Exhibit Spotlight – Maud of Green Gables: Art by Janet Reid Wilson 

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Lucy Maud Montgomery, Janet Reid Wilson, of Eden Mills, Ontario, wrote and illustrated Maud of Green Gables: How L.M. Montgomery’s Anne Enchanted the World. It tells the story of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables from its conception through to its publication by Boston publisher L.C. Page in 1908. Reid Wilson developed the illustrations for Maud of Green Gables using original photographs from the L.M. Montgomery Collection at the University of Guelph. 

We invite you to come and explore Maud of Green Gables: Art by Janet Reid Wilson Inspired by the Life and Photographs of L.M. Montgomery. The exhibit features items from the library’s L.M. Montgomery Collection as well as oil paintings by local artist, Janet Reid Wilson. The exhibit was co-curated by Emily Clark and Ashley Shifflett McBrayne, associates in the library’s Archival & Special Collections. The exhibit is on display, on the first floor of the library, until November 29. 2024. 

In Conversation with the Curators 

Tell us about this exhibit... 

Emily Clark (EC): Reid Wilson developed the illustrations for Maud of Green Gables using original photographs from the L.M. Montgomery Collection at the University of Guelph. The L.M. Montgomery Collection came to the University of Guelph Library in 1981 from the author's youngest son, Dr. E. Stuart Macdonald. It includes Montgomery's journals, typescripts, manuscripts, scrapbooks, photograph collection, personal papers, private library, and personal effects. Selections from the collection appear here alongside Reid Wilson's original works and studies.  

Every year, the L.M. Montgomery Collection is accessed by a diverse group of individuals who find inspiration for their own creative and scholarly endeavors from items preserved by Archival & Special Collections. This exhibit showcases Reid Wilson’s original oil paintings and studies, alongside the quotes that inspired these works of art and the photographs that she consulted. 

What was your favourite part of curating this exhibit? 

EC: Personally, my favourite part was developing the installation plan and selecting materials to feature, where each quote, photograph, painting, and object were going to be in relation to each other. It is iterative and fun to balance related materials in close proximity but also creating a visually stimulating experience. You can plan and plan, but you must adapt once you have all the objects, especially items kindly loaned to us from the artist. Closing the last case and seeing the finished exhibit was elating.    

Ashley Shifflett McBrayne (ASM): Showing how an archival collection works, by exhibiting how it can inspire new creative endeavors, is an exciting concept and way to look at archival collections. I really enjoyed curating this exhibit with my colleague, Emily Clark, and working with the artist, Janet Reid Wilson. 

What can people expect to see? 

EC: People can expect to see personal effects from Lucy Maud’s life, quotes from her writings, and photographs from her collection alongside beautifully illustrated paintings by Janet Reid Wilson. Some highlights include her pair of Staffordshire dog figurines, Gog and Magog, her medal of the Order of the British Empire, and selected works from her library, all accompanied by vivid paintings inspired by photographs and quotations from various stages of her life.  

ASM: They can also expect to see the book traces Montgomery’s life from her childhood, through the formative years when she honed her writing skills, to the publication of Anne of Green Gables in 1908. 

Why would you recommend someone come view the exhibit? 

EC: There are several features of this exhibit I think visitors may enjoy. If you have read Anne of Green Gables, or any of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s books, it is an opportunity to see a glimpse into her life and her passion for books. It is a chance to learn about a beloved Canadian author whose writing became internationally renowned. If you appreciate the visual arts the exhibit features beautiful oil paintings which tell a story. The exhibit also features photographs which depict historical context and influence over L.M. Montgomery’s writing.    :  

How did you choose items from the L.M.M. Collection at the library to feature? 

EC: We selected items for the exhibit that complemented Janet’s paintings and the time period of Montgomery’s life up to the publication of Anne of Green Gables in 1908. For instance, the books on display from Montgomery’s personal library have inscriptions that date to her time in Cavendish. Other items complemented Janet’s works, such as the translation of Anne of Green Gables, which complements Janet’s portrait of Hanako Muraoka. There are also treasures of the collection including Gog and Magog, the remnants of the Woolner jug, pages from the Rilla of Ingleside manuscript, and samples of needlework. 

We recently welcomed a group to view this exhibit. Who were they? 

ASM: A few weeks ago, we had a tour group visit from Japan as part of an L.M. Montgomery thematic tour of Prince Edward Island and Ontario. Approximately 40 people attended. One of the guides was Yuko Matsumoto, the pre-eminent translator of Montgomery’s Rilla of Ingleside. 

Questions? 

Contact us. We’re happy to help. 

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