Regina Beach, 1915, represents the newly developed resort town of Regina Beach, 30 kilometres north of Regina. This work, like his commercial work for The Trail magazine, was initially rendered in gouache that could then be easily translated into commercial prints or posters through the offset process. Its flat forms, clear bright colours, and highly detailed rendering suggest that it may have been intended for a promotional poster for the development of Regina Beach, which could be easily reached by rail from Regina. The bustling sunny scene is characteristic of the boosterism mentality of the period and reflects Henderson’s commercial training and the interests he served. Although further comparative research from photographic documents of the same scene is necessary, it is not out of the question that this work is less a documentary of an existing place than a promotional fantasy. The subtext of this work is less cheerful than the scene itself. The reality was that a railway spur was run from Regina to Regina Beach to provide for the expanding demand for leisure time and space for the growing population of Regina. In the process, Reserve land was appropriated, further displacing the people who had once lived here for centuries and effectively cutting them off from the resort area.
-Dan Ring
Regina Beach, 1915
Gouache on paper
71.1 x 95.3 cm
Collection of Dr. Lloyd Barber and Muriel Barber, Regina Beach, SK.
The Camera Products, Vancouver, BC
Regina Beach, Regina, Saskatchewan, c. 1915
Postcard
9.0 x 14.0 cm
Courtesy of James Lanigan, Calgary, AB.
Wonderful!