{{Short description|Canadian artist (1923–2008)}} {{Infobox artist | name = Betty Goodwin | image = Photo of Betty Goodwin.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Betty Roodish | birth_date = {{birth date|1923|03|19}} | birth_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada | death_date = {{death date and age|2008|12|01|1923|03|19}} | death_place = Montreal, Quebec | nationality = | spouse = {{marriage|Martin Goodwin|1945|2008|end={{d.|d.|d.}}}} | field = | training = | movement = | works = | patrons = | influenced by = | influenced = | awards = | elected = | website = | children = 1 }} '''Betty Roodish Goodwin''', {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|RCA|size=100%}} (March 19, 1923 – December 1, 2008) was a multidisciplinary Canadian artist who expressed the complexity of human experience through her work.

== Early life == Goodwin was born in Montreal, as the child of Romanian immigrants Clare Edith and Abraham Roodish.<ref name=Pelham09 >{{cite web|last=Pelham|first=Zachary|title=Mundane Secrets|url=http://www.artseditor.com/html/features/0209_goodwin.shtml|work=artseditor.com|publisher=ArtsEditor|accessdate=23 February 2014}}</ref> She enjoyed painting and drawing as a child, and was encouraged by her mother to pursue art. Goodwin's parents first settled in the United States, but when her father Abraham, who was a tailor, struggled to find work. They moved to Montreal, where Abraham established Rochester Vest Manufacturing Company Ltd. in 1928. Still, they struggled financially. When Goodwin was nine years old, her father suffered a heart attack and died. This traumatic experience impacted Goodwin throughout her life, and went on to influence her art.<ref name=":1 " >{{Cite book |last=Bradley |first=Jessica |url=https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/betty-goodwin/biography/ |title=Betty Goodwin: Life & Work |publisher=Art Canada Institute |year=2024 |isbn=9781487103439 |location=Toronto}}</ref> After graduating from high school, Goodwin studied design at Valentine's Commercial School of Art in Montreal.<ref name=Pelham09 />

==Career== In her work, Goodwin used a variety of media, including collage, sculpture, printmaking, painting and drawing, assemblage and etchings. Her art often involved themes of humanity, loss, and emotion.<ref name="Johnson, Brian D 1998 " /> Many of her ideas came from clusters of photographs, objects, or drawings on the walls in her studio. She also used the "germ" of ideas that are left after being erased from a work.<ref name="Johnson, Brian D 1998 " /> Goodwin launched her career as a painter and printmaker in the late 1940s. During the 1950s and 1960s, Goodwin created still life paintings. She also depicted scenes of Montreal's Jewish Community.<ref name=Pelham09 />

In 1968, she enrolled in an etching class with Yves Gaucher at Sir George Williams University in Montreal.<ref name="Johnson, Brian D 1998 " /> It was there where she began working with found objects and clothing and how they held traces of life, in her prints, which brought her international attention.<ref name="Barbara Edwards Contemporary 2017 " >"Betty Goodwin at Barbara Edwards Contemporary." ''Betty Goodwin at Barbara Edwards Contemporary''. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2017.</ref> Goodwin revolutionized the medium of printmaking when, in 1968, she began putting pieces of clothing through a printing press. From this experiment, she developed innovative prints, including her iconic ''Vest'' series.<ref name=":1 " />

Dissatisfied with her work, Betty destroyed most of it and in 1968 she limited herself to drawing.<ref name="Johnson, Brian D 1998 " >Johnson, Brian D. "Body Language." ''Maclean's'' Vol. 111, no. 48 (Nov. 30, 1998): 88-89.</ref> From 1972 to 1974, she created a series of wall hangings entitled ''Tarpaulin,'' which she reworked to shape into sculptures and collages.

Over a period of six years beginning in 1982, Goodwin explored the human form in her drawing series ''Swimmers,'' a project which used graphite, oil pastels and charcoal on translucent Mylar. The large-scale drawings depict solitary floating or sinking bodies, suspended in space. In 1986, to show the interaction of human figures she created her series ''Carbon'' using charcoal and wax for her drawings.<ref name=ngc >{{cite web|title=Betty Goodwin|url=http://www.gallery.ca/en/see/collections/artist.php?iartistid=2098|website=www.gallery.ca|publisher=National Gallery of Canada|accessdate=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100738/http://www.gallery.ca/en/see/collections/artist.php?iartistid=2098|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Two more series followed: ''La mémoire du corps'' (1990–1995) and ''Nerves'' (1993–1995).<ref name=ngc />

She died in December 2008 in Montreal.

==Personal== In 1945, Betty Goodwin married Martin Goodwin, a civil engineer (d. 2008). They had their son Paul in 1946.<ref name=":1 " /> Goodwin experienced immense loss when her son Paul died of a drug overdose at age 30.<ref name="Johnson, Brian D 1998 " />

==Selected exhibitions== '''Solo exhibitions'''<ref name=Artnet >{{cite web|title=Betty Roodish Goodwin Biography|url=http://www.artnet.com/artists/betty-roodish-goodwin/biography|website=Artnet.com|accessdate=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402165746/http://www.artnet.com/artists/betty-roodish-goodwin/biography|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> *1976 - ''Betty Goodwin 1969-76'', Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Quebec *1996 - ''Betty Goodwin: Signs of Life'', National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa *1998 - ''The Art of Betty Goodwin'', Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto *2002 - ''The Prints of Betty Goodwin'', National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa

'''Group exhibitions'''<ref name=Artnet /> *1955 - Print Exhibition, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Quebec *1967 - Burnaby Print Show, Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, BC *1974 - Spanish International Biennial Exhibition of Fine Prints, Segovia, Spain *1986 - ''Installations-Fictions'', Galerie Graff, Montreal, Quebec *1991 - ''Betty Goodwin'', Espacc la Tranchefile, Montreal *1993 - Fawbush Gallery; New York, New York; Les Femmeuses 92, Pratt et Whitney Canada, Montreal, Quebec *1994 - ''La Ferme Du Buisson'', Centre d'art contemporian, Noisiel, France *1996 - Stephen Friedman Gallery, London *1999 - ''Cosmos'', Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Quebec *2000 - ''Odd Bodies'', Oakville Galleries, Oakville, Ontario; ''Betty Goodwin'', Jack Shainman Gallery, New York, New York

==Notable artworks== * 1979: ''Rue Mentana'' * 1985: ''Moving Towards Fire'' * 1988–1989: ''Steel Note''

==Selected collections== Her work is represented in many public collections, including the Art Gallery of Ontario,<ref>{{cite web |title=Collection |url=https://ago.ca/collection/browse?keys=betty%20goodwin&collection%5B1710%5D=1710 |website=ago.ca |publisher=Art Gallery of Ontario |access-date=2021-06-21}}</ref> the National Gallery of Canada,<ref name=artefactsCanada >{{cite web|title=Artefacts Canada|url=http://www.rcip-chin.gc.ca/bd-dl/artefacts-eng.jsp?emu=en.artefacts:/ws/human/user/www/SearchForm&currLang=English|publisher=Canadian Heritage Information Network|accessdate=11 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402150718/http://www.rcip-chin.gc.ca/bd-dl/artefacts-eng.jsp?emu=en.artefacts%3A%2Fws%2Fhuman%2Fuser%2Fwww%2FSearchForm&currLang=English|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal,<ref name=artefactsCanada /> the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts,<ref name=artefactsCanada /> the city of Burnaby art collection,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cane|first1=Jennifer|last2=van Eijnsbergen|first2=Ellen|title=The Ornament of a House: 50 Years of Collecting|date=2017|publisher=Burnaby Art Gallery|location=Burnaby|isbn=9781927364239|pages=64–65}}</ref> and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian Art, Winnipeg Art Gallery|url=http://wag.ca/art/collections/canadian-art/display,contemporary/52468|accessdate=11 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091132/http://wag.ca/art/collections/canadian-art/display,contemporary/52468|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Honours== * Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award of the Canada Council for the Arts (1981)<ref>{{cite web |title=Prizes |url= https://canadacouncil.ca/funding/prizes/victor-martyn-lynch-staunton-awards|publisher=Canada Council |access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref> * Banff Centre National Award for Visual Arts (1984)<ref name="can encyclo " >{{cite web |title=Betty Goodwin |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/betty-roodish-goodwin |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |publisher=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=2021-06-21}}</ref> * Prix Paul-Émile Borduas (1986)<ref name="obit " >{{cite web |title=Multidisciplinary artist Betty Goodwin dies at 85 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/multidisciplinary-artist-betty-goodwin-dies-at-85-1.774153 |website=www.cbc.ca |publisher=CBC |access-date=2021-06-21}}</ref> * Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship (1988)<ref name="obit " /> * Gershon Iskowitz Prize (1995)<ref name="obit " /> * Harold Town Prize in drawing (1998)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/women/002026-511-e.html |title=Betty Goodwin - Women Artists in Canada - Celebrating Women's Achievements |accessdate=2008-12-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003095633/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/women/002026-511-e.html |archivedate=2008-10-03 }}</ref> * Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts (2003)<ref name="obit " /> * Order of Canada (2003)<ref name="obit " /> * Royal Canadian Academy of Arts<ref name=RCA1880 >{{cite web|title=Members since 1880 |url=http://www.rca-arc.ca/en/about_members/since1880.asp |publisher=Royal Canadian Academy of Arts |accessdate=11 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526215339/http://www.rca-arc.ca/en/about_members/since1880.asp |archivedate=26 May 2011 }}</ref> * honorary doctorates from universities across Canada<ref name="obit " />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== * Bogardi, Georges. "The Studio: In her reconfigurations of ideas and found materials, Betty Goodwin transforms life into art." ''Canadian Art'' Vol. 11, no. 3 (Fall 1994): 86–93. * Bradley, Jessica. ''Betty Goodwin: Life & Work.'' Toronto: Art Canada Institute, 2024. {{ISBN|9781487103439}} * Bradley, Jessica and Matthew Teitelbaum, eds. ''The Art of Betty Goodwin''. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1998. {{ISBN|1-55054-650-3}} * Driedger, Sharon Doyle. "Bodies and Blood: Betty Goodwin depicts profound inner landscapes". ''Maclean's'' Vol. 108, no. 49 (Dec. 4, 1995): 74. * Enright, Robert. "A Bloodstream of Images: an interview with Betty Goodwin." ''Border Crossings'' Vol. 14, no. 4 (Fall 1995): 42–53. * Goodwin, Betty. ''Betty Goodwin: Passages''. Montreal: Concordia Art Gallery, 1986. {{ISBN|2-920394-12-6}} * Kirshner, Sheldon. "Betty Goodwin: Canada's Grande Dame of Art." ''The Canadian Jewish News'' Vol. 29, no. 2 (Jan. 14, 1999): 11. * Morin, France and Sanford Kwinter. ''Steel Notes, Betty Goodwin''. Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 1989. {{ISBN|0-88884-602-9}} * Betty Goodwin. Musee d'art Contemporain, Montreal, 1976. 32 pp.&nbsp;28 x 22&nbsp;cm. In French. Artist(s):Goodwin, Betty<ref name=":0 " >"Worldwide Books: Artist Results for Goodwin, Betty." ''Worldwide Books: Artist Results for Goodwin, Betty''. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2017.</ref> * Betty Goodwin: Oeuvres De 1971 A 1987/Works from 1971 TO 1987. Yolande Racine. Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, 1987. Organized and published by Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. 252 pp. (2 foldout) with 129 ills. (56 col.). 27 x 23&nbsp;cm. {{ISBN|2891920821}} Bilingual in French and English.<ref name=":0 " /> * Betty Goodwin: Parcours De L'oeuvre A Tracers La Collection Du Musee D'art Contemporain De Montreal (Betty Goodwin: Survey of the Oeuvre through the Collection of the Musee d'art contemporain, Montreal). Josee Belisle. Musee d'art contemporain, Montreal, 2009. 116 pp. with 54 col. ills. 25 x 20&nbsp;cm. {{ISBN|9782551237838}} Bilingual in French and English (biographical notes and brief entries in French only).<ref name=":0 " /> * Betty Goodwin: Steel Notes. France Morin et al. Canadian Section, 20a. Bienal Internacional de São Paulo, 1989. Organized and published by National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Distributed by University of Toronto Press. 152 pp. with 55 ills. (29 col.). 25 x 20&nbsp;cm. {{ISBN|0888846029}} Trilingual in Portuguese, English and French.<ref name=":0 " /> * The Prints of Betty Goodwin. Rosemarie L. Tovell et al. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, 2002. Published in association with Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver. 248 pp. with 251 ills. (36 col.). 28 x 23&nbsp;cm. LC 2002-483164 {{ISBN|1550549251}} In English.<ref name=":0 " /> * {{Cite book | publisher = Mackenzie Art Gallery | isbn = 1896470017 <!--9781896470016--> | last = Goodwin | first = Betty | author2 = Cindy Richmond, Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, Winnipeg Art Gallery | title = Betty Goodwin: icons | location = Regina | date = 1996 }} * {{Cite book | publisher = Art Gallery | isbn = 0889500657 <!--9780889500655--> | last = Scott | first = Kitty | author2 = Edmonton Art Gallery | title = Betty Goodwin | location = Edmonton | date = 1990 }} *{{Cite book | publisher = 49th Parallel, Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art? | last = Goodwin | first = Betty | author2 = New York Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art | title = Betty Goodwin. | location = New York? | date = 1988 }}

==External links== * [https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/betty-goodwin/ Betty Goodwin: Life & Work by Jessica Bradley, 2024. Art Canada Institute.] * [http://www.ago.net/special-collections-alphabetical Betty Goodwin archival papers (SC 124)] held at the Art Gallery of Ontario research library and archives * [http://www.artseditor.com/html/features/0209_goodwin.shtml ''Mundane Secrets: reflecting on the artist Betty Goodwin''] 2009 ArtsEditor.com article * [http://www.dailyundertaker.com/2008/12/betty-goodwin-artist-of-mourning.html Betty Goodwin, Artist of Mourning] * [http://www.artnet.com/artist/7196/betty-goodwin.html images of Goodwin's art] on Artnet * [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/betty-roodish-goodwin/ Betty Roodish Goodwin] at The Canadian Encyclopedia

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Goodwin, Betty}} Category:1923 births Category:2008 deaths Category:20th-century Canadian painters Category:21st-century Canadian painters Category:20th-century Canadian sculptors Category:21st-century Canadian sculptors Category:Anglophone Quebec people Category:Artists from Montreal Category:Canadian installation artists Category:Canadian people of Romanian descent Category:20th-century Canadian printmakers Category:Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts winners Category:Officers of the Order of Canada Category:Sir George Williams University alumni Category:Members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts Category:Sculptors from Quebec Category:Canadian women printmakers Category:20th-century Canadian women painters Category:21st-century Canadian women painters Category:20th-century Canadian women sculptors Category:21st-century Canadian women sculptors Category:20th-century Canadian artists