source: Farm and Food Report
Tucked away in prairie bluffs, five miles south of St. Walburg in northwestern Saskatchewan, the Imhoff Studio stands as an extraordinary monument to Christian artistic tradition.
The studio draws pilgrims from everywhere, according Phyllis Imhoff.
"People can't believe we have something like this here. Some visitors enter the studio as if it is inhabited by a sacred presence -- with tears welling up in their eyes at times. They tell us they have been to the Louvre in Paris and the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and the vividness of the works on display, the colours which emerge from the canvas, are unparalleled in Imhoff's art."
Count Berthold John Von Imhoff was born January 14, 1868 in Mannheim, Germany. He was a well-known religious artist, decorator, and frescoer throughout the United States and Western Canadian provinces.
At the time of his death in 1939, he had completed the interior decor of over 100 churches of all denominations. Because of his work, Pope Pius XI made him a knight of St. Gregory the Great in 1937.
Today, his studio, located on a small farm, contains over 200 paintings that were once destined for cathedrals and churches across North America.
Phyllis introduces her husband Bert Imhoff, Count Berthold's grandson, a charming man.
"I grew up in this 10-room house built in 1914," says Bert. "My mother looked after the studio -- or the gallery, as we call it now -- for as long as I can remember. We didn't travel much. It was a bit of a burden. I didn't inherit my grandfather's talent -- though I painted a fence once," quips Bert, "it was all of one colour. That's the extent of my artistic abilities."
The Imhoff studio was built in two sections. The lower-rise part with dormer windows dates back to 1920; and the higher-rise section was added in 1925 to accommodate larger paintings, measuring as much as 13 by 18 feet. Both sections have a gabled roof. The studio is basically in the shape of a T, with 2,000 square feet of working space. The architecture is of European inspiration.
"My grandfather only painted with natural light and only with light from the north -- the true light, as this does away with shadows. He painted the exterior stucco of the building splendidly and spent most of his days inside the studio, painting life-sized figures of the Christ and Mary; of European and American history; royalty; military leaders like Napoleon; and his ancestors, as well as his wife and father."
Like many other Europeans, Count Imhoff was drawn to the area because of the frontier's appeal. He had heard of the area's reputation among hunters. The solace and inspiration he would draw from such a perfect location could only help him pursue his artistic and spiritual mission.
"We know that what we have here is a treasure," admits Bert Imhoff. "My mother knew it, as well. We had to close the gallery in 1983 because of the commitment it imposed on us. We moved 253 paintings to the Barr Colony Heritage Cultural Centre in Lloydminster, where they can adequately look after them. Nobody knew we had paintings left in the gallery."
Due to the persuasive encouragement of a few community members, who plainly expressed how the gallery's closure had affected local tourism, the Imhoff family reopened the facility to the public in 1993 after unrolling some 100 canvasses that had never been shown before. Another 150 await a similar fate in safely stored boxes.
"We now open the studio on the May long weekend, and we have students conducting tours of the facility and collection. My grandfather had always kept the studio open to the public. I am sure he would have liked us to carry on the tradition."
Bert Imhoff is always amazed to see how far his grandfather's reputation extends.
"No matter where you go, when I travel, people ask me: are you related to the artist? Recently, this happened to us on a trip to Hawaii."
Phyllis Imhoff assumes her interpretative responsibilities with the kind of rare dedication that is inspired by an honest desire to share a very special resource.
"This art, this studio, and the passion that has animated it over the years belong to everyone. It is a gift endowed with meaning that we discover collectively through the eyes of each new visitor. I, myself, learn about art every day because of this."
It seems pilgrimages are as popular as ever and take a variety of forms. The most inspiring could well be those undertaken by families that seek revelations through Imhoff's art, and sustenance in his beautiful yard, as they partake in picnicking activities during the summer.
Mixing the quest for leisure and enlightenment can bring immeasurable pleasures.
For more information, contact:
Phyllis and Bert Imhoff
Imhoff Studio
(306) 248-3812
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