One of 91原创鈥檚 most beloved artists has died.
Murray Phillips passed away last week at 91原创 Hospice after battling a brain tumour.
Phillips was known across the country for his paintings of the Canadian wilderness. He would spend several months each year camping in remote areas of B.C. to paint beautiful landscapes on location.
In addition to his 45-year art career, Phillips also held graduate degrees in theology and cultural anthropology, and for more than 20 years taught at a number of colleges and universities.
鈥淗e was probably the kindest guy that I鈥檝e ever met,鈥� said artist Brian Croft, a close friend of Phillips.
鈥淗e would help anyone who needed help. He would go out of his way, particularly if somebody was emotionally distraught or there was an illness in the family. He was often the person that people would call, because he had a great empathy and a way of looking at life that seemed to soothe people.鈥�
Croft first met Phillips in 1996, when Phillips ran an art gallery in downtown 91原创. Croft was just starting out as an artist, and had brought in a few of his paintings for Phillips to see.
鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 very good paintings, but he was always a very generous guy, he would never say a bad word about anything,鈥� Croft recalled.
鈥淗e encouraged me to keep on working. He taught me how to frame it up to keep the costs down, and within a few years, he would say that I was his best selling artist. It was quite a remarkable thing, I would not have probably continued. I probably would have picked up golf clubs or something.鈥�
A few year later, Phillips changed gears and pursued his own art full time. He became very successful in Alberta, and was one of the feature artists at the Calgary Stampede Art Show 鈥� western Canada鈥檚 largest art event 鈥� for several years.
鈥淗e transitioned from running the gallery in 91原创 to a successful business as being an artist, which is very, very hard to do, and not that common,鈥� Croft said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of artist, but not so many who make a living out of it and do well.鈥�
In recent years Phillip spearheaded his own prestigious event 鈥� the West Fine Art Show 鈥� where he combined beautiful art with charity fundraisers.
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Several of the shows were dedicated to his first wife, Betty, who passed away at 91原创 Hospice in 2013.
鈥淣either Betty nor Murray knew very much about hospice, but away they went. And she was there for a period of time. And I think that had a great effect on Murray, and on Betty, because it was a wonderful way for them to go through the last days of her life,鈥� Croft said.
鈥淎nd so Murray has always been one of the greatest supporters of 91原创 Hospice, and of course, when we do one of our art shows each year, the proceeds go to 91原创 Hospice. But I know he鈥檚 had a personal commitment to that society as well.鈥�
Phillips went on to raise more than $45,000 for the 91原创 Hospice Society, both through the art show and privately.
鈥淗e was an incredible friend to Hospice, and we will miss him dearly,鈥� said Shannon Todd Booth, communications and funds director with the 91原创 Hospice Society.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 probably the beginning of really our opportunity to engage the public in a broader conversation about the importance of hospice and pallative care in our community. He gave us one of the first vehicles.鈥�
The legacy of the West Fine Art Show continues, with the next show, organized by Croft, set for this weekend at Yorkson Creek Middle School.
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Croft plans to speak about Phillips and his contributions during the opening reception on Friday.
鈥淭his all happened really quickly, so what we鈥檙e doing is we鈥檙e just going ahead 鈥� as I know he鈥檇 be pleased to see us do 鈥� with the show,鈥� Croft said.
A celebration of life for Phillips is being held today (March 7) at 2 p.m. at White Rock Baptist Church, 1657 140 St.
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