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For immediate release
Vancouver, May 4, 2007
Heffel Fine Art Auction House, Canada's leading fine art auctioneer, has been entrusted to sell six E.J. Hughes works, and eight paintings by Canada's first lady of fine art, Emily Carr, in its Spring fine art live auction on May 23rd at Vancouver's Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel. The upcoming auction is anticipated to break records as Canada's highest grossing sale of Canadian fine art in history.
Comox Valley (2)
With the recent passing of E.J. Hughes in January, Heffel's feels it is a real tribute to feature such fine examples of the artist's overture including a large, striking oil on canvas landscape - Comox Valley (2) - from one of E.J Hughes' most desirable periods in the 1950s (estimated to sell in the $200,000 - $300,000 range).
Other B.C. towns and locations represented in Hughes' paintings from the auction include: Receding Tide, Departure Bay; Okanagan Lake; Williams Lake; and Passing Ferry, Crofton, BC, which illustrates the ferry terminal for Saltspring Island - a favourite subject for Hughes. The six E.J. Hughes lots have a combined estimated value of $800,000.
"E.J. Hughes' work has left us with a rich visual legacy which celebrates the beauty of B.C.," says David Heffel, president of Heffel Fine Art Auction House. "As one of the province's best-known painters, interest in Hughes' work is always strong and will only increase."
Oak Wood
The jewel among eight Emily Carr works in this May sale is a fine oil on canvas, circa 1913 - 1927. Oak Wood was painted during an era when Carr did fewer works because she was overwhelmed by the pressure to make a living. In 1913, the difficult economic climate and the decline of the fortune of the Carr family resulted in Carr making pottery, raising purebred dogs, hooking rugs and running a boarding residence called Hill House to support herself. Unable to travel out of town during this time, what few paintings she produced, were done within walking distance from Hill House - in Beacon Hill Park and along the Dallas Road cliffs. The probable location of Oak Wood is Beacon Hill Park and the painting has an estimated value of $200,000 - $300,000.
"Emily Carr is one of Canada's most renowned artists, significant as both a landscape painter and a modernist," says Robert Heffel, partner of Heffel Fine Art Auction House. "Her work has been a cornerstone of our fine art auction business."
A colorful oil on board, circa 1911 - Cottage, St. Efflam, was painted by Emily Carr while she developed her bright, post-impressionist color during her studies in France. The 20 x 26 1/2 inch small village scene featuring a young girl is expected to attract bids in the $200,000 to $250,000 range.
Metchosin, a oil on paper on board, circa 1934, is also expected to attract bids in the $200,000 - $300,000 range. The painting contains distinctive whirls in the sky like those of Van Gogh, a technique which Carr used in many other paintings during this period.
Other Carr works up for auction include Totems at Indian Village, Forest Breeze, Roll of Life, and On the Coast. The eight Carr lots are easily expected to exceed their combined estimated value of $1,240,000.
At previous Heffel auctions, two paintings by B.C. artist Emily Carr fetched over a million dollars. On May 10, 2000 at the Heffel's spring sale in Vancouver, Carr's 1912 oil on canvas, War Canoes, sold for $1,018,750. At the Heffel's annual spring auction in May 2004, a record $1,121,250 was bid for a striking Carr oil on canvas forest scene, entitled Quiet. Heffel Fine Art Auction House is the only auction house that has sold two Carr paintings for over a million dollars.
"Emily Carr prices continue strong, ever since an exhibition of Carr, Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kahlo works toured internationally in 2002 to 2003," says Robert Heffel. "The exhibition and book written by curator Sharyn Udall catapulted Carr to an art star of international status."
Heffel Fine Art Auction House is the premier venue to offer important fine art for sale. In 2006, the Heffels continued their tradition of market leadership, setting over 30 Canadian fine art records in their two live auctions. Their past three live Canadian fine art auctions, each exceeding the $10-million mark, are the three largest sales totals in Canadian history.
The Heffels have the most experienced team of fine art specialists in the business, providing customers with the best opportunity for maximizing the value of their works. The Heffel's next live auction is set for 7 p.m., May 23, 2007 at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel in Vancouver.
Preview information follows below.
For more information contact:
Ross Sullivan/ Julia Smith
Peak Communicators (for Heffel Fine Art Auction House)
tel: 604-689-5559
email: rsullivan@peakco.com
email: jsmith@peakco.com
Preview details:
Evening Highlight Vernissage at Galerie Heffel, Montreal
1840 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Thursday, May 3rd, 5pm to 8pm
Preview Thursday, May 3rd, through Saturday May 5th, 11am to 6pm
Preview at Heffel Gallery, Toronto
13 Hazelton Avenue
Wednesday, May 9th, through Saturday, May 12th, 11am to 6pm
Preview at Heffel Gallery, Vancouver
Saturday, May 19th, through Tuesday, May 22nd, 11am to 6pm
Wednesday, May 23rd, 10am to 1pm
Note to editors:
In recent Heffel auctions, the actual auction sales total is close to double the low end of the presale estimate.
Heffel Live Auctions Gross Sales:
The list that follows reflects the explosive growth of both Heffel as an auction house and the Canadian art market in the past 10 years:
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Heffel auction dates
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Total gross sales achieved (CAN$)
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Fall 1995
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1.0-million
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Fall 1996
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1.1-million
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Fall 1997
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1.1-million
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Fall 1998
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1.1-million
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Spring 1999
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1.3-million
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Fall 1999
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1.3-million
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Spring 2000
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2.4-million
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Fall 2000
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2.0-million
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Spring 2001
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2.4-million
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Fall 2001
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2.5-million
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Spring 2002
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3.4-million
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Fall 2002
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4.6-million
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Spring 2003
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3.5-million
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Fall 2003
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3.7-million (in Toronto)
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Spring 2004
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5.0-million (in Vancouver)
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Fall 2004
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8.4-million (in Toronto)
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Spring 2005
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7.4-million (in Vancouver)
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Fall 2005
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12.5-million (in Toronto)
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Spring 2006
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10.5-million (in Vancouver)
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Fall 2006
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11.8-million (in Toronto)
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Spring 2007
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Conservative estimate $12-$16m.
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