Art In Canada - Canadian Artists

Marijo Readey

Artist Marijo Readey

Artist Statement

The landscapes and images of the northern United States and Canada inspire my painting and my photography. Primary influences on my art work include the Woodland School of Painting, of eastern Canada, and by the works of the Artist Hopid of the Hopi First Nation in Arizona. Individual Artists who have also influenced my sense of composition include master of a range of media. These artists include Rubens, Daphne Odjig, Michael Kaboti, Emily Carr, the Group of Seven (Canadian Impressionists), and the Dutch Masters.

Because I was first trained in etching, drawing and in painting, the compositional influences and the methods of that training spill into my photography. Some of my work is strict, nature photography. At other times, I start with a photograph, and I then manipulate and abstract the image through a series of filters and mathematical transforms to express some emotional or spiritual state that I perceive as contained within that image.

I enjoy portraying spiritual and allegorical images that portray the similarities of cultures. I prefer to use my art to accentuate the joys of human and of natural experiences and the threats that unite us despite the differences among members of our species. In 2004-05 I began a series of works that portray spiritual experiences around the world, including the Three Magi, the Diwali celebration, and the Long Hair Kachinas. I intend to continue these spiritual portraits in 2005-06.

Formal Art Training:

• 1979-81 Three Schools of Art, Toronto Ontario
• 1980 Toronto Technical School (additional training in etching)
• 1979-81 Life Drawing Ms. L.E. Wakeland, Toronto
• 1990's (scattered classes) College of DuPage
• 2001 Botanical Drawing Morton Arboretum

Supporting Education:

• 1977 B.Sc., Biology, Northeastern Illinois University
• 1986 Ph.D. Zoology, University of Toronto
• 1993 A.A. Psychology and Addiction Counseling, College of DuPage

Teaching:

• 1992 to present: Roosevelt University, Chicago Illinois, Department of Biology
• 1998 to present: Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois, Department of Biology

These classes have largely directed the subject matter and methods used to express my artistic vision.

Display History:

The first public showing of my paintings was at the Second Massey College Art Show at the University of Toronto in 1978. There, I used the pseudonym "Emma Jamison" so that I could listen to comments without people knowing I was one of the artists. There I displayed three works: a tribute to Tom Thompson (the artist, not the politician), Black Tusk Mountain, and my first draft of Justice/Fraud. I had little access to large canvases then, so that initial drawing was done on a piece of plasterboard. (After more than 20 years, I finally did the final draft this past year!)

Since that initial showing, I have displayed my paintings, photographs and drawings at various art fairs and shows around the Chicagoland region. I have donated pieces of art work to various charities, including two works donated to Art Against AIDS benefits for Weiss Memorial Hospital.

Because my time became scarce as I began to teach, I have had only two solo shows, one at the "Lickin-Chicken" Gallery (no chicken) at Bathurst & Bloor in Toronto, and one at Resurrection Hospital in Chicago. Although teaching duties have limited the number of exhibitions in the past, I am now free to spend more time marketing and displaying my art.

Currently, I have two projects ongoing with Canadian counterparts. My picture entitled the Basket Carrier is on its way to KIAC as part of their fund raising/ cultural materials. I produced a photograph for the Thompson Manitoba Humane Society as part of its fund raising efforts, and I have that photograph on display in Thompson's Precambrian Gallery.

Finally, I am a featured artist at Prairie House Gallery, a North-Dakota-based e-company (www.prairiehousegallery.com), and at Little Blue Stem Gallery of North Dakota (www.littlebluestemgallery.com). (I am a part owner in both of these sites.)

I am also registered at the slide registry of the North Dakota Art Gallery Association:
www.ndaga.org/Artists/Photography/Readey/readey.html# (which has its home page www.ndaga.org).




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Marijo Readey
PO Box 566 Rolla, North Dakota



E-mail: tetrahymna@comcast.net  Website: www.prairiehousegallery.com

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