*It’s Hard to Keep Such a Bunch in Dresses — Wyman, Marlena
12" × 24" (H × W)
Image transfer, oil and mixed media on Mylar and birch panel
$1,400.00
Inspired by Gertie Chase letters 1921 – 1922. Gertie came to Halcourt / Watapi River AB area, from Tonasket, Washington in the 1920s. (Provincial Archives of Alberta #PR1973.0569)
Gertie Chase letter to her sister in Tonasket, Washington:
Jan. 3, 1921: the brown dress fits Florence and the green one Alice quite well. The other is quite large for Cara. She wears clothes the same size as Florence. I can shorten it up some. The black one is quite long for Ruth too. It will be alright when I shorten it a little. They’re all plenty big which is a good thing…Thank you again for the things for the children, they’ll come in very handy. It’s hard to keep such a bunch of dresses.
Gertie Chase’s letter to her mother in Tonasket, Washington:
October 28, 1922: Hard job to keep enough clothes made and washed. Don’t suppose you have any old things that would make clothes that you could send? Even old underwear..I make everything I can out of flour sacks but they need something warm in the winter.
Photograph: Found photo, unidentified
