Vida Garcia (1908-1970) was my great great aunt. She had the honour of being one of the first female pharmacists practising in Australia. Although I never knew her, I wanted to honour her memory with a painting.
She was one of five sisters: Rose, Vera, Rae and Thelma. Thelma was my great-grandmother. While Vida was more interested in her career, it was Thelma who focused on family. She married David Solomon “Sol” Davis. They had seven children. My grandmother, Valda, was the eldest.
I completed Valda (2009) on an old hair dryer case. This painting bears a striking resemblance to that of her beloved Aunty Vida.
Vida is featured in “A History of Pharmacy in Western Australia” by Alan McWhinney. She qualified as a pharmacist in 1928. She then opened a pharmacy on Charles Street in North Perth. Eventually, she set up a business on Walter Road in Morley.
Role Model
Vida was a strong woman who loved her vocation. At the time, she was only one of very few women working in this male dominated field. Because of her hard work, she became a role model for other women. In 1936, she founded The West Australian Women Pharmacists Association.
As a result, she was elected as Federal President of the Federation of Women Pharmaceutical Chemists (1960-62).
I decided to paint Vida (2017) because she inspired me. Through her hard work and intelligence, she proved that being a good pharmacist had little to do with gender. I wanted my painting to reflect her affable character, while capturing her steely determination.
Vida (2017) was painted on a large canvas panel, similar to what I used in my Made To Order series. I use canvas panels for smaller commissions as they are durable and easy to transport. Because Vida was a very practical person, I felt she would have approved of this choice.
I intended to work in black and white. However, I finally chose a very limited colour palette to bring Vida (2017) to life. The result is a beautiful tribute to an inspirational woman. A painting allows us to keep her memory alive for future generations.