Born: August 20, 1940. Lockhartville, NS
Medium: Oil
ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT
1963 – Oil painting classes with Tom Forrestall. Pursued individual art studies from art books and original paintings.
1969–75 – Experimented with drawing and painting using different techniques.
1976 – Painted landscapes and used family and friends as models for life studies.
1976–78 – Life Drawing
1976 – Personal style began to develop as a result of becoming involved in social change groups.
Began exhibiting.
EXHIBITIONS
1976 – (solo) Maritime Gathering of Quakers, NS
1977 – (group) Y.M.C.A, Halifax, NS, Celebration of Women’s Art
1978 – (group) Odin’s Eye Gallery, Halifax, NS
1979 – (group) Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, Halifax, NS, Survival Atlantic Style (National travelling exhibition)
1980 – (solo) Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, Education Connection
1981–82 – Wentworth Gallery, Dartmouth, NS
1983 – (group) A.K.A. Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Women in Politics
1984 – (group) Eye Level Gallery, Halifax, Satire as Discontent
1985 – (group) Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Visual Arts Nova Scotia Exhibition
1987 – (solo) Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, Close to Our Hearts
1987 – (group) Eye Level Gallery, Halifax, Two Room Group
1987 – (group) Ronan Gallery, Victoria, BC
1988 – (group) Lublin, Poland, Halifax/Poland exchange and show
REPRESENTED IN PUBLICATIONS
Survival Atlantic Style, 1979, catalogue, Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery1977
Visual Arts News, summer, 1979
Arts Atlantic, summer/fall, 1979
Women in Politics, 1983, catalogue, A.K.A. Gallery
Artmagazine, Nov./Dec/ 1979
Arts Atlantic, winter/spring, 1988 (critique by Robin Metcalf)
Faces of Halifax by John Davis, 1988
PAINTINGS REPRODUCED
“At the End of the Rope,” for Women’s Emergency Coalition pamphlet cover and in the Dalhousie Legal Aid Services pamphlet: Understanding the Law, a Guide for Women in Nova Scotia
COLLECTIONS
Nova Scotia Art Bank, Halifax, NS
Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
Private Collections in Nova Scotia and abroad
Commissioned portraits
Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, ON
TEACHING
1983 – Guest Lecturer, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
1986 – Portraits in charcoal, Private Studio
1986 – Visiting Artist to Schools
AWARDS
1964 – Maritime Winter Fair, prize for “The Old Man”
1981 – Canada Council Short Term Grant
1984 – Mary Goodwin Foundation, Nova Scotia
1984 – Department of Culture and Recreation, NS, Travel Grant
1987 – Department of Tourism and Culture, NS, Grant for Framing
1990 – STREETsmART; ART ON GOTTINGEN STREET, Halifax, NS. Winner of competition to paint a 6’ x 13’ mural of The Interior of a 19th-Century General Store (acrylic on canvas). Exhibited in the window of Employment Support Services Office
SLIDE COLLECTION
Mount Saint Vincent University Slide Registry
Maritime Provinces Education Foundation (for use by Art Teachers)
Visual Arts Nova Scotia
MEDIA COVERAGE
Halifax Herald, June 1979 - article
Information Morning, CBC Radio, June 1979 - Interview
Halifax Herald, photograph of recent work
Atlantic Afternoon Show, ATV, 1984 - interview
Halifax Herald, 1984 - photograph of work in show Satire as Discontent
Halifax Mail-Star, 1985 - photograph of artist sketching a portrait
Dartmouth Express, August 1985 - interview on Portraits
Halifax Herald, 1985 - photograph, creating a portrait
Halifax Cable TV, February 18 & 25 - interview on “The Eye Level Gallery Reopens on Gottingen Street”
Atlantic Television, 1987 - half-hour documentary called “Living Outloud”
Halifax Sunday Herald, December 29, 2002 - article by George Elliott Clarke on the film, Bernice
PLUS
1991 – Founded Dunk City Artists Co-Operative
1992 – Interviewed for Women Artists Journal, produced by Mount Saint Vincent University (video being used by the N.S. Department of Education for distribution in the schools)
2002 – Will Fraser created a one half-hour documentary, “Bernice”, about my life and work. It was accepted into the Atlantic Film Fesitival and will be shown on Bravo twelve times over the next four years.