Art piece honours Vimy Ridge battle

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

Local artist Larry Guterson has created a piece of artwork that encases Canadian pride, Canadian history and what it means to be Canadian.
The digital mixed media piece titled “And in the Morning” showcases the battle of Vimy Ridge, which is celebrating its 100-year anniversary on April 9.
The piece was completed in 2014 after Guterson spent 400 hours researching the battle and four straight weeks creating the piece. However, due to some unexpected setbacks, it wasn’t until just over a week ago that the artwork was up for public viewing.
“In 2014, I started research on the great Canadian battle at Vimy Ridge,” said Guterson. “My grandfather fought and was wounded at Vimy, and as the 100th anniversary was approaching, I wanted to honour my grandfather and my family’s Canadian military history.”
Until April 7, the artwork will be available for viewing in Hob’s Hobbies. After that, the four foot by five foot 22mm satin silk print will be shipped to Edmonton to be auctioned off at the Edmonton Garrison Military Family Resource Centre’s (MFRC) Eve of Victory 100-year Vimy Ridge anniversary dinner and auction. The money raised from the silk print will go towards helping soldiers and families recover from the trauma of war.
“It was also the focus piece printed onto all the invitations, tickets and posters (for the event). All the money raised will go towards the Edmonton Garrison MFRC,” said Guterson, who added he also has 30 extra 16-inch by 20-inch prints to be auctioned off at the event to raise even more money for military families.
The image boasts a large amount of symbolism from the poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.
In the artwork, there are fields of poppies as well as rows of poppies which represent the line in the poem: “… poppies blow between the crosses, row on row …”
Larks fly above the soldiers to represent: “… the larks, still bravely singing, fly scarce heard amid the guns below.”
The sky in the background was created as both a sunrise and a sunset: “… we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow …”
The soldiers fighting on either side of the piece are transparent to show that they are ghosts: “We are the dead. Short days ago, we lived …”
There is a torch in between the Vimy Memorial, in front of the parliament building, that completes the maple leaf: “… the torch; be yours to hold it high.”
There is also a large amount of symbolism about what the battle meant for Canada hidden in the artwork. The date 1917 is printed on one side of the memorial as the Canadian attack was set to begin at 5:30 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917. The Canadian parliament building is in the background of the picture and on the top of it is the Canadian flag, which wasn’t yet created when the war took place. The soldiers walking in the centre of the painting are the modern Canadian military holding the military traditions. And lastly, the focal point is the split Canadian leaf on the memorial, symbolizing how Canada was split in their values and beliefs before the battle as Quebec and some other parts of Canada didn’t want to fight.
Although there are many complex elements to the artwork, Guterson, ever humble, admits that he is insecure about his artwork and that after visiting the military museum and seeing all the great oil paintings of the war, he was embarrassed that he created one digital image and is being so highly praised and recognized for it. He does admit he is still proud of how historically accurate the piece is and that he did it to honour his family.
“You can’t honour your grandfather and not do the best job you can,” said Guterson. “I wouldn’t show this piece if it was not correct.”
The artwork will be painted onto a cake for the Strathmore Legion’s 100-year Vimy Ridge anniversary celebration on April 9.
The Canadian Mint is in discussion with Guterson about the possibility of the image appearing on a coin in the future.
The piece may be shown at the Telus Convention Centre on Oct. 20 for the Vimy Ridge, Battle of Hill 70, and Passchendaele honouring, and the Ottawa war museum is also interested in displaying the artwork.
But Guterson’s main hope for the artwork is a tall order.
“My goal is to get the piece hung in Vimy, France at Canada’s newest building near the site of the Battle of Vimy Ridge monument,” said Guterson, who is in contact with the Vimy Foundation to try to accomplish his goal.
Guterson is proud to have created an image to honour his family and their military background and to raise money for people in the military.
“It’s one of the most complex pieces I’ve ever undertaken, but I’ve done the best job possible,” said Guterson. “I am proud of how it represents Canada because it is a Canadian battle, it is Canadian history and it’s the pride of being a Canadian.”