2005-2006

News Release

REF NO.: 92

SUBJECT: SWGC: Grenfell Gallery hosts sculpture colloquium and panel discussion

DATE: November 7, 2005

Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Art Gallery will host a public colloquium on Sculpture: Contemporary Practice and Regional Context, on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m.in the Fine Arts Lecture Theatre (FA 224).

St. John’s artist William Gill will give a talk about his work and his exhibition NightDay, currently on view at the Grenfell Gallery. The colloquium will include presentations by Halifax artist Leah Garnett, Corner Brookartist Gerard Kelly and Woody Point artist Barb Daniell. The presentations will focus on the current work of each of the sculptors and document the status of contemporary sculpture in the province.

William Gill (Will Gill) was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. He studied sculpture and printmaking at Mount Allison University and graduated with a BFA in 1991. He moved to St John’s from Halifax in 1997 and is currently employed as head technician at a bronze casting foundry for sculpture on the outskirts of the city. Gill has exhibited sculpture and painted works across Canada and is represented by Leyton Gallery in St John’s, and Peak Gallery in Toronto. He has received project grants from many funding sources including The Canada Council and The NLAC. His work is in private collections in Canada and the USA, the permanent collection of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in New Brunswickand the public collection of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. He has participated in creative residencies in Newfoundland, Vermontand Alberta. In 2004, Gill was named to the regional (maritime provinces and NL) shortlist for the Sobey Art Award, Canada’s most lucrative award for artists under 40. He was further honoured in the spring of 2005 by being named to the top three shortlist for the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council’s Artist of the Year award. His work is currently on display in Grids and Games, a three-person exhibition (Anita Singh, Tara Bryan) at the Devon House Gallery in St John’s as well as in a two-person exhibition with Angela Antle opening this week at the Leyton Gallery in St John’s. Gill’s work will also be included in a two person exhibition with Beth Oberholtzer scheduled to open in January 2006 at the Rooms Provincial Gallery.

The Grenfell Art Gallery will continue its exploration of the field of sculpture with a public round table discussion, “Building a visual arts career in Atlantic Canada – specific issues and challenges for sculptors,” on Thursday, November 10 at 12 noonin the gallery. Participants will include William Gill, Halifaxartist Leah Garnett, and Newfoundland artists Gerard Kelly and Jason Hussey. The art gallery located in the Fine Arts Building on the second floor. All are welcome to attend both events.

Editors please note: William Gill and Leah Garnett are available for interviews.

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