Biography
Following a long career in public library and cultural administration, Keith now enjoys a career as a sculptor, working primarily in clay. He specializes in figurative sculpture, both people and animals. He has participated in public art projects as well as many group and solo shows, and holds an annual show and sale at his home studio.
During the pandemic he worked on COVID19 related pieces that illustrate the confusion and isolation of this difficult time. These pieces also formed the bulk of the work at his recent solo show at Harcourt House “And the Virus Made Everything A Bit Strange…”
Keith is also a long-time member of the Sculptors’ Association of Alberta, where he serves as Program Director, and Harcourt House Artist Run Centre, where he did figurative sculpture with live models over a period of about 20 years.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2003 – 2023 Seminars and workshops Harcourt House and Sculptors’ Association of Alberta.
1998-1999 City Art Centre, Stone carving, and figure sculpture in clay.
1993-95 Faculty of Extension, U. of A. Figures, portraits and abstraction in sculpture
1985 Master of Public Administration, Queen’s University
1969 Bachelor of Library Science, University of Alberta
1966 Bachelor of Arts, University of Alberta
ARTS EXPERIENCE
2009-2024 Program Director, Sculptors' Association of Alberta
2019 – 2024 Instructor, City Arts Centre, Leduc Arts Foundry (some Covid 19 years missed)
2011 Project Manager and artist, Homeless Memorial, a project of the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness funded by the Edmonton Arts Council. The public art project was completed by a team of inner-city artists, with design and art by Ritchie Velthuis and fabrication by Mike Turnbull.
2009-2011 Instructor, Figurative Sculpture, Southeast Edmonton Seniors Centre
2007 - 2008 Board, Edmonton Arts Council (president 2007)
2007 - 2008 Steering Committee, Edmonton 2007 Cultural Capital of Canada Project
2004 - 2014 Board of Directors, Harcourt House Arts Centre
1997 - 2006 Board of Directors, Fringe Theatre Adventures
2006 – 200. Coordinator/Curator, “What a Girl Wants” art show and sale. (RAH foundation)
1997 - 2004 Arts District Partnership, representing Edmonton Public Library
1997 - 2004 Associate Director, Edmonton Public Library
JURY EXPERIENCE
2009 Alberta Foundation for the Arts peer juries
2003 - 2008 Edmonton Arts Council, various peer juries
2003-2004 Stanley A. Milner Library Gallery Selection Committee
EXHIBITIONS
(all are in Edmonton unless otherwise indicated)
SOLO
2022 "And the Virus Made Everything a Bit Strange" Harcourt House (Sept. 16-24)
2012 “Women”, Alberta Craft Council Discovery Gallery (Feb 28 – Mar 24)
2008-2024 Open Studio, shows and sales, Home Studio (no shows during COVID19 pandemic)
2005 Sculpture show (tribute to Hon. Lois Hole). Stanley A. Milner Library
GROUP
2015-2024 Various SAA on line shows, Old Strathcona Artwalk, Night of Artists Artwalks
2001-2024 Annual Member and Naked shows, Harcourt House
2010- 2024 Kaleido and Deep Freeze Family Festivals, Arts on the Avenue, (many years)
2004-2018 SAA shows at the Muttart Conservatory
2008 -2014 SAA shows, Stanley A. Milner Library
2010 “Thespiae”, Fringe Gallery, Paint Spot
2009 “Helicon”, Fringe Gallery, Paint Spot
2009 “Odyssey”, Urban Roots Gallery
2009-2009 “ Smaller Than a Cone Box”, The Works
2008 “The Cone Box Show”, Alberta Potters’ Assoc. and AFA TREX program
2008 “Form Unfolding II”, McMullen Gallery
2008 “Triton and the Nereides”, The Works
2008 “Eleusis”, The Fringe Gallery, Paint Spot
2007-2010 Silver Skate snow sculpture competitions
2007 “Towers of Ilion”, The Fringe Gallery Paint Spot
2005-2006 Sculptor’s Association of Alberta, large cement sculpture projects at “The Works”
2006-2007 “Art on the Block”. Art Gallery of Alberta annual fundraiser
2005 “Lightness of Being”. McMullen Gallery
AWARDS
2009 City of Edmonton Arts and Culture Citation Award
2004 Presidents Award, Library Association of Alberta
1994 Distinguished Alumni Award, Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta
1985 Frances Morrison Award for Outstanding Service to Libraries in Saskatchewan
COLLECTIONS
Private collections in Canada and the USA, various
AFA/Alberta Craft Council “Clay 2010”, small figure
Alberta Craft Council "Alberda", raven