Small
Pioneers shape a community; a community raises a child. Such is the story of Irvine Clinton Adams (1902 to 1992), a much revered and loved artist not only in his home town of Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, but around the globe. He was considered one of North America’s foremost realists and his works were shown in juried exhibits in Paris, France, London, England and in various galleries and shows in the United States and Canada.
Born in Swan Lake, Manitoba in 1902, Irvine and his family came to Summerland in the Okanagan Valley in 1904. The climate and the geography of the region attracted his parents to start a new life fruit ranching.
Our story is about Irvine Adams; growing up, attending school, working in the local fruit packing house and in the logging business until he realized his destiny lay in his natural talents. Even though he was always interested in creating art, there were many obstacles to overcome before he reached this goal.
As Irvine grew, so did the small community of Summerland, making its mark in the fruit producing industry. As the district progressed, many changes occurred; events not lost on the sensitive artist.
The stories link the lives of Irvine Adams and his family with Summerland’s development just as his pastel paintings so vividly portray the landscapes of the Okanagan Valley. Through the images in his works, Adams captured the essence of the Okanagan, leaving the legacy of this talented gentleman for generations to come.
Irvine’s family adds to the story; his brothers and sisters who remained in or returned to the Okanagan Valley and his wife Doreen who became very involved in her new community. Irvine and Doreen Adams were “known and acclaimed far beyond the Okanagan Valley, spent their lives sensitively and harmoniously working and supporting each others undertakings.” Their final wish left “Sleepy Hollow,” their home, to the people of Summerland as a bird sanctuary.
