BEFORE (photo: Robert Hansen)
AFTER (photo: Kevin Neish)
Anne Hansen was raised by birdwatching parents. She discovered painting in 1985, under the encouraging tutelage of Mendelson Joe. She plunged into creating big canvases of Toronto streetcars, the Island ferry, skating scenes, and political protest signs.
In the 1990s and beyond, her attention turned elsewhere, although she explored painting small watercolors. During this period, she was a prolific letter-to-the-editor writer, and fierce advocate of urban bicycle transportation.
For 25 years, Anne was an administrative assistant in Drama and other departments at the University of Toronto. She worked as a life model for art classes in Guelph, Ontario, shortly before moving to Victoria, BC. Then she discovered oystercatchers, ocean, and mountains.
recent sweater (front)
Anne takes pride in the whimsy and freedom that come with being a self-taught artist. When not painting or biking, she has knitting needles in hand. She makes colorful, mismatched sweaters and mitts.
recent sweater (back)
In her former life, Anne’s husband was the legendary Henry Kock – horticulturist, natural gardening advocate, Monty Python imitator, and for decades the public face of the Arboretum at the University of Guelph.
Henry Kock (1952-2005)
Henry died of brain cancer in 2005 – a fate he foretold in many a presentation recalling his early life exposure to pesticides on the family farm. His book Growing Trees from Seed: A Practical Guide to Growing Native Trees, Vines and Shrubs was lovingly brought to fruition by co-authors Paul Aird, John Ambrose, and Gerald Waldron (Firefly Books, 2008).
