WOMEN in the SECOND WORLD WAR Through the Art of MOLLY

TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE FOR GRADES 9–12 LEARN ABOUT WOMEN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR through the art of MOLLY LAMB BOBAK Click the right corner to WOMEN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR MOLLY LAMB BOBAK through the art of return to table of contents TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 RESOURCE WHO WAS TIMELINE OF OVERVIEW MOLLY LAMB BOBAK? HISTORICAL EVENTS AND ARTIST’S LIFE PAGE 4 PAGE 10 PAGE 13 LEARNING CULMINATING HOW MOLLY LAMB ACTIVITIES TASK BOBAK MADE ART: STYLE & TECHNIQUE PAGE 14 READ ONLINE DOWNLOAD ADDITIONAL MOLLY LAMB BOBAK: MOLLY LAMB RESOURCES LIFE & WORK BY BOBAK IMAGE FILE MICHELLE GEWURTZ EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE WOMEN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR through the art of MOLLY LAMB BOBAK RESOURCE OVERVIEW This teacher resource guide has been written to complement the Art Canada Institute online art book Molly Lamb Bobak: Life & Work by Michelle Gewurtz. The artworks within this guide and the images required for the learning activities and culminating task can be found in the Molly Lamb Bobak Image File provided. Molly Lamb Bobak (1920–2014) was the first female war artist in Canada. Canadians played an important role in the Second World War, both on the home front and overseas, and people from all parts of Canada participated in and were affected by the war in countless ways. Lamb Bobak became a member of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in the fall of 1942 and served there until 1946. Lamb Bobak documented her experiences in a journal: W110278: The Personal War Records of Private Lamb, M. Her sketches and paintings provide us with a detailed account of Canadian women’s involvement in the Second World War. This guide focuses on exploring Lamb Bobak’s work to develop students’ knowledge of an important Canadian artist and the role of Canadian women in the Second World War. Curriculum Connections Grades 9–12 Dramatic Arts Grades 9–12 English Grades 9–12 History Grades 9–12 Visual Arts Themes Propaganda The Second World War Women’s roles in society Women in wartime Teaching Exercises Fig 1. Molly Lamb, “Molly Lamb Enters Fig 2. Molly Lamb Bobak, The Bath House, the Army,” November 22, 1942, from 1946. In addition to her sketches and diary, The exercises in this guide take Molly Lamb W110278: The Personal War Records of Lamb Bobak also created finished paintings Bobak’s art as a starting point for investigating Private Lamb, M., 1942–45. Lamb’s depicting the activities of her fellow CWACs. illustrated diary is both personal the roles of Canadian women in the Second and a historical record of daily life World War. as a CWAC. Learning Activity #1: What was the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC)? A careful observation (page 4) Learning Activity #2: Exploring women in propaganda posters of the Second World War (page 7) Learning Activity #3: Black Canadian women in the Second World War (page 9) Culminating Task: Correspondence exercise based on character studies of women during the Second World War (page 10) A Note on Using This Guide As with studying any major conflict, students will naturally be exposed to violent and traumatic events from history. Events such as (but not limited to) the Holocaust, the Japanese overseas occupation, attacks on civilians, and Canada’s own history of internment camps can be difficult for students to encounter. As the guide encourages open student exploration and research into the period of the Second World War, it is important for the teacher to provide context, support, and resources as needed. Please reach out to your administration or local supports if you need help in presenting or addressing these difficult topics. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE 1 WOMEN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR through the art of MOLLY LAMB BOBAK WHO WAS MOLLY LAMB BOBAK? One of Canada’s most pioneering and important women artists, Molly Lamb Bobak was born in 1920 on Lulu Island, just outside of Vancouver. Her father was the photographer and art critic Harold Mortimer-Lamb. Lamb spent her childhood in houses filled with creativity and frequented by her father’s many artist friends, including members of the Group of Seven, such as Lawren Harris and Frederick Varley, and other modernist artists who would influence her later career. When the Second World War started, Lamb was a nineteen-year-old art student. She joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) in 1942. The CWAC was established because Canada needed women to pitch in and support the war effort, working at jobs that were traditionally held by men. Surrounded by activity and fascinating characters, Lamb kept a diary in which she humorously illustrated Fig 3. Molly Lamb painting in London, England, July 12, 1945. and described her experiences, such as daily chores, gas drills, canteen duty, and day trips during her time off. In 1944 she tied for second place in the National Gallery of Canada’s Canadian Army Art Show. The following year, Lamb became the first and only woman to be named one of Canada’s official war artists. She was sent to Europe to document the end of the war, capturing scenes of returning troops, bombed-out villages, and army officers giving aid to children. After the war, Lamb returned to Canada and married fellow war artist Bruno Bobak. The couple moved to Vancouver where Lamb Bobak taught night classes at the Vancouver School of Art. A scholarship and grants enabled the Bobaks and their children to travel, first to France and then throughout Europe during the 1950s. Encountering the works of Cubist and modernist artists, Lamb Bobak began to develop a unique style that Fig 4. Molly Lamb, Gas Drill, 1944. Fig 5. Molly Lamb Bobak, White Tulips, Because she was a member of the 1956. Lamb Bobak’s oil paintings and focused on combining formal aspects with her Canadian Women’s Army Corps, watercolours of flowers are some of preferred representational subject matter of Lamb’s war paintings and diaries are her most beloved works. crowds, florals, landscapes, and urban scenes. an important statement on women’s involvement in the Second World War. In 1960, the Bobaks settled in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Scenes of everyday life there— energetic crowds of people at the beach, fairs, sporting events, or just on the street—became the subject of some of Lamb Bobak’s most beloved and recognized paintings. She also provided illustrations for children’s books and wrote an illustrated memoir that combines text with watercolours of flowers. Lamb Bobak died in 2014, the last of Canada’s official war artists. Fig 6. Molly Lamb Bobak, The Great Kite Festival No. 2, n.d. Lamb Bobak’s favourite subject was crowd scenes. In particular she enjoyed capturing movement, such as kites or flags blowing in the wind, or people skating around a rink or cheering and waving at fairs and parades. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE 2 WOMEN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR through the art of MOLLY LAMB BOBAK NATIONAL & WORLD EVENTS MOLLY LAMB BOBAK’S LIFE 1920 Molly Lamb is born on Lulu Island, near Vancouver. Women are recognized as “persons” 1929 in the eyes of the law and are eligible to hold a seat in the Canadian Senate. Fig 10. Photograph by Lamb Bobak’s father, Harold Mortimer-Lamb, of Fig 7. Canada’s famous Lamb enrolls in classes at the the family home on West five win the “Persons 1938 Outbreak of the Second World War. Vancouver School of Art. 54th Avenue in Vancouver. Case,” declaring women as “people” in the eyes of the law. 1939 After years of lobbying, Lamb joins the CWAC and the Canadian Women’s Auxiliary travels to Vermilion, Alberta, for Corps (CWAC) is established. basic training. The same year, the Canadian 1941 Women’s Auxiliary Air Force is formed by the RCAF. 1942 Lamb is assigned to Ottawa and tasked with officially 1943 documenting CWAC activities. Military authorities officially integrate the CWAC into the Lamb ties for second prize in the Canadian Army, and it is renamed 1944 National Gallery’s Canadian Army Fig 11. Molly Lamb, Untitled the Canadian Women’s Army Art Show for her painting Meal (Vancouver), 1941. This Corps. With their new status, Parade, Hamilton Trades School. painting shows the influence women are able to adopt army rank of Lamb’s teacher at the structures and insignia. During the Lamb receives the designation Vancouver School of Art, 1945 Jack Shadbolt. war, more than 50,000 Canadian of official war artist and travels Fig 8. Members of the women serve in the armed forces. to Europe to document the newly formed Canadian aftermath of the war. Later that Women’s Army Corps, The Second World War ends. year, she marries fellow war artist August 1942. Women are encouraged to give up Bruno Bobak. their jobs to returning men and are expected to go back to a pre-war During visits to Europe with her status quo. family, Lamb Bobak learns new loose brushwork and handling In Ontario, the Female Employees 1950s of colour from the Cubists and Fair Remuneration Act protects modernists. Fig 12. Molly Lamb, Canteen, women’s rights to equal pay. Nijmegen, Holland, 1945. Lamb 1952 recorded daily life for CWACs as well as the aftermath of The family moves to Fredericton, the war. New Brunswick, where Lamb 1960 Bobak is inspired to paint lively crowd scenes, sporting events, and festivals. Canada opens all military positions to women with the exception of 1989 Fig 9. Women are still submarines (up until 2001). standing up and leading the charge when it comes to integrating gender Thousands of women are now perspectives into military serving in the Canadian Armed planning and operations.

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