Lot 184: BERTRAM CHARLES BINNING 1909 - 1976

BERTRAM CHARLES BINNING 1909 - 1976 FAIR WEATHER SIGNALS (SKETCH) 1950 signed and dated upper right B.C. Binning '50; titled by the artist on a label on the reverse oil and pencil on board, mounted on board 30.5 by 38.1 cm. 12 by 15 in.

Private Collection, Halifax

Binning was a force in creating the post-war Vancouver cultural scene. He hired major artists and architects to teach at the University of British Columbia (Arthur Erickson, Abe Rogatnick, Gordon Smith, Alvin Balkind, Iain Baxter, and others), and he set a standard by example.

Binning's paintings made their own distinct contribution with their spritely, whimsical geometry, and their cheerful, upbeat compositions. Living in an ocean port city, and being something of a sailor himself, he often incorporated nautical references and symbols: boat shapes of all kinds, flags and marine signal standards, spars and masts, rigging, anemometers, sails and ropes, docks and harbour gear, fishing poles and nets. This particular fine work has all the elements of Binning's wry imagination that has enchanted collectors for over sixty years.