Learning within wonderment and inspired by the development of techniques for creative practice, my Art is crafted out of a curation of mediums. By collecting impressions found primarily within the attributes of wood in conjunction with paint and various other mediums, lyrical relations evolve and solidify for an impasto-like vocabulary.
By leveraging the mechanics of meaning between art and craft, I guide my practice as an artist (and furniture maker) to acutely look and speak to our relationship with wood and by extension the forest. Wood’s agency is employed to contemplate how the material shapes our world and how we perceive its presence.
With the pragmatics of resource extraction there are many assumptive pedestrian aspects to the materiality wood, so I use abstraction as a tool to question its normative values and to represent all of its potential to belong. I allude to its dynamism as a material in need of more wondrous consideration within formalist terms.
My journey as an artist has had many thresholds in the recent past, with participation in many group shows, a solo show and an installation of a large sculpture permanently within our community remarking on my progress. In this time I’ve learned a lot about myself as an artist and have grown to include new mediums such as photography and printmaking as tools for analysis. All the disparate exercises have honed my ability to articulate the wooden motif that permeates my art.
I’m excited by the what the future holds as I actively pursue my career as an artist with grant, show and residency proposals from around the world constantly in the works. In the spring I’ll be building an 1800 square foot wood-shop/studio to further invest in my practice.
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PUBLIC COMMISIONS -July 2018, ongoing- Interweave A permanent installation in the lobby of the Island Savings Centre, Duncan B.C.
UPCOMING -November 2019-January 2020 oneTree Exhibition- Robert Bateman Centre, Victoria B.C., Canada. Sculptures to be submitted for Group show -Unspecified release date Gary Oak Group Project Victoria B.C., Canada. Abstract sculpture and write up in catalog.
PAST -July 26- August 5 2019, Sooke Fine Arts Show- Sooke B.C., Canada. Large Painting -May 2-July 6, 2019 Alternator Artmart Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, Kelowna, B.C., Canada. A collection of small sculptures. -April 3-28, 2019 Imprint Fort Gallery, Fort Lanky B.C. Canada. Abstract wood block print with ink. -March 16- April 6, 2019 Luminescence IV Deer Lake Art Gallery, Burnaby B.C. Canada. Abstract wood sculpture. -April 15, 2018 Harmonized Motion A live action painting performance in conjunction with improvised musical vocalizations by Sara Marreiros and Laurel Murphy -April 2018- Out of Seen The Ou Gallery, Duncan B.C., Canada. A solo show comprised of Paintings and sculpture -March 2018- Under/Where? The Ou Gallery, Duncan B.C., Canada. Abstract Painting for Group Show -November 2017-January 2018 oneTree Exhibition Robert Bateman Centre, Victoria B.C., Canada. Abstract sculpture for Group show. -December 2016- January 2017 Windy Tree Pop-up Gallery, Victoria B.C., Canada. Sculptures, paintings and book submitted for Group show -November 2015-January 2016 oneTree Exhibition-Robert Bateman Centre, Victoria B.C., Canada. Sculptures submitted for Group show -August 2015 Decored Martin Bachelor Gallery, Victoria B.C., Canada. Curator/participant of group show- sculpture, paintings and furniture. -April 2013 The LOOK Show The Bay Centre, Victoria B.C.Canada. Group show, sculpture and painting shown. -January 2013 Impressions- Art, Craft, Poetry Martin Bachelor Gallery, Victoria B.C., Canada. Solo show of sculpture, paintings and furniture. -December 2012 Hedged Nothing 167 page self published book of poetry. Book release and reading at the Firehouse Wine Bar, Duncan BC, Canada. -December 2010 – April 2012 Owner/Creative Director/Artist Points Art Gallery, Duncan, B.C., Canada.www.pointsartgallery.weebly.com -2011, Reinstated Fine Art practice. -April 2009- CVAC Spring Show and Sale, Quw’utsun’ Cultural and conference centre, Duncan, B.C., Canada. Group show, Awarded Recognition of Artistic Merit for 'Gayle's Vein' situational table. -2004 to Present- Owner, Operator and Creative Director Alternative Woodworks Ltd Unique Furniture/Custom Milling, Cowichan Valley, B.C., Canada. -2002, Ceased Fine Art practice, moved to Vancouver Island. -May/June 1999Headlock- Class of 1999 Exhibition, Union Gallery/ Ontario Hall- Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Group show large installation of sculptural painting. -September 1996- June 1999 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Accredited from Queens University-Kingston Ontario, Canada. -September-December 1999. Water and Architecture, Stauffer Library Hall- Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Solo sight specific installation. -December 1997- January 10, 1998. Cruz, Union Art Gallery- Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Group show, several paintings included. -September 1995- June 1996 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Initiated at Lakehead University- Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. -September 1995- Emergence/See, Definitely Superior Artist Run Centre- Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Group show, large painting included.
Press -Interview on CBC radio 90.5 in Victoria, July 10, 2018. Speaking about Interweave at the Island Savings Centre. -Interview and article for Interweave on Chek News. July 18, 2018. www.cheknews.ca/cut-down-legacy-tree-in-duncan-revived-as-art-471312/ -Article written about Interweave in the Cowichan Valley Citizen. June 29, 2018. www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com/news/disputed-maple-reborn-at-island-savings-centre-in-duncan-as-art-piece-2/ -Radio Interview Be the Media on CHLY 101.7 fm and on the web, based in Nanaimo BC, Canada. Discussing the publishing of Hedged Nothing. Includes two readings. http://chly.dailysplice.com/bethemedia/9664/ -Talking Arts Featured Artist Cowichan Valley Voice, January 2013 & April 2018. A one page written description of recent creative ventures with illustrations.