Skating for a cause: a legacy

One of the skaters at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Tears rolled down the faces of many of the skaters and me and others in the audience at Sunday's Legacy on Ice, the fundraiser set up in just over a month to honor first responders, aviation rescuers and the families of the 67 victims killed January 29, 2025 in the plane collision over the Potomac River at Washington's National Airport.  

Never have I been in such a crowd of thousands who remained silent and somber throughout the afternoon while they watched the show on ice.

No one talked; no one whispered in Capitol One Arena, known for its boisterous crowds when the Capitals play hockey.

Skaters at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Skaters at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

A skater at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025. Did he forget to bring his uniform?/By Patricia Leslie

Although we expected the show to last about 90 minutes, the performers kept coming, for almost 2.5 hours.

As the skaters came out, they each carried a white rose, which they lay upon a table.

During a pause, first responders arrived in uniform, marching in, to sit on a front row. Representatives from Washington's professional teams attended and were recognized.

Although some falls occurred, each skater got back up in a millisecond and continued on his or her routine.

Olympic star Johnny Weir came out of retirement to skate for Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025. It may look like it from this picture, but Weir did not fall/By Patricia Leslie

Olympic star Johnny Weir came out of retirement to skate for Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

A skater at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Isabella Aparicio who lost her brother, Franco, and her father, Luciano, from Dunn Loring, VA in the crash, at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025. At the end of her performance, she fell to her knees and sobbed, and the audience sobbed with her /By Patricia Leslie

Isabella Aparicio at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Isabella Aparicio at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Brielle Breyer who was killed with her mother, Justyna, in the crash, was honored with this skate by one of her coaches at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Brielle Breyer's coach at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Skaters at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Skaters at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Maxim Naumov whose parents, Olympic stars Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov died in the crash, skated at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025. Skating with determination, Maumov ended his performance, dropping to his knees and holding his head in his hands, sobbing for several seconds until three skaters came out and helped him up/By Patricia Leslie

Friends of Maxim Naumov came out to help him off the ice after his emotional performance at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

By the time headliner and world champion Ilia Malinin came out to end the afternoon with his quad leaps and backward flips to thrill the crowd, my phone had run out of power to photograph him and others.

Lighted skaters ("robots") at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

"Robots" at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

A skater at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Legendary skater and Olympic star Peggy Fleming at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Legendary skater and Olympic star Peggy Fleming at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Skaters at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Skaters at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025 who surrounded a skater in black with white wings/By Patricia Leslie

It's no surprise that the Washington Post got the price of the tickets wrong in its story Monday since who's left there to check facts? 

While some of the tickets may have been $30 like WAPO reported they all were, prices ranged from $18-$19 to more than $60 which is what we paid for excellent seats.

Also, the Jeff Bezos Trump echo conveniently omitted the large donation Monumental Sports made to the effort:  $200,000. Its owner, Ted Leonsis (and his granddaughter?) were pictured on the big screens over the center of the ice.

Monumental announced that $1.2 million was raised at Sunday's event with more to come on Sunday, March 30, 2025 when NBC broadcasts Legacy on Ice at 1 p.m.

After a national skating competition in Boston March 25, a similar benefit in Boston may be held.

I believe these were local skaters who raised a white bouquet at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Skaters at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Skaters at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

A skater at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

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A skater at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Skaters at Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Olympians Scott Hamilton and Nancy Kerrigan, both dressed in suits, skated off the ice with the other stars at the end of Legacy on Ice, Washington, D.C., March 2, 2025/By Patricia Leslie

Salute to Canada's impressionist, Helen McNicoll

Helen McNicoll, The Brown Hat, c. 1906. Art Gallery of Ontario. This is one of McNicoll’s earliest known paintings and displayed in 1906 at one of her first exhibitions. The austere background and mood suggest McNicoll may have painted it prior to 1906 when she was a student in London and Montreal, the label said.  Although it is not believed to be a self-portrait, it shows her style before she found “light.”

Helen McNicoll, Midsummer, c. 1909, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

Who was Helen McNicoll and why should we care?

Helen McNicoll, Study of a Child, c. 1913, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.  Although McNicoll never used the word "mother" in any of her titles, she often painted women as caregivers, working in and around the home. The label noted that McNicoll joined Mary Cassatt and Berthe Morisot describing the value of women's work, juxtaposed beside subjects chosen by male artists.

Not only was she Canadian (drawing more attention than usual because of the White House occupant's obsession with Canada), but she was a fine impressionist and featured artist in a show ending earlier this year at the National Museum of Fine Arts of Québec, Helen McNicoll An Impressionist Journey.

Helen McNicoll, Beneath the Trees, c. 1910, McNicoll Canadian Art Collection

Helen McNicoll, The Apple Gatherer, c. 1911, Art Gallery of Hamilton. When exhibited in 1911, the Montreal press praised this "delightfully sunshiny pictures of which Miss McNicoll is now an almost perfect master," blending impressionism and plein air naturalism.

Helen McNicoll, The Apple Gatherer (detail)

Helen McNicoll, Garden, 1913, Pierre Lassonde Collection

Helen McNicoll, Garden (detail), 1913, Pierre Lassonde Collection

Upon first glance her style immediately brings to mind that of Mary Cassatt with whom she shared many commonalities. 

The two artists often lived about the same time, McNicoll (1879-1915) and Cassatt (1844-1926). They spent part of their adult lives studying and painting abroad, in London (McNicoll) and France (Cassatt).

Helen McNicoll, Picking Flowers, c. 1912, Art Gallery of Ontario.  The label said this was likely made when McNicoll was traveling and based on a plein-air study.

Helen McNicoll, Fishing, c. 1907, private collection. McNicoll's companion, Dorothea Sharp, carried "pretty frocks" which fishermen's children loved to wear when modeling for the artist.  See below.

Helen McNicoll, The Children's Playground, 1912, private collection.

Helen McNicoll, Landscape, c. 1910, Samuel and Esther Sarick Collection

McNicoll and Cassatt both painted domestic scenes in soft colors with children and women the frequent subjects amidst pleasant almost idyllic backdrops.  

Neither married nor had children. They shared a close bond with female companions. Both came from wealthy families.  

At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, McNicoll was in France, soon forced home by her father. She died the next year in England. 

Helen McNicoll, Venice, 1910, Pierre Lassonde Collection

Helen McNicoll, The Open Door, c. 1913, Samuel and Esther Sarick Collection.

Helen McNicoll, The Gleaner, 1910, Pierre Lassonde Collection. Her face seems a bit rough for a woman as she almost sneers.  Unhappy in her work?

Helen McNicoll, Stubble Fields, c. 1912, National Gallery of Canada. Shortly after this was exhibited, it was purchased by the National Gallery which, the label noted, boosted the artist's confidence.

 

Helen McNicoll, This Gleaner was painted in 1908, again with a red, rough face, almost identical to the Gleaner above, painted two years later and in similar apparel. Samuel and Esther Sarick Collection

Helen McNicoll, The Chintz Sofa, 1913, Pierre Lassonde Collection. The woman may be Dorothea Sharp who shared this studio with McNicoll in London.  The label said the woman pictured may be sewing mementos for the women's suffrage campaign in England. This work in 2023 produced the highest price, $653,775, that I found for a McNicoll.

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Helen McNicoll, The Victorian Dress, c. 1914, Art Canada Institute

Helen McNicoll, Evening Street Scene, c. 1910, Women's Art Association of Canada

Helen McNicoll,, The Avenue, 1912, Pierre Lassonde Collection. This reminds me of several of van Gogh's.

Helen McNicoll, Montreal Snowstorm, c. 1911, Pierre Lassonde Collection

Helen McNicoll, Fruit Vendor, 1910, Pierre Lassonde Collection. The label noted that most of the artist's markets were French scenes but this one was in Venice.  The girl wears a black shawl, then (and now) in vogue and shows three women in various roles.

Helen McNicoll, In the Market, Montreuil, 1912, private collection.

Helen McNicoll, The Market Cart, Brittany, 1910, Robert McLaughlin Gallery 

Helen McNicoll, The Market Cart, Brittany, 1910, Robert McLaughlin Gallery 

Unknown photographer, Helen McNicoll in her studio, c. 1906, Robert McLaughlin Gallery Archives

Helen McNicoll, Dorothea Sharp working with a child model, n.d., Robert McLaughlin Gallery Archives

 

McNicoll and Cassatt each suffered ill health, complications from diabetes leading to McNicoll's early death at age 35.  At age 2, she had scarlet fever which left her practically deaf and unable to communicate normally. 

And although she lived to age 82, Cassatt gave up painting at age 60 or 70 (sources vary) due to blindness.

In 2023 their art did meet in Cassatt — McNicoll: Impressionists Between Worlds at the Art Gallery of Ontario which has featured solo McNicoll exhibitions in the past.

I am sure there are other similarities which must be the subject of a dissertation or two. Here is a link is to a good article about the two artists in Art Herstory.

Searching Washington museums (the Phillips, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the National Gallery of Art), I found none with a McNicoll but they all have at least one Cassatt.  Yes:  Cassatt was American, but still... 

The highest price I found for a McNicoll was one she made likely of her companion, Dorothea Sharp, The Chintz Sofa (c.1912) which sold for $653,775 in 2023. Cassatt's high price was almost $7.4 million in 2022 for Young Lady in a Loge Gazing to Right.

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