Cynthia Fuhrer
Artist Statement
No being exists in isolation. We know now we are not separate from the natural world, we are intrinsically connected to it. We are constantly presented evidence of the world changing, protesting changes that we are causing. The world is losing forests and animals at an alarming rate. Starving and displaced wildlife are an alarm, a wake up call, for a future in which we create a struggle for ourselves to survive. No matter how dressed up we are, we are biological creatures, and our environment effects our well being as it does the smallest of insects and largest of animals. If it effects one, it effects all.
With large scale paintings, my work proposes a mythical framework for the depiction of human beings in the wild, connected and responsible to a diverse community of plant and animal inhabitants. The tropes of historical painting post-Renaissance through the Romantic period, and into 19th century Modernism provide the framework for me to picture a tableaux that captures the symbiotic presence of these enlightened spirit beings. The figures are presented as a formally composed portrait; directing their gaze, confronting and acknowledging the viewer. Human presence is juxtaposed in a natural setting with mythical animals where children stand with fortitude alongside sacred creatures, sharing the burdens of a history that is left to them. The subjects are depicted as guardians of a shared landscape, invoking a positive coexistence and perhaps a glimpse into a sustainable future
CV
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Education |
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| 2001-3 | University of Alberta, M.F.A. in Painting, Edmonton, AB | |||
| 2000-1 | University of Guelph, M.F.A. in Painting, Guelph, ON | |||
| 1997-9 | Extracurricular Courses: University of Alberta | |||
| 1994-7 | University of Alberta, B.F.A., Edmonton, AB | |||
| 1992-4 | Grant MacEwan Community College, Fine Art Diploma, Edmonton, AB | |||
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Awards
2019 EAC Project Grant |
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| 2012 | Edmonton Artist Council, CIP Project Grant | |||
| 2010 | Edmonton Artist Trust Fund, Project Grant | |||
| 2008 | Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Project Grant | |||
| 2007 |
Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Project Grant Edmonton Arts Council, Project Grant |
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| 2006 |
Canada Council Visual Arts, Travel Grant Edmonton Artist Trust Fund: Travel Grant Alberta Foundation for the Arts: Project Grant |
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| 2004 | Canada Council Visual Arts: Creation/Production Grant | |||
| 2002 |
Alberta Heritage Graduate Scholarship Florence Andison Friedman Award |
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| 2000 | University of Guelph, Delpha Award | |||
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Solo Exhibitions 2019 Splendid String, Bleeding Hearts AC, Edmonton |
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2011 |
I Make My Own Friends, Harcourt House Gallery, Edmonton, AB, January – February | |||
| 2008 | Abyss Bliss, Fringe Gallery, Edmonton, AB | |||
| 2007 | It was the Biggest Brick You Could Have Thrown, Fringe Gallery, Edmonton, AB | |||
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2005 |
Recent Shootings – Faces and Figures, Scott Gallery, Edmonton, AB Strict Machine, Fringe Gallery, Edmonton, AB If this mouth could talk….Harcourt House Gallery, Edmonton, AB |
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| 2003 | Go a Progress, MFA graduate show, FAB Gallery, U of A, Edmonton, AB | |||
| 2001 | Dank; Zavitz Gallery, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON | |||
| 2000 | Catharsis; Harcourt House Public Gallery, Edmonton, AB | |||
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Group Exhibitions |
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| 2011-12 | Lost and Found, Art Gallery of St. Albert, St. Albert, AB, December 2011- January 2012 | |||
| 2008 | Worse things have happened to better people, Works Festival, Stollery Gallery, Edmonton | |||
| 2007 |
TURF, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton, AB Free for All, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB |
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| 2006 | Neither Here Nor There, ArtsHab Gallery, Edmonton, AB | |||
| 2005 | ‘Collections – FINA Faculty’, University of Kelowna, Kelowna, BC | |||
| 2003 | Fast Forward, FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB | |||
| 2002 | Just Desserts, FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB | |||
| 2001 |
2+ Headed Projects; Zavitz Gallery, U of G, Guelph, ON The Helpless Academics; Zavitz Gallery, U of G, Guelph, ON |
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| 2000 |
Curious Hybrids; Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver, BC Fresh Meat; Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB |
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Teaching and other Art Related Experience |
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· Owner/Instructor: Picasso’s Playhouse Dayhome and MonkeeHaus Art School, 2013-2017 · Instructor: Lion’s Club, Edmonton, AB, 2016 · Instructor: Figurative Drawing, GMCC Outreach, Edmonton, AB, 1999-2009 · Lead Artist: Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, Edmonton, AB, 2007-2010 · Instructor: Portrait Drawing, GMCC Outreach, Edmonton, AB, 2007 · Gallery Assistant: Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton, AB, 2006-2007 · Preparator Assistant: Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, 2006-2007 · Art Education Chair: Harcourt House, Edmonton, AB, 2005 (Volunteer) · Instructor: Figurative Drawing and Painting, Harcourt House, Edmonton, 2004-2005 · Gallery Assistant: Scott Gallery, Edmonton, AB, 2004-2006 · Assistant: various art courses, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, 2002-2003 · Visual Art Coordinator: Other Voices Magazine (Volunteer), Edmonton, AB, 2002 · Instructor: Visual Foundations, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, 2001 · Instructor: Visual Studies II (Foundations), University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, 2001 · Print Study Archivist: Bachinski-Chu Print Study Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, 2000 · Gallery Assistant: Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB, 1999 |
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Publications and Reviews |
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· “Exhibit captures joy of rediscovery”, Janice Ryan, Edmonton Journal, December 20, 2011 · “Artists find themselves at AGSA exhibit”, Glenn Cook, St. Albert Leader, December 1, 2011 · “Flakes fascinate photographer”, Scott Hayes, St. Albert Gazette, November 30, 2011 · “Familiar decay”, Carolyn Jervis, VUE Magazine, Jan 13-18, 2011 · “Following Her Bliss”, Jill and Mandy, SEE Magazine, December 18, 2008 · “You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Be Arrr-ty!”, Amy Fung, Vue Weekly, July 2007 · “A showcase for ‘challenging’ art”, Gilbert Bouchard, Edmonton Journal, July 18 2007 · “Purging Pain Through Art”, Gilbert Bouchard, Edmonton Journal, Dec 29 2006 · “Cynthia Gardiner’s Body of Work”, Barbara Dacks, Legacy Magazine, Winter Issue 2006 · “Postmodern Touches”, Gilbert Bouchard, Edmonton Journal, January 27 2006 · “Shapes in the Shadows”, Agnieszka Matejko, Vue Weekly, January 19 2006 · “Portraits of the Artists” Mari Sasano, Edmonton Journal, June 24 2005 · “Artist in Touch with Mortality”, Gilbert Bouchard, Edmonton Journal, February 18 2005 · “Matter of timing for these artists”, Gilbert Bouchard, Edmonton Journal, , December 12 2003 · “Fuhrer Sticks With the Art Gig”, Mike Winters, See Magazine., August 17 2000 · “Fresh Meat at Douglas Udell” Ed Charles, Edmonton Journal, May 5 2000 |
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Public Art Projects |
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| Alberta Avenue Revitalization Project, Permanent Installation, 3 images selected for granite installation on 118th Avenue, Edmonton, AB |
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Public Art Collections |
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| Alberta Foundation for the Arts | ||||
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Cynthia is represented by the Front Gallery in Edmonton Cynthia’s work is included in private collections in Canada, the US, and the UK.
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