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

gallerymerrick.com


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

steffichfineart.com


Saatchi Art

1655 26th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404

P: 888.908.3886

saatchiart.com