| ARTIST BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: |
Little is known about John (Jack) Matthews’ childhood and early years; however, he appears to have moved to Vancouver around 1945. Matthews worked as a photoengraver for the Vancouver Daily Province in Vancouver, British Columbia from 1945-48, and owned and managed a company called Repro Printing Plates Ltd., from 1948–1950. In the early 1950’s, Matthews worked at a commercial gallery called “J” Studios before becoming a freelance artist. As a freelance artist, Matthews briefly taught at the Vancouver City College in 1963. Later, in 1971, he became the Art Director at the ad agency, G. M. Reid. In 1975, Matthews became the Director of his own company, Matthews Design Ltd. In 1980, Matthews and his company moved to Honolulu, Hawaii. There, Matthews became known for creations depicting scenes of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In 1998, he was the featured artist for the United States Air Force Museum Calendar, and in 1990 he won the Gill Robb Wilson Award for artistic contribution to the Pacific Air Forces. Matthews was also commissioned to create a piece for the Grand Opening of the Honolulu Police Department in 1992, and in 1991 he created the image for the 50th Anniversary Brochure of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
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