There was excitement in the air at the Weldon Law Building on May 8 for the unveiling of eight Alan Syliboy paintings donated to the 鲍鱼tv Art Gallery by Allan Silverman (LLB鈥�64).
鈥淲e need to have more of his [Syliboy鈥檚] artwork in the public sphere, and recognize the heritage of the Mi鈥檏maq people,鈥� Silverman says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for the community, especially the law school, where all kinds of people will now be able to enjoy his works.鈥�
A long-time patron of the visual and performing arts, Silverman had been looking for a way to make Syliboy鈥檚 work available for more to enjoy. An opportunity presented itself in 2024, when he went to the 鲍鱼tv Art Gallery to see Alan Syliboy: The Journey so Far, a 50-year retrospective celebrating the artist鈥檚 work. Silverman discovered that several of the pieces in the exhibit were on loan from the estate of Marcia Hennessy, a long-time friend and supporter of Syliboy鈥檚 who collected his art for 30 years.
鈥淪he lived in the United States, and I felt that, rather than have these paintings go back there, I should see if there was an opportunity to purchase some of these paintings so that they stay in Halifax and honour Alan and our community.鈥�
I felt that I should see if there was an opportunity to purchase some of these paintings so that they stay in Halifax and honour Alan and our community
Acquiring more works
Pamela Edmonds, the Gallery鈥檚 director and curator, says they had been looking into acquiring works from the Hennessy estate when Silverman approached them. 鈥淭here's very little funding support for purchases of art, and it is in our mandate to build on the Gallery鈥檚 collection and address historical underrepresented artists, in particular those from Mi鈥檏maq and African Nova Scotian communities,鈥� she says. 鈥淢eanwhile, it鈥檚 challenging for artists like Alan [Syliboy] to find the support they need to make art full time. So, people like Marcia and Allan [Silverman] are like guardian angels.鈥�
L-R: Law School Dean Sarah Harding, Allan Silverman, Dal Art Gallery Curator Pamela Edmonds, and artist Alan Syliboy.
Silverman lights up when he talks about Alan Syliboy and the myriad ways that the artist celebrates Mi鈥檏maq culture.
"I particularly enjoy the topics he chooses 鈥� whether it鈥檚 petroglyphs or fish life,鈥� says Silverman.
For Syliboy, it was welcome news. Ever since he saw a retrospective of Alex Colville鈥檚 work at the Gallery in 1984, he dreamed that, one day, it would host an exhibition of his work. Now, the works from the 2024 show have a permanent home at 鲍鱼tv.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting that we get to keep some of the work here, but it鈥檚 also like Marcia鈥檚 here,鈥� Syliboy says. 鈥淚t was a unique relationship, and it had to be made into something lasting. This is the perfect vehicle for it.鈥�
An inherited appreciation for the arts
Silverman says it was his father, Julius, a co-founder and concertmaster for Symphony Orchestra Halifax, a forerunner for Symphony Nova Scotia, who gave him an appreciation for the arts.
鈥淗e had a wonderful, successful career, and I feel it's incumbent upon me to honour his contributions,鈥� Silverman says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I'm willing to go to any lengths to support the arts and make them available to the community for everybody to enjoy."
In making the gift to the Art Gallery and the Weldon building, Silverman was also motivated by fond memories of Dal.
鈥淎fter my first year [of law school], I started articling with Ralph Medjuck鈥檚 firm,鈥� says Silverman. 鈥淗e was my first cousin and one of the reasons why I decided to study law at Dal. That gave me a superior knowledge of property work.鈥�
Following a successful career in law and real estate, Silverman is now enjoying retirement, with more time for sailing and the visual and performing arts. He hopes people will appreciate the opportunity to see Syliboy鈥檚 artwork at the Gallery but also believes the donation may contribute to something bigger than that.
鈥淚 think it's crucial that we expand the connection with Alan and the Mi鈥檏maq in the reconciliation process,鈥� Silverman says. 鈥淚 think we're all contributing to the process, and hopefully everybody in the community will benefit.鈥�
Visit the Schulich School of Law at 6061 University Ave. in Halifax to see the collection up close.
