Olea Marion Davis was a Canadian artist and craftsperson who worked in architecture and decorative art as well as sculpture and pottery. Her sculptural and ceramic work was exhibited in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, as well as at the Brussel's World Fair in 1958 and the Ostende International Show in 1959. Her architectural commissions include friezes, ornamental grills and screens, and lighting fixtures for locations such as the HotelVancouver and Pier B.C. in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her work is included in the permanent collection of the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
In the spring of 1939, Davis was one of several artists approached to execute decorative work for the Hotel Vancouver. Davis was recommended by the Vancouver Art Gallery to the Ornamental Bronze Co., which showed sample models of Davis' work to the hotel architect. Davis received a commission to create ornamental grills for the hotel. She produced clay and plaster models which were then sent to a foundry so that the metalwork could be cast in large quantities. The ornamental grills and light fixtures were installed around the tops of the walls in several large public rooms and halls in the building. The decoration of the Hotel Vancouver was rushed to ensure that all work was completed by May 1939, in time for the Royal Visit, when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stopped in Vancouver on the westbound portion of the 1939 Royal Tour. Other artists commissioned for this project include:
Charles Marega, Sculptor, Instructor in Sculpture at the Vancouver School of Art.
Beatrice Lennie, Painter and sculptor, Graduate of the Vancouver School of Art. Lennie produced a bas-relief sculpture titled Ascension.
Valentine Shabief, Russian sculptor.
Lilias Farley, painter and sculptor. Farley painted two murals with accompanying bronze details.
In her work for Pier B.C., Davis created rosettes which were added to the building as decorative detail for supporting chains to the marquee.
Potter's Guild of B.C.
An educator and strong advocate for the standardization and development of ceramic arts in British Columbia, Davis was the founder and first president of the BC Potter's Guild in 1955. Through her work with the Guild, she started summer schools, brought notable potters from around North America to teach workshops, and encouraged fellow artists to submit their work to juried international shows. She continued to work with the Guild until her death in 1977. Davis' efforts and contributions were subsequently recognized with the Olea Davis Memorial Award, which were launched in 1978.
Teaching
For many years, Davis taught at the University of British Columbia, Department of Extension, Fine Arts Division. From the early 1950s until 1969, Davis was responsible for running the UBC Pottery Hut and taught pottery courses, which included classes taught by renowned international ceramicists.
