BrittMarie Wirgård
I was born in 1943, in Djupnoret, in the
parish of Bjurtjärn,
Värmland and began painting at the age of 12.
My father was a gardener, so I have lived with gardening all my life.
Between the ages of 15 and 21
I took courses at an
industrial arts school in
Gothenburg.
The first cottage of our own was bought in
1965, in Finnerödja.
Hans, myself and our oldest son moved there in 1967.
Our first garden was there, filled with Paeonia (peonies),
Narcissus, Lupine, Verbascum, a big beautiful cherry tree and
an oak.
The name of the cottage was ‘Backen’.
From courses we took at
Järna we learned how to compost and grow
ecologically.
We lived there until 1975. Two of our children were born there.
From 1975 to 1981 we lived in
Hälsingland, Dalarna, and Gästrikland.
On a foggy November day in 1981 we moved back to Finnerödja,
in the
with a garden that once belonged to a plant collector.
The garden had died back for the winter, its contents unknown to us,
so when spring arrived we simply watched it come to life with blooms
of Crocus, Scilla, Helleborus, Frittilaria, Primula
(primroses),
Paeonia (peonies), Lilies etc
When our fifth child arrived in 1985, she
had Down’s syndrome.
We needed to live closer to urban
amenities and so we moved to Arvika, in 1988.
We built a beautiful studio at Tornstigen 10, which we left in 1995.
The last 15 years I’ve painted primarily in watercolour.
The shimmering, clear colours are beneficial for soul and mind.
Painting is a language that everyone can understand and doesn’t
need translation, just a spectator with open eyes like those of a child!
It’s now 2004 and hopefully I will
continue to paint and garden this year!
Exhibitions:
Galleri 54, Göteborg -67 |
art exhibition together with other artists |
Länets Konst, Örebro -73 | art exhibition together with other artists |
Södertälje konstförening. Södertälje -74 | one-man-show |
Galleri Duvan, Stockholm -75 | one-man-show |
Kumla Konsthall, Kumla -75 | art exhibition together with other artists |
Orsa Konsthall, Orsa -78 | art exhibition together with other artists |
Galleri Svarta Katten, Gävle -80 | one-man-show |
Myrans Ateljé, Göteborg -84 | one-man-show |
Nyttokonst, Uddevalla -84 | one-man-show |
Galleri Vättern, Askersund -86 | one-man-show |
Konstkällaren, Arvika -89 | one-man-show |
Arvika Nyheter, Arvika -89 | one-man-show |
Teck-Galleri, Stuttgart Tyskland -90 | one-man-show |
Abrahamsgården, Norberg -90 | one-man-show |
Galleri K, Karlstad -91, -93, -95 | one-man-show |
Prästgårdsgalleriet, Linköping -94 | art exhibition together with other artists |
Arvika Konsthall, Julsalongen -90 -- -94 | art exhibition together with other artists |
Gota Bank Höstsalong, Stockholm -94 | art exhibition together with other artists |
Stadshuset Vårsalong, Stockholm -95 | art exhibition together with other artists |
Gammelvâla Konstutställning, Brunskog -97 -- -03 --- | art exhibition together with other artists |
Björknäs Konstutställning, Arvika -90 -- 03 --- | art exhibition together with other artists |
Galleri Terséus, Stockholm -00 | art exhibition together with other artists |
Länsstyrelsens Vårsalong, Karlstad -02 | art exhibition together with other artists |
Represented at:
Örebro läns
landsting, Skaraborgs läns landsting, Örebro Kommun,
Non-profit Art assosiations 1970 - 2003, Private collections.
Art assosiations at business company (concerns) in Sweden:
ABAB, Arla,
Arlanda Höstsalong, Betong & Balast, Folksam,
Galleri K:s Konstförening, Generaltullstyrelsen, Gota Bank,
ICL-Data, Luftfartsverket, Militärstaberna, NWT:s Konstförening,
Osram, Ransäter-Munkfors Konstförening, Sophiahemmet,
Televerket Sundbyberg, Tekniska Nämndehuset, Ångpanneföreningen-AF, m.fl.
A nice event took
place in 2003, when I won a contest at The Garden Society of Gothenburg.
The task was to compose a small garden with Roses.
Link to the
photographer Lisbeth Zachs’ site with slide-show of my winning contribution
“
Link to
slide-show with detail pictures of “
Excerpt from SR’s (Swedish Radio’s) Gröna
Rum (Gardening show in Swedish television)
1st prize was a trip to Chelsea Flower Show in May 2003,
A non-forgettable experience!
Here are some photos from Chelsea Flower Show 2003.
Photographers are Daniel and BrittMarie Wirgård.
Peter Beales
A wonderful construction made only
with green plants,
trellis and a golden globe.
This way to show this Primula
auriculum
is called Auriculum-Theater.
Roses;
Apple Blossom
och Francis E. Lester
Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler
Springflowers
More springflowers
Orchids, Nomocharis, Trillium, etc
Show-garden inspired by the summer
Chair from Kew Garden