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Dee Doige
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Duelling Biographies
This team of artists has been together a very long time. Perhaps that is because they
are a Mother - Daughter duo. Both are native Albertans, Dee, the Mom, born in Calgary
and Jackie, the Daughter was born in Jasper.
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Jackie Parkinson
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Dee was at that time married to a National Park Warden, whose District was in the
remote North Boundary of Jasper National Park. Getting to "Home" was a long trek,
either on horseback, by foot, and by snow machine in the winter. Traveling at that
slow pace, Dee's eyes were filled with many interesting sights. There was plenty of
time to file these sights and sounds away in the mental library, to be called upon at
a much later date.
Jackie made her first trip to the backcountry at the tender age of three weeks on a
papoose board. Dad packed her, Mom packed other stuff and the dog carried the diapers in
a dog pack. At the age of six weeks, Jackie rode her first horse, seated on a pillow on
the front of Mom's saddle. Little wonder that horses would eventually play such an
important role in her life.
After Dad left the Warden Service, there were a number of moves made by the young
family, which soon added another sister. There was always at least one family dog and
from early on at least one horse.
From an early age, Jackie's talents in the drawing field were evident. Art was the
FAVORITE class in school, and she excelled. Mom, on the other hand, was far too busy
to even think about her creative side. In 1972, the girls had a little brother, who
being a typical boy, was interested only in things that had a motor, or made noise,
or preferably both.
For Jackie and Dee, there were always the animals. Many a wounded critter has been
taken in and cared for by these ladies. All living beings are special to them and the
love and respect for domestic and wild animals is poured into their work.
All three children were in 4-H. They had steers and heifers, and Jackie also had a
horse project. Keen observation skills were encouraged, and many more mental photos
were taken and stored. It is this hands on reference that is so evident in both Dee
and Jackie's work in the attention to the minute details.
For many years the artwork was on hold for Jackie and not discovered by Dee. In 1997,
friend Gina Cohoe, an accomplished and well-respected sculptor, gave Dee the shove that
she needed. Jackie started to draw again and Dee played with the clay. The collection
of work is constantly expanding.
Over the past few years their work has gained a following both locally and worldwide.
They have exhibited at many events in Alberta and British Columbia. Their work is held
in private collections worldwide.
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