Left Behind But Not Forgotten
I am a conceptually based sculptor, mixed media and installation artist. I also draw and paint often recycling images I have found or have seen in my head.
To me, waste is just lack of imagination. This belief carries beyond the boundaries of my art production and permeates most aspects of my life.
Everything I encounter presents possibilities for my art; from obsolete circuit boards to my father’s shoe, to broken chainsaws and old ice skates, all materials present a possibility to resolve an idea. Most of my home and studio, and much of everything in them, is recycled. I’ve always had a voracious imagination along with a driving desire to make things. Thus, used objects have pared my options down to a workable, manageable level. No object is beyond artistic merit, meaning and metaphor–so why ‘waste’ it?
The materials of my work are connected intrinsically to my ideas, be they tailored beyond recognition or left as found. Each piece I make resurrects an object as an idea specific to the material and the meaning inherent in its use. I want all my work to challenge the viewer’s expectation and perception and by using recycled objects, I hope to unsettle the obvious relationship of the viewer with their understanding of the everyday mundane object! I hope it makes the audience look closer, think harder and reconsider the parts of our/their lives that are often over-looked and create a more comprehensive understanding of the world around us.
Sometimes I have tried to restore the landscape by removing objects from one environment and placing them in another: a recycling of objects and meaning, of “landscrap” into landscape. Either way, the object comes clad in its history, and sits in its own metaphorical world. When the object is removed to this new place, I can thereby underscore how fluid, how provisional, those meanings are. What inevitably fascinates me is the process of transformation itself. Connections are implied, broken, renegotiated; metaphors jostle for attention; meanings accumulate. The smallest strand of scrap wire can have meaning if properly placed. I’m astounded and often appalled by the enormity, variety and volume of the new and used manufactured materials and natural objects which are available to me. Yet this abundance is the inspirational heart of my work.
And though my work does not dent the waste created by the ever-present demand for the new, it has helped me justify my creative passion. I view these works, in part, as an attempt to slow the process down, if only symbolically. Still, the theme remains: something new is once again recycled from the old meanings that consciousness has left behind but not forgotten.
Upcoming Exhibitions and Art Shows
Coming Soon
Curriculum Vitae
Out Of The Fire - Metal Workers Along The Salish Sea - 2022 - 1st edition - Book Launch Show - Steffich Fine Art
Vancouver Arts Council - winners show - 2022
Victoria Arts Council - Parallel/SNAP winners show 2022
Parallel Art Show /SNAP - 3rd prize - 2021
Steffich Fine Art - 2 man show - Sept 28 - Oct.28, 2020
Steffich Fine Art - solo show July 19th - Aug.4, 2019
Beaux - Xi Gallery - SNAP Show Winners Exhibition, Nov. 4 - 18th, 2017
Salt Spring National Art Prize - 2nd place - viewers choice
Salt Spring National Art Prize - Sept, 22 - Oct. 22, 2017
Robert Bateman Centre - solo show - June 29th - Oct. 3, 2017
SSNAP Parallel Touring Show (Victoria Arts Council, Vancouver Gallery) - January 2022
Parallel Show - September/October 2021
Steffich Fine Art - Steel and Stone - 2 person show, Sept. 2020
Steffich Fine Art - Solo Show - SSI, BC - July, 2019
Steffich Fine Art - 25th Anniversary Show - Salt Spring Island, BC - 2018
JOY - Group Show - Canada House Gallery - Banff, Alberta - 2018
Bau-xi Gallery SNAP award winners show - Nov. 2017
Salt Spring National Art Prize Competition - 2nd place viewers choice - 2017
Robert Bateman Centre - solo show - July 2017
JOY – Group show- Canada House Gallery- Banff Alberta – 2016
Credit Farm Services of America – commission – 2016
JOY – Group show- Canada House Gallery- Banff Alberta – 2015
Canada House: 40th anniversary group, 2014
Ontario Science Centre: Commission, 2014
Canada House: Group Show, Banff Alberta, January 2013
Madrona Gallery: Group Show: Victoria, BC, November 2012
Toronto International Art Fair: Toronto, Ontario, October 2012
Pegasus gallery of Canadian Art: Solo Show; Sept. 2012
ReVision- The Art of Recycling – Group Exhibition-2012 – June – July – Vancouver, B.C
Mayberry Fine Arts: Circuit Board Painting Show; Winnipeg, Summer 2011
Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art: Solo Show: Shape Shifters, August 12th-Sept 3rd 2011
Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art: Group Show, 2010
Masterpiece Group Show representing Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art 2010
Masterpiece Group Show representing Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art 2009
Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art: Group Show, 2009
Morley Myers Gallery – April 22 – July 1, 2008
J. Mitchell Gallery – April 23 – May 6 – 2008
Art Spring Gallery – Oct. 7- 20, 2007
Fran Willis Gallery – Victoria- Jan 16 – Feb 11, 2006
Morley Myers Gallery – Nov 1- Nov 30, 2005
J. Mitchell Gallery – April 29 – May 11, 2005
Art Gallery of Peterborough- April 7- May 16, 2005
Sandra Philips Gallery, Denver Co, USA, September 4 – Jan 6, 2005
Loop Gallery, Toronto, Oct 30 – November 25, 2004 –
R. McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ont – ‘Salvation’ – April 22 – June 20, 2004
MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, Ont- ‘Salvation’ – Nov 14 – Jan 7, 2004
J. Mitchell Gallery – May 15 – June 14, 2003
Loop, Toronto – January 13 – 26, 2003
Judy Mitchel Gallery, August – September, 2002.
ZYPR, Toronto, January 6 – January 30, 2002.
Gallery 1313 -Toronto, Solo Show – Aug.16 – 31, 2001
V. MacDonnell Gallery, Toronto, – Oct.14 – Nov.15, 2000
Canadian Sculpture Centre, Toronto, – Aug. 2 – Sept.15, 2000
DeLeon White Gallery, Toronto – Solo Show – Feb.13, 1999
Meg Gallery – Toronto – Group show – July16 – Aug. 4, 1999
Gallery 1313 – Toronto -Solo show – March13 – April 4, 1998
Deleon White Gallery – Toronto – Dec.6 – Jan.17, 1998
Gallery 1313 – Toronto – Salon Show – Jan. 23 -31, 1998
Red Head Gallery Showcase- Toronto – Feb.- Mar. 1, 1997
MacLaren Art Centre – ‘Off The Wall”-Barrie, Ont – Sept.19 – Jan. 2, 1997
Joseph D. Carrier Gallery-Toronto – July16 – Sept.19, 1996
DeLeon White Gallery-Toronto – Mar.16 – April 5, 1996
Lake Gallery -Toronto- “Canadian Drawing Exhibit” – Feb. 1996
Parkdale Art Community – “Winter Show” – Feb. 1996
Lake Gallery -Toronto-“Large Scale Works By Canadian Artists” – Feb. 1995
Shows 1990 – 1994 available upon request
Formal Education
Banff Centre – Scholarship 1983 – 1984
York University – BFA 1982
Scholarship and Awards
SNAP Show - Viewers Choice, 2nd place - 2017
Canada Council Art Bank purchase – 2006
Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant -1996
Short listed for the TTC New Station Competition-Toronto – March, 1995
Publications
Out Of The Fire - Metal Workers Along The Salish Sea - Pirjo Raits - 2022
Only Art Can Save Us - Santiago Zabala - 2017
Pinterest – 2016
Woven Tale Press Vol.III #8 – Issue – Aug. 2015
Orion Magazine – September/October 2015
Visual News – 2013
Handicraft Magazine – (China) – interview – 2013
Design Taxi – 2012
Galleries West – Art to collect – 2012
Make Magazine – Goli Mohammadi – Oct 2012
Trend Hunter art and Design – 2012
Canadian Art Junkie – 2012
Colossal Magazine – 2012
BC Local News – entertainment – August 2011
Aqua Article on Peter McFarlane: Unlimited Potential – Spring 2009
Aqua Article on Peter McFarlane: Unlimited Potential – Spring 2009
TV interview – The Daily – review Morley Myers Gallery Show – 2008
TV interview – The Daily – review J. Mitchell Gallery Show – 2008
TV interview- The Daily -review Salvation Show- 2007
Peterborough Examiner – Review 2005
Salvation: Robert McLaughlin Gallery: 2004
Salvation – Colm MacCool and Peter McFarlane – Espace – Winter 2004
Salvation – Colm Mac Cool and Peter McFarlane – ArtCity Magazine – 2003 –
30 minute documentary by The Directors Film Company Ltd.- 2002
Globe and Mail review – Gary Michael Dault – Aug. 25, 2001
The Toronto Star – Aug. 23, 2001
The Toronto Star – Oct. 17, 2000
No Escape – Group Show – Toronto Star – 1998 –
The Toronto Star review – Christopher Hume – April 2, 1998
CJRT “On The Arts” interview with Donald Bracket – Sept. 1996
CBC video of my work for Hiroshima Documentary – Aug. 1996
Recent Photographs – David Kalef and Peter McFarlane – Artery – 1995
Artery Magazine – interview – “Images of desire” – Fall 1995
Collections
Banff Centre
Bartec Fire Systems
Canada Council Art Bank
CIBC Wood Gundy
Credit Farm Services of America
Cree-Con Construction Inc.
Ferraroni Corporation (Italy)
Montana Steele Strategic Marketing
Ontario Science Centre
Royal Bank
Salt Spring Fire Department
Shaw Communications
Previous Exhibitions
Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art: Solo Show: Shape Shifters, August 12th-Sept 3rd 2011
Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art: Group Show, 2010
Masterpiece Group Show representing Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art 2010
Masterpiece Group Show representing Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art 2009
Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art: Group Show, 2009
Morley Myers Gallery – April 22 – July 1, 2008
J. Mitchell Gallery – April 23 – May 6 – 2008
Art Spring Gallery – Oct. 7- 20, 2007
Fran Willis Gallery – Victoria- Jan 16 – Feb 11, 2006
Morley Myers Gallery – Nov 1- Nov 30, 2005
J. Mitchell Gallery – April 29 – May 11, 2005
Art Gallery of Peterborough- April 7- May 16, 2005
Sandra Philips Gallery, Denver Co, USA, September 4 – Jan 6, 2005
Loop Gallery, Toronto, Oct 30 – November 25, 2004 –
R. McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ont – ‘Salvation’ – April 22 – June 20, 2004
MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, Ont- ‘Salvation’ – Nov 14 – Jan 7, 2004
J. Mitchell Gallery – May 15 – June 14, 2003
Loop – January 13 – 26, 2003
Judy Mitchel Gallery, August – September, 2002.
ZYPR, January 6 – January 30, 2002.
Gallery 1313 – Solo Show – Aug.16 – 31, 2001
V. MacDonnell Gallery – Oct.14 – Nov.15, 2000
Canadian Sculpture Centre – Aug. 2 – Sept.15, 2000
DeLeon White Gallery – Solo Show – Feb.13, 1999
Meg Gallery – Group show – July16 – Aug. 4, 1999
Gallery 1313.-Solo show – March13 – April 4, 1998
Deleon White Gallery – Dec.6 – Jan.17, 1998
Gallery 1313 – Salon Show – Jan. 23 -31, 1998
MacLaren Art Centre – June 20 – Aug. 21, 1997
Red Head Gallery Showcase – Feb.- Mar. 1, 1997
MacLaren Art Centre – ‘Off The Wall” – Sept.19 – Jan.2, 1997
Joseph D. Carrier Gallery – July16 – Sept.19, 1996
DeLeon White Gallery – Mar.16 – April 5, 1996
Lake Gallery – “Canadian Drawing Exhibit” – Feb. 1996
Parkdale Art Community – “Winter Show” – Feb. 1996
Lake Gallery -“Large Scale Works By Canadian Artists” – Feb. 1995
Short listed for the TTC New Station Competition – March, 1999
Formal Education
Banff Centre – Scholarship 1983 – 1984
York University – BFA 1982
Scholarship and Awards
Canada Council Art Bank purchase – 2006
Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant -1996
Winter Cycle Scholarship- Banff Centre 1983-84
Representation
Canada House Gallery
201 Bear St, PO Box 1570, Banff, AB, T1L 1B5
info@canadahouse.com
P: 1.800.419.1298
canadahouse.com
Gallery Merrick
1806 Government St, Victoria, BC V8T 4N5
gallerymerrick@gmail.com
P: 1.250.754.7575
Steffich Fine Art
3105-115 Fulford Ganges road Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, V8K 2T9
C: 604.255.0332
P: 250.537.8448 / Toll Free: 877.537.8448
info@steffichfineart.com
Saatchi Art
1655 26th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404
P: 888.908.3886
saatchiart.com