Shaped by the Sea

Permanent Collections

Colin Macnee Stewart Montgomerie George Noseworthy Artworks: Page #1 Heidi Oberheide Shawn O'Hagan Paul Parsons Helen Parsons Shepherd Rae Perlin Christopher Pratt Mary Pratt Barbara Pratt Wangersky Sharon Puddester William B. Ritchie Jean Claude Roy Gary Saunders Reginald Shepherd Lise Sorensen Gerald Squires Janice Udell Peter Walker Arch Williams Don Wright Previous artists...

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The island of Newfoundland, being well out into the Atlantic Ocean, is equal to placing an object on a mirror under a lamp. The surface of the sea acts as the mirror which causes an underlight or backlight. An incident of blue from sea and sky is quite prominent on most objects in this environment. Add to this, wind, energy and tidal energy and the result is an effect on all objects which makes the island and environment quite unique.
- George Noseworthy, 1978

Excerpt from artist statement in Newfoundland Rhythmics exhibition publication, organized by the Memorial University Art Gallery, 1978.

George Noseworthy was born in New York in 1929. After graduating from New York State University Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences and the Art Student's League, he worked for 21 years as an art director for major advertising agencies and publishers in New York.

"Come Home Year," in 1966, marked an official time for former Newfoundlanders or people with ties to the province to return to Newfoundland for a visit. Noseworthy was inspired to spend the summer touring Newfoundland, his parents' homeland. Noseworthy settled in Hibbs' Hole (now Hibbs' Cove) and immediately began to paint and become involved with the community, helping to establish one of the first museum and children's art and music centres outside St. John's.

Fishermen's Boots 1968 Oil on Linen 71.1 x 76.2 cm (28KB)

In 1970, Noseworthy became the first artist to paint the annual seal hunt on location, creating 33 pieces of work. In 1971, he joined Memorial University of Newfoundland's Iceberg Towing Expedition, creating 15 paintings. Some of these paintings are now part of the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador's Permanent Collection, while others are on display at the council chambers in St. John's City Hall.

Primarily a painter of landscapes, Noseworthy attempted to express what he referred to as "rhythmics," the harmonious dynamics between the sea, land, wind and people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In addition to the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador's Permanent Collection, his artwork can be found in private and public collections across Canada, the United States and Europe.

Noseworthy passed away in 1985. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered over the sea and land he loved to paint. He composed the epitaph inscribed on his urn. It reads: "Say not, that you viewed my art and saw life, but say you again viewed life and saw my art."