Article 'The Art Gallery and Museum Association' Vol 6, 1975.
'In Retrospect' Whakatane District Museum and Gallery, 2010.
Header Image: Frank Canaday in Molly Morpeth Canaday's New York studio after her death in 1971
Converations with Brian Morpeth, 2010.
* In 2023 2D & 3D merged to form one award
Image of Molly Morpeth Canaday used with thanks and permission by Brian Morpeth
The history of the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award
The original award began as the Shell Art Award in 1986. It was instigated by Jacqui Hughes and Lynn Dawson of the Whakatāne District Community Arts Council (Arts Whakatāne) and then became the cornerstone event of the multi-disciplined annual Whakatāne Summer Arts Festival.
In 1991 the Molly Morpeth Canaday (Whakatāne) Fund became the principal sponsor and the award became known as the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award - Painting and Drawing, held annually in conjunction with the Whakatāne Summer Arts Festival.
The Molly Morpeth Canaday Award - 3D was first discussed 1997. The Trust (through Greg Reid) approached the Whakatāne District Community Arts Council (Arts Whakatāne) with ideas for the new project, and together with Museum and Arts collectively came up with the Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Ceramics Award to compliment the Molly Morpeth Canaday Painting and Drawing Award. From 2018, the 3D Award developed and alternated with the Painting and Drawing Award, launching during February each year. In 2024, the award has been refined yet again, merging all disciplines into the dynamic and diverse contemporary art exhibition you see today.
Frank H. Canaday wanted to assist the arts in Aotearoa New Zealand by the establishment of a series of funds to benefit emerging and established arts practitioners. Named for his artist wife, The Molly Morpeth Canaday (Whakatāne) Fund is one of the few remaining.
Why Whakatāne? When Frank was setting up the trust after Molly's death in 1971, he worked in contact with Molly's cousin - Whakatāne local Rex Morpeth, and a solicitor on the wording for the trust document that would cover Frank's wishes for the fund.
In 1991 the Molly Morpeth Canaday (Whakatāne) Fund became the principal sponsor and the award became known as the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award - Painting and Drawing, held annually in conjunction with the Whakatāne Summer Arts Festival.
The Molly Morpeth Canaday Award - 3D was first discussed 1997. The Trust (through Greg Reid) approached the Whakatāne District Community Arts Council (Arts Whakatāne) with ideas for the new project, and together with Museum and Arts collectively came up with the Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Ceramics Award to compliment the Molly Morpeth Canaday Painting and Drawing Award. From 2018, the 3D Award developed and alternated with the Painting and Drawing Award, launching during February each year. In 2024, the award has been refined yet again, merging all disciplines into the dynamic and diverse contemporary art exhibition you see today.
Frank H. Canaday wanted to assist the arts in Aotearoa New Zealand by the establishment of a series of funds to benefit emerging and established arts practitioners. Named for his artist wife, The Molly Morpeth Canaday (Whakatāne) Fund is one of the few remaining.
Why Whakatāne? When Frank was setting up the trust after Molly's death in 1971, he worked in contact with Molly's cousin - Whakatāne local Rex Morpeth, and a solicitor on the wording for the trust document that would cover Frank's wishes for the fund.