Interview with Paulie Threlkeld
https://search.bvmuseum.org/link/descriptions12424
- Date Range
- November 26, 2021
- Collection
- BVM Oral History collection
- Description Level
- File
- GMD
- sound recording
- electronic record
- Scope and Content
- Interview with Paulie Threlkeld, a Smithers-based fine artist, recorded by Sonja Lester for the Bulkley Valley Museum on November 26th 2021 as part of the New Horizons for Seniors oral history project. Includes raw and edited .WAV files, .MP3 access files, and a .pdf release form.
- Collection
- BVM Oral History collection
- Description Level
- File
- Creator
- Sonja Lester
- Fonds No.
- C5
- Item No.
- 2021.21.83
- Accession No.
- 2021.21
- Physical Description
- 2.34 GB digital records
- Date Range
- November 26, 2021
- Scope and Content
- Interview with Paulie Threlkeld, a Smithers-based fine artist, recorded by Sonja Lester for the Bulkley Valley Museum on November 26th 2021 as part of the New Horizons for Seniors oral history project. Includes raw and edited .WAV files, .MP3 access files, and a .pdf release form.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Audio Tracks
Interview with Paulie Threlkeld - November 26, 2021
Interview with Paulie Threlkeld - November 26, 2021
https://search.bvmuseum.org/media/Digital%20Fonds%20and%20Collections/C5%20BVM%20Oral%20History%20collection/2021.21.83_Threlkeld,%20Paulie/Threlkeld,%20Paulie%202021_11_26.ACCESS.mp3
Paulie Threlkeld discusses moving from Oregon to Canada in the early 1970s, eventually making her way to Smithers, and finding a job in town. She also mentions how Smithers has changed since she first moved here.
box stores; Burnt Cabin Road; chain stores; dentist; Dr. Colin Milne; housing; Oregon; Paul Glover; receptionist; Rev Scales; Sherry Saxon; Smithers Plaza; Steve and Glenda Davis; Tim Toman; Toby Walsh; town expansion; travelling; Vietnam War; Walt Taylor
coming to Canada; finding a job; moving; Smithers
Threlkeld discusses different art mediums she has learned over the years: stained glass, glass bead-making, and oil painting. (Note: spelling of some names in this section is uncertain (could not be found in Interior News).
art lessons; beading; beadwork; blown glass; colour theory; Dave Neering; farmer's market; glass beads; Leslie Cerney; Mike Yeker; Northwest Community College; oil painting; painting lessons; teaching
art; artists; artwork; bead-making; painting; stained glass
Thelkeld discusses exhibiting and selling her art at various local art shows.
art courses; Art Gallery; dance studio; Dave Neering; Dorothy Giesbrecht; Java's; Leslie Cerney; Linda Stringfellow; Norm Read; Ranger Station; stained glass
art shows
Threlkeld continues the discussion of how and why she became interested in oil painting. She then discusses two public artworks she has painted: the dragon on Norma's Ark Playday Centre in Telkwa (23:31), and the murals in the children's wing of the Bulkley Valley District Hospital (25:07)
Bulkley Valley District Hospital; children's ward murals; Dave Neering; Jean Poyce (?); Linda Hanson; Norma Stokes; Norma's Ark; practice; prices; Rev Scales; Ruth Mould; Sally Moore; Telkwa; Telkwa Catholic Church
art; art projects; murals; oil painting; painting
Brief interlude in which Threlkeld discusses her sons, Merlin and Robin, and their careers.
occupations; podcasts
children; family; Merlin Lavigne; Robin Lavigne
Threlkeld discusses more of her artistic endeavors, including painting a mural in a dentist's office, learning calligraphy, spinning wool, and knitting.
art show; calligraphy; Colin Milne; dentist's office; knitting; Mary Bryant; mural; painting; spinning wool; wool; wool-spinning
art; art projects; artwork; hobbies
Threlkeld talks about arranging tours of houses, gardens, and art studios, as well as volunteering with the Folk Music Society.
Bulkley Valley Folk Music Society; Camp Caledonia; emceeing; fundraising; Sherry Neilsen; volunteering
art tours; garden tours; house tours; open studio tours
Threlkeld and Sonja Lester (interviewer) discuss how they became involved with the Museum's New Horizons for Seniors Oral History Project, and what they enjoy about conducting interviews.
interviews; Lorraine Doiron; Paulie Threlkeld; Sonja Lester; volunteering
Bulkley Valley Museum; Oral History project
Threlkeld discusses formative events of her childhood, youth, and early adulthood: losing her father when she was 10, growing up in Portland, Oregon; visiting and later moving to Canada, and learning to speak French.
crossing the border; gender norms; Hippie movement; learning French; Portland, Oregon; school; trip to Canada
childhood; death of father; family; growing up; immigration; moving away
Threlkeld relates how she met her former partner, Marcel Lavigne, on a trip to Quebec, and started a family with him.
childbirth; death of sister; Dr. Ted Potsepp; French; Jollymore Road; log cabin; Merlin Lavigne; Portland, Oregon; pregnancy; Quebec; Robbie Lavigne
children; family; Marcel Lavigne; relationships
Threlkeld discusses teaching art classes, including calligraphy, drawing, and stained glass.
calligraphy; digital art; life drawing; Michelle Gazely; quotes; Robin Lavigne; seniors teaching seniors; stained glass
art classes; teaching art
Threlkeld tells the story of how she got to know her half-brother, Roy Baldridge.
correspondence; Texas; writing letters
family; half-brother; siblings
Threlkeld discusses other partners and friends she has had over the years.
coffeehouse; Marcel Lavigne; Peter Haines; Quentin Robbins; Robbie Threlkeld
friendships; partners; relationships
Threlkeld discusses a variety of topics such as: walking her dog, the wide variety of people she has met, feeling at home in Smithers, and her contributions to the Valley's cultural scene.
dog-walking; dogs
art; community; home; pets
Threlkeld discusses making stained-glass windows for public buildings in the Bulkley Valley, including the Telkwa Museum, the Quick Church, and Smithers' Old Church (formerly St. John's Anglican).
Corrie Rowe; installing art; Leslie Boot; Old Church; Quick Church
art; churches; stained glass windows