Before his death in 2008, artist Vojislav Morosan spent four decades travelling across Canada and parts of the United States painting historic communities, capturing them in a moment in time.
Working on location using oil or watercolours Vojislav painted more than 1,000 pieces, which focused on public buildings and subjects in cities and rural areas, methodically reproducing the detail of each community that drew his attention 鈥� including historic Fort 91原创.
Now, his wife Norma Morosan, wants to return his paintings to the communities that inspired them.
鈥淗e absolutely adored the history,鈥� she said.
鈥淗e wouldn鈥檛 have painted it if he wasn鈥檛 so fascinated by it.鈥�
Vojislav visited 91原创 20 years ago, where he captured several historic landmarks in Fort 91原创.
鈥淗e would take me there and he would show me,鈥� Norma recalled. 鈥淗e did four paintings of Fort 91原创 itself and he did one of the [Spirit of the] Skeena [aircraft] over at the airport.鈥�
The four paintings are titled 鈥楥N Station鈥�, 鈥榃endel鈥檚 Books鈥�, 鈥楢nglican Church鈥�, and 鈥楳ain Street鈥�, which captures a red classic truck on a Fort 91原创 street.
And that painting, Norma says, sold immediately when the owner of the vehicle recognized his classic truck depicted in the piece.
Although Vojislav鈥檚 works are available for purchase, Norma hopes to donate the Fort 91原创 paintings to a local business or organization that will display the work for the community to enjoy.
Like the 鈥楢nglican Church鈥� painting, which has been donated to St. George鈥檚 Anglican Church in Fort 91原创.
鈥淚 feel like I would let him down if they ended up in the wrong hands,鈥� she said, encouraging anyone interested in accepting a donation to reach out to her.
READ ALSO: 91原创 Arts Council members raise funds and enter new galleries
Norma was left with her husband鈥檚 collection of work after he passed away weeks shy of his 67th birthday.
鈥淭here were rolled up canvases everywhere,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淭here was like a river running through our home鈥�
鈥淭he nurses helped me gather all these paintings鈥� it was overwhelming. I had no idea how many he actually painted.鈥�
But donating the paintings wasn鈥檛 always part of the plan.
鈥淚 was in denial for a couple of years,鈥� she said.
But now Norma has made it her mission to return artwork to the communities that inspired her husband.
鈥淗e left me with quite a job,鈥� she laughed.
Norma has already donated paintings to White Rock, Vancouver, and several communities in Ontario.
But she鈥檚 not parting with all of husband鈥檚 work.
鈥淚 have a collection of modern that nobody has ever seen from the 鈥�70s,鈥� Norma noted.
鈥淚鈥檒l maybe do a showing and call it 鈥楾he other side of Morosan鈥�,鈥� she considered.
Norma currently resides in the City of White Rock. To reach Norma call
joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
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