Marysville

The inventory number on the back of the frame indicates that this painting was created in 1985 (85-0056).

The painting has been recently reframed with a Roma "Mezzina" moulding.  The framed dimensions are 35 x 45 in. 

In Marysville, Bobak positions herself atop a hill where trees and the lines of red-brick buildings are pushed toward the sides of the composition. The colour and perspective allows the viewer to consider the space; where the undulating roads of Marysville traverse the scenery of the tightly knit neighbourhood. A figure walking their dog bisects the composition, and we feel as if we too are about to begin the steep walk down. The movement is palpable. 

As we meander along the street, we are rewarded with the vibrant green leaves that compliment the bright blue sky as the sun shines and accentuates the historical buildings. The wind, highlighted in the movement of the tree canopies remind us of the fresh kiss of early summer mornings. 

Bobak is recognized for her portrayal of people during celebrations and in their daily lives, but it is also the environs that are important in chronicling the narrative of the place and bring the painting to life. 

On either side, the red brick houses were once residences for workers of the Marysville cotton mill owned by Boss Gibson, a Canadian industrialist. Marysville is a rare example of a 19th-century company town, where a rehabilitated cotton mill, former shops, and extensive housing remind us of important economic activities of the past. Located on the banks of the Nashwaak River on the outskirts of Fredericton, the survival and character of the red-brick houses tell the story of the origins of Canada’s industrial economy. 

Bobak’s choice to include a figure with their dog reminds us of the very human aspect of urban life. Built with individuals, families, and communities in mind, Bobak seamlessly joins the history and lived reality of Marysville in this painting.