Timeline
1921
Pearl Rae Hendershot is born May 1st in Hamilton, Ontario. Her parents are Pearl Tennyson and Gordon W. Hendershot.
Mid 1930s
Begins studies with Ida Hamilton at the Technical School at Westdale Secondary School, Hamilton, Ontario.
1939
November
Graduates with four-year diploma from the Technical School at Westdale.
1940
September
Attends Ontario College of Art for a short period.
November
Joins Hamilton Women's Art Association.
1941
Exhibits two artworks in The Hamilton Women’s Art Association 44th Exhibition.
1942
Exhibits a work entitled Music, a design at The Hamilton Women’s Art Association 45th Exhibition.
July
Goes on a painting excursion with Ida Hamilton to Sand Lake, Ontario. Paints Homestead.
Autumn
Begins work in Draughting Office of Hamilton Bridge Company.
1943
April
Exhibits five works, including Homestead at The Hamilton Women’s Art Association 46th Exhibition.
1944
June
Resigns as tracer from Hamilton Bridge Company.
September
Returns to Ontario College of Art; is admitted to third year of the Drawing and Painting program. Studies with Rowley Murphy, John M. Alfsen, Manly MacDonald and Archibald Barnes.
1946
May
Graduates from Ontario College of Art.
Returns to Hamilton and has a studio on King Street.
Attends evening life drawing classes given by John Sloan at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
1947
April-May
Exhibits The Orphanage and still life in The Hamilton Women’s Art Association 50th Exhibition.
1948
March
Founding member of the Contemporary Artists of Hamilton; acts as first secretary-treasurer.
1949
March
Exhibits two works in 17th Annual Exhibition, The Art Club of Hamilton.
Exhibits The Three Graces and two other works in the 1st Exhibition of The Contemporary Artists of Hamilton.
1950
May
Exhibits The Orphanage in 10th Annual Western Ontario Exhibition, London, Ontario. Wins prize for best figure subject.
October
Marries Montreal painter and first Director of Art Gallery of Hamilton Thomas Reid MacDonald. Will Ogilvie is best man.
Honeymoon in New York City and Boston.
Exhibits, 2nd Exhibition of The Contemporary Artists of Hamilton.
1951
May
Exhibits, 11th Annual Western Ontario Exhibition.
August
Painting excursion with T.R. MacDonald to Otter Lake in Laurentians.
1952
May
Exhibits, 12th Annual Western Ontario Exhibition.
1953
August
Daughter Katherine is born. Brings sketchbook to hospital and draws View from Hospital Window August 23, 1953.
1954
February-March
Exhibits The Waitress at 82nd Annual Exhibition of The Ontario Society of Artists, Art Gallery of Toronto.
1955
January
Exhibits Still Life with Lemons at 83rd Annual Exhibition of The Ontario Society of Artists, Art Gallery of Toronto.
1955-56
Teaches evening art class at Westdale Secondary School.
1957
September
Exhibits, Women’s Committee 2nd Fine Art Sale, AGH.
1959
July
Participates in group exhibition at Westdale Gallery, Hamilton.
Submits designs for mural project for Binkley United Church. Sculptor William McElcheran had recommended her for the project. Project does not go forward.
September
Exhibits in Women’s Committee 3rd Fine Art Sale, AGH.
1961
September
Exhibits, Women’s Committee 4th Fine Art Sale, AGH.
November
Solo exhibition, Paintings and Drawings by Rae Hendershot, Westdale Gallery, Hamilton.
Mid-1960s
Completes series of private portrait commissions connected to members of the AGH Women’s Committee.
1966
February
Exhibits Other Times, 17th Annual Winter Exhibition, AGH.
1967
Early sketch on the theme of Demeter and Persephone, The Abduction.
October-November
Exhibits The Waitress, Centennial Exhibition.
1968
Completes portrait of Dr. Freda Ferrell Waldon for the Hamilton Public Library; the portrait is Hendershot’s only public commission.
1969
Begins work on Demeter and Persephone.
1973
October
Hendershot and T.R. MacDonald are featured artists in annual Art for All, Art Gallery of Windsor.
1974
T.R. MacDonald retires from AGH.
October
Solo exhibition, Rae Hendershot Exhibition, AGH; thirty recent works, including three major paintings in Demeter and Persephone series.
Late Autumn
Diagnosed with cancer.
1975
January
Undergoes treatment for cancer.
February
Represented, In Recognition of International Women’s Year, Damkjar-Burton Gallery, Hamilton.
April
Daughter marries.
October
Granddaughter born.
Late Autumn
Begins work on Woman with Sketchbook.
1978
April
Solo exhibition, Rae Hendershot: New Paintings and Drawings, Damkjar-Burton Gallery, Toronto.
October
T.R. MacDonald dies in Paris, France while the couple are on holiday.
November
Exhbits, Art For All, Art Gallery of Windsor.
1979
January
Begins The Artist in her Studio.
November
Exhibits, Art For All, Art Gallery of Windsor.
1979-1980
Supports work on posthumous T.R. MacDonald exhibition shown at AGH, AGW and Rodman Hall Arts Centre, St. Catherines.
1980
November
Exhibits, Art For All, Art Gallery of Windsor.
1981
November
Exhibits, Art For All, Art Gallery of Windsor.
Mid-1980s
Completes Family Group, last large-scale painting.
Health in decline.
1988
January
Does last artwork Sketch of Patient and Visitor in Hospital while a patient at the Henderson hospital, Hamilton.
June
Hendershot dies in her home on June 21, age 67.
1990
September-December
Retrospective Rae Hendershot 1921-1988, AGH, curated by Ross Fox.