Artist preserved city’s architectural heritage

By MIKE YOUDS

Werner Braun not only painted most of the architectural heritage of Kamloops, he infused his watercolours with sentimentality, warmth and a nostalgic sense of home.

Braun, who had battled Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years, died on Sunday at the age of 81. He leaves his children and his wife Christa, who enabled him to continue painting in spite of the debilitating effects of the disease as it progressed.

The couple emigrated from the borderlands of southern Germany to Canada on the day they were wed in 1958. They never relinquished their ties to the old country and often returned as travellers, giving Werner a chance to photograph more architectural heritage for eventual depiction on canvas.

As a young man, he apprenticed in decorative, graphic and exhibit arts for seven years. The couple settled in Calgary, where they raised a family and he worked in the interior design industry before retiring to Kamloops.

Retirement was Werner’s open door to creativity (the ancient doors of Europe were a particular interest of his). He used the opportunity to focus on a lifelong passion for art and history. He worked for a time in his Barnhartvale backyard on sgraffito, using the technique to produce sculptural stucco-relief as outdoor art. He also honed his watercolour technique with a flair for vibrant colour and fine detail, and set about systematically documenting the historic homes and buildings of Kamloops.

Werner was an active volunteer — energetic with an irrepressible smile — in the arts community through his involvement in the Thompson-Nicola-Shuswap chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists. His work was recognized at juried shows held by the FCA.

“He was one of the original members of the FCA and was on the executive. He was very instrumental in getting the local chapter going,” said Cathie Peters, chapter president. “I think, more importantly, we’ll miss his smile, his generosity, his enthusiasm, his talent. He’ll be greatly missed as a person and a friend in Kamloops.”

She recalled his joy in helping other artists. Long after his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, he supported others struggling with the disease by giving art lessons.

Many of Werner’s watercolours of local buildings were purchased by the homeowners themselves. The series, comprising 110 artworks, was exhibited at Kamloops Art Gallery in 2007 and represented in book form as The Heritage Kamloops Collection, jointly published by the gallery and the City of Kamloops.

In his introductory chapter to the book, historian Ken Favroholdt wrote:

“The work of Werner Braun is the visual inspiration we need to make us look and think twice about the history and heritage we can find around Kamloops.”

Andrew Yarmie, chairman of the City heritage commission, described him as a preserver of heritage. On several occasions, Braun brought his heritage series artworks to show the commission. Much more than paintings of old buildings, his canvases bring history to life.

“We’re going to miss Werner, for sure,” Yarmie said. “He did an excellent job of maintaining the heritage of the city. He really impressed everybody with his ability to capture historic buildings and preserve them for all.”