THE TONI ONLEY ARTISTS’ PROJECT
FOR EMERGING & PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS
Download the Artist Project Brochure
(Formerly named the Wells Artists’Project)
Artist Mentors: David Alexander and Peter Von Tiesenhausen
Saturday July 19th – Sunday July 27th, 2008, 9am – 3:30pm
Last summer Island Mountain Arts proudley renamed the Wells Artists’ Project the Toni Onley Artists’ Project.
World renowned BC artist, Toni Onley (1928 - 2004) very much embodied the spirit of the Wells Artists’ Project. He had a great passion for going into remote areas in order to gain inspiration; he was also very savvy in the business of being a successful Canadian artist. In re-naming the project we hope to honour these aspects of Toni’s artistic career and spirit.
The renaming is the first step in a long term vision to develop an eight-month artist development program in Wells called the Toni Onley School. Participating artists will live and work in the remote hamlet of historic Wells in order to create a body of work for exhibition.
Fee: Eight-Day Session $840 Cdn + $42 GST = $882
Four-day Session $430 Cdn + $21.50 GST = $451.50
(July 19 – July 22)
Please see below about how to apply for a scholarship
Max. Enrolment: 16
*Students are welcome to use the studio spaces after hours.
*Food and accommodations not included, however a very low cost breakfast and lunch will be available at the school.
*Participants must bring with them their own supplies; easels are provided.
Application Process:
Applicants must submit 6 - 10 images of their work (digital format on CD preferred), Bio and artist statement to IMA by June 15, 2008 to be eligible. As the course can fill up quickly, it is advised to submit application as soon as possible.
Send to:
Attn: Julie Fowler, Artistic Director
Wells Artists Project Application
Box 65, Wells, BC, V0K 2R0
media@imarts.com
Registrations may be taken after that date, depending on space available. Payment options include: cash, cheque, money order, and Visa or Mastercard.
Project Description:
First offered in 2000 with distinguished Canadian artist Norman Yates, The Toni Onley Artists’ Project (formerly named the nWells Artists’ Project) has had a tremendous impact on the artistic development of those who have taken part. Participating artists will spend nine days in Wells (Wednesday, July 23th is a self directed day) painting in the IMA studios under the mentorship of two senior Canadian artists.
This is a forum for artists to explore and develop their ideas in relation to visual arts practice. With hands on experimentation as the starting point, artists will engage in an exchange of ideas aimed at better understanding the possibilities of the creative act - an ideal experience for artists wishing to hone their craft while in a creative, supportive and learning environment. The artist mentors, with their vast knowledge and experience from working as professional visual artists in Canada and internationally, will give valuable keys to those artists keen to forward their artistic practice in the visual arts and spur production of new bodies of work. A shorter four-day session (July 19th – July 22nd) is also available.
The Artist Mentors:
David Alexander:
Born in Vancouver, BC, David Alexander studied at the Vancouver School of Art from 1967- 70, Langara College Art Department from 1971-72 and graduated with a BFA from Notre Dame University in 1978. In 1980 he moved to Saskatoon to attend the University of Saskatchewan to obtain his masters degree while researching in Paris, New York and London. In October of 2006 Alexander attended the Morris Graves Foundation in California where he completed a number of very small paintings on wooden panels that he is presently translating into larger format acrylic paintings on canvas. In the spring of 2007 he visited Japan where he obtained further inspiration. Alexander’s signature landscapes and abstracted waterscapes represent his significant career through a bold palette and gestural paint application. Alexander’s works are in many public and private collections around the world such as the Vancouver Art Gallery, Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa, the University of Toronto and the Institute of Art - Hafnarfjordur, Iceland.
Peter Von Tiesenhausen
Alberta artist Peter Von Tiesenhausen has a fierce connection to the land. That connection is present in all of his work, whether it’s in a painting, mixed media, an installation, or a sculpture made of willow branches, granite, bronze, or wood. Born in British Columbia, Peter moved with his family to Demmitt, Alberta, outside of Grande Prairie, when he was young. He has a strong attachment to his family homestead and still lives there with his own family. Much of Peter’s art deals with transformation and transience. His deep involvement with the land is evident, he works with willow branches, ice and wood, there are installations high up in trees, in the middle of the bush, or in open fields. He lets nature take its course. Peter’s art production is non-traditional; he burns, carves and otherwise transforms environments into art spaces. Curator Virginia MacDonnell comments that "in a sense we’re looking at artwork where the subject itself changes and one’s interpretation of this work can change depending on when you view them." His etchings and drawings are part of his The Watchers series, when he traveled the length and breadth of Canada with five larger than life-sized wooden figures. The process incorporated the figures within various landscapes of Canada, from west to east, north to south, he interacted, imposed, and documented their progress and impact. The use of the traditional oil/canvas landscapes represents a return to an early phase in his oeuvre. Peter enjoys this return to the expressiveness of oil paint. He continues to move beyond the constraints of the format to explore other art practices in his search to evoke the power of the land.SCHOLARSHIPS:
Scholarships/Bursaries Available
1. Sonia Cornwall Scholarship: This scholarship, which covers the full tuition (value $840), is available for one emerging artist living in the Cariboo.
2. IMA Scholarships: This scholarship covers the tuition for the four-day session, July 19 - 22 (value $430) and is open to artists from across Cananda.
3. IMA Bursaries: If not selected for a scholarship Island Mountain Arts has a limited number partial bursaries based on financial need. Please indicate if you would like to be considered for a bursary.
4. Okanagan Arts Magazine Scholarship This scholarship, which covers the full tuition (value $840), is available for one artist living in the Okangan.
5. Kootenay Carnival Magazine Scholarship This scholarship, which covers the 4-day session (value $430), is available for one artist living in the Kootenay/Boundary Region.
Selection Criteria:
What are the Selection Criteria?
Based on a review of the application materials and the following considerations, Island Mountain Arts will select two individuals to receive scholarships. Scholarships will be awarded through a juried process based on the following criteria. Island Mountain Arts reserves the right to change these criteria if the submissions warrant.
Applications must include the following:
Show a commitment to their art practice.
A letter stating what they hope to gain from this experience
Provide a current CV and artist statement
Provide 6 - 10 images of artwork created in the last year either as slides or digital images.
A commitment to attend the course if accepted
What is the application deadline?
Thursday, May 1st, 2008...Deadline Extended to May 9! (successful applicants will be notified no later than May 30th)
How do I apply for this scholarship?
Mail the above requested information to:
Toni Onley Artists’ Project - Scholarship
Island Mountain Arts
PO Box 65, Wells, BC, V0K 2R0, Canada
Questions? Call 1-800-442-2787
Island Mountain Arts School Policies
- Registration: A (non refundable) deposit is payable upon registration. Final payment is due no later than seven days before a course begins. Please add 5% GST to adult courses.
- The registration deadline is two weeks before class start. Registrations will be taken after that date, space permitting.
- Refund: There are no refunds on course deposits. If full payment has been made, and a student withdraws from a course, 75% of the workshop fee will be refunded. Note - there are no refunds the final week before classes begin.
- Cancellation Policy: If Island Mountain Arts cancels a course due to insufficient registration, the entire fee will be refunded. Cancellation decisions are made two weeks before course start.