Louise Bowman was born in 1900 in Sumas Washington, a descendant of United Empire Loyalists who left Pennsylvania during the American Revolution for Ontario before later founding Anacortes Washington. Growing up in Upper Sumas, on the Candadian side of the border, she was surrounded by a family of artists and painters.
Louise's ambition to become an artist herself began with her studies at University of Washington and it was there that she first met Adolph Schwenk. At the conclusion of her studies there, she was determined to pursue a career as an artist and this made her way San Francisco. Here she struggled to support herself as an artist, only doing portraits when clients could be found and also working in the Art department at Gump's department store to make ends meet. While in San Francisco she continued to correspond with Adolph, eventually accepting his invitation to visit his Okanagan home. |
While away at the VSA, Adolph built Louise a kiln out of an old washing machine and a kick wheel with the parts. When Louise returned they set about establishing their new studio in the basement of their log home. They found their first source of clay in the valley around Kelowna about 40 miles from their front door. These early Schwenk pieces show a characteristic reddish clay along with a painted signature on the bottom. Already by late 1956 their work was admired being admired and sought out by local buyers.
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Coffee set awarded Honours at the Candian National Exhibition in 1966 and selected as part of the National Gallery Cenetennial Touring Show.
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As word of their work spread, the Schwenks quickly received accolades from across Canada. A sampling of their awards include:
- an exhibition at the Cameo Studio on Main Street in Penticton - a 100 piece exhibition at the Nelson Centennial Art Show - award at the Biennial pottery show at the Vancouver Art Gallery - selection for the All Canada Pottery Shows in Toronto and Montreal - full feature article in Western Living magazine, April 1961 - two consecutive awards at the Canadian National Exhibition - selection of their work at Government House in Victoria - selection for the National Gallery Centennial Touring Show - work exhibited in the Canadian Arts and Crafts Guild in Montreal The crowning achievement of recognition for the Schwenks was the award of a Senior Craftman's Fellowship from the Canadian Council in 1966 which would allow them to study abroad in Europe for a year. |