Artist Statement:
I am a multi media artist in colourful and layered semi abstract painting and glacier high arctic photography. My art is inspired by the dynamics of our changing nautical and shoreline environments observed while sailing in the Ontario waterways and in the High Arctic Svalbard Archipelago administered by Norway. I intend to create evocative aesthetic spaces in which the viewer lingers, bringing their personal interpretation of meaning. Paintings and photography reflect my first-hand experiences and observations often relating to melting glaciers and impacts to coastal ecology. My message is “what happens in the Arctic happens at home”.
Education:
Undergraduate and graduate degrees in the Fine Arts and Social Sciences are relevant to my creative investigations. Formal degrees include the Masters in Environmental Studies from York University Toronto, Bachelor of Fine Arts, magna cum laude, University of Ottawa, and Post Graduate study, Sociology of Culture and History, Carleton University, and Bachelor of Sociology & Architecture.
Awards & Distinctions:
• ArtTour International Top 60 Masters, Arts & Design Institute New York City
• Ontario Art Council Grants, supported by several recommender galleries 2004 to present
• K. M. Hunter Award Nominee, Ontario Art Council, Ontario Arts Foundation
• Premier's Award (Ontario) Nominee by St. Lawrence College, Brockville Ontario
Professional/Teaching Experience:
• 2019 "Sailing Top of World & Climate Warming Impacts", Visual Presentation hosted by Britannia Yacht Club
• 2009 Carleton U. Initiatives in Education, Contemporary Visual Art Discourse
• 2001 University of Ottawa, Professor, Arts Administration Certificate Program
• 2000 Algonquin College, Business of Art for Visual Artists in Canada
• Adult Education Certification, St. Xavier University, Distance Learning N.S.
• Seminars and customized workshops on The Business of Art – Visual Artists in Canada, since 2000 as a freelance artist and adult educator, delivered in Ottawa, Nova Scotia, China and Ulukhaktok Hamlet Inuvialuit Northwest Territories
Exhibitions:
• 2020 John B. Aird, DRAWING 2020, Toronto Ontario, Group*
• 2020 Carleton U, 5th Carleton Community Exhibition, Group
• 2019 – 2010, Ottawa Art Gallery, Annex Commercial Gallery*
• 2018 Create for Peace, ArtTour International, Rio Gallery, New York City Group*
• 2017 Water and Navigation Series, Galerie Luz @ Belgo Montreal Quebec, Solo*
• 2013 Atrium Gallery, Arctic Return - Ecology of Memory, Ottawa, Solo*
• 2010 CONTACT Photo Festival, Arctic photomontage, Toronto, Group*
• 2010 Reference Studio Gallery, Ecology of Identity, Toronto, Solo
• 2010 Ecology of Narrative Space, Reference Gallery, Queen St. W. Toronto, solo
• 2010 Paintings and Prints, Gevik Gallery, Yorkville, Toronto ON. Featured
• 2010 Available Light, National Gallery of Pakistan, Islamabad, Invited
• 2009 Available Light, Alhamra Gallery, Lahore Pakistan, Catalogue
• 2009 Still Revolution, CONTACT918 Bathurst Photography Festival, Toronto*
• 2009 4° HOMENAJE AL AGUA (4th Homage to Water), Extensión Bogotá*
• 2009 Reversal, Video 11-minute, Estuary Gallery, Bogotá Columbia*
• 2009 Deep North, Art & Digital Culture, House of World Culture, Berlin Germany*
• 2009 Global Forces, Intimate Spaces #2, Rails End Gallery Haliburton ON, solo*
• 2009 Arctic Crisis #2, City of Ottawa Centrepointe Theatre Gallery ON solo*
• 2009 Global Forces-Intimate Spaces, MVS Gallery, St. Lawrence College solo*
* juried exhibitions
Artistic Influences:
I enjoy the paintings by Peter Doig for his handling of the paint medium, and for the way his practice moves along a continuum of semi abstract expression to communicate ideas.
Artist Tags:
painting, photography, environment, water, glaciers, sailing
