Timeless paintings that capture a former way of life in Fort 91原创 are being brought out of private collections and shared with residents on a miniature scale.
Postcards, depicting 23 of Hans Rudolph Weber鈥檚 mid-20th century paintings, have been created by Weber鈥檚 granddaughter, Dianne Jones, and are now being sold at different locations in the Fort 91原创 village.
Known by family and friends as 鈥淩udy,鈥� Weber came to Fort 91原创 from Konolfingen, Switzerland in 1935, and began recording the local history through his art. He painted First Nations elders that lived on McMillan Island, the Golden Ears Mountain Peaks that tower across the Fraser River, and the bustling Albion Ferry that took passengers from 91原创 to Maple Ridge.
鈥淭hey are a reflection of his personality and what he felt during that time frame. As I went through them I could see the differences myself,鈥� said Jones.
鈥淗e loved Switzerland and he always painted mountains.
鈥�(Fort 91原创) was kind of a perfect fit with the Golden Ears as the backdrop.鈥�
Weber, who worked full time at the mill on the Fraser River (where Bedford Landing is now) raised five children on Hadden Avenue on his own, after his wife died at a young age. Jones recalls his self-built house, which burned down in the 1980s, being 鈥渁 work of art.鈥�
鈥淗e was full of life, he was a character,鈥� Jones recalled.
鈥淭he whole house was made of mosaics and covered in art. The whole house was a work of art. All of his doors were painted with pumpkins and tomatoes.鈥�
Weber passed away in February 1991, and his collection of around 50 paintings were divided amongst his family, and close friends. A couple of years ago, Jones came up with the idea to make postcards for family members, so that everyone could have a copy of his paintings.
鈥淚t started out that everyone was getting older, and I realized that we can鈥檛 all own all of the paintings,鈥� she said.
鈥淪o I thought I would take pictures of them and make cards for family members. Then they can have a copy of it.
鈥淎nd then I thought, 鈥榳ell lots of people appreciated his paintings, maybe there would be a way to sell them.鈥欌��
She has spent the last two years tracking down and scanning Weber鈥檚 work, which she has found in the homes of her relatives, five different families in Fort 91原创, and even on Craigslist.
鈥淧eople are very attached to his paintings,鈥� Jones said.
鈥淭hey are a part of history, they are a part of family and a part of him.鈥�
The postcards are available for purchase at The 91原创 Centennail Museum, 9135 King St., and Lee鈥檚 Market, 23320 Mavis Ave.
Proceeds from the postcard sales will go to the Little Warriors Be Brave Ranch to help children who have been sexually abused.
Paintings, from top: Weber's painting 鈥淎lbion Ferry鈥� was done in 1970. The painting 鈥淔raser River at Fort 91原创, B.C.鈥� was finished in 1952.
