Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Geerts, John |
Othernames |
John B. L. Geerts |
Born |
1924 |
Birthplace |
Belgium |
Places of residence |
Emigrated in 1957 to Canada Farm at Holland Township, Grey County, west of Berkeley Markdale, Grey County, Ontario |
Titles & honors |
1978: He won a Chi-Cheemaun Jury Show 1982: Won the Pen & Ink Division of the Huronia Festival of the Arts |
Nationality |
Belgian / Canadian |
Education |
Academy of the Arts in Antwerp |
Notes |
John Geerts is an artist who has had some of his work reproduced on postcard prints. He did an illustration of the Owen Sound Bandstand structure at Harrison Park, Owen Sound in 1984. His illustration of the Grey County Administration building at Owen Sound (1985) was also used to decorate some stoneware platters that were ordered by the County. A label on the back of "The Bandstand" print has "John Geerts / Pen & Ink Drawings / Markdale, Ont. N0C 1H0 / Ph: 519-986-2775 He also did an illustration of the Harrison Park Inn building, when it was a popular restaurant in the 1980s. Sadly, the structure burned in 198_, so it was good that Mr. Geerts recorded it. There are also historic photographic images of the structure. In 1977, he did an ink illustration of the front of the 1880s-built Meaford Fire Hall at Meaford, Ontario. There is a drawing or print of the "Railway Station London, Ontario" owned by a private collector. The book THE PATHS THAT LED TO HOLLAND: A HISTORY OF HOLLAND TOWNSHIP mentions that circa 1982 John and his wife Louisa lived west of Berkeley. He was born in Belgium. He was in his second year of studying the Arts when the Second World War began. He was sent to Germany. After the war, he travelled to Africa, Europe and Scandinavia, painting and selling artwork. After three years, he returned to Belgium and married Louisa. They emigrated to Canada in 1957, with their two small children. After arriving in Toronto, they decided to buy a sheep farm in Grey County. In the mid-1960s, John Geerts began to sketch again. In 1978 he copyrighted the John Geerts Original. He became a full-time artist in 1979. John B. L. Geerts died in 2004, and was buried at St. John's RC Cemetery at Markdale. |
Occupation |
Artist / Illustrator Pen & Ink Drawings Postcard prints |
Publications |
THE PATHS THAT LED TO HOLLAND: A HISTORY OF HOLLAND TOWNSHIP 1850-1982, p. 279 (biography of John Geerts) |
Role |
Artist |
Spouse |
Louisa Van Kerckhoven |
Children |
Daughter Son |
