The Arts Council presents
“Catfish: Images of Deceit and Misrepresentation”
by artist Bill Edmonds
September 15 to October 7
1 to 5pm Tuesday – Sunday
Opening Reception: Sunday September 20, 2-4pm
Artist Talk: Sunday September 27, 2-4pm
(a part of Culture Days)
Artist Statement
My current body of work questions anonymity and the release of personal information. Initial contacts were made on internet chat sites with random individuals who had indicated a common interest in art. The Stranger was then asked to send me their photo with a view to having their image painted. Often I suspected the image was not their own and if an image was sent to me there were frequent unseen conditions and agendas. Initially trusting with my internet contacts, time saw me become increasingly suspicious that the photo had been sent by a Catfish*. I employ a combination of media and techniques making quick sketch style renderings by applying common house paint to Plexiglas panels often adding scraps of the texts that were sent to me along with the photos. These paintings are then photographed and printed onto Hahnemühle Photo Rag Paper. This labor-intensive process is designed to create another layer to my visual exploration and reveal the charged undercurrents of these on-line interactions.
About the Artist
I have lived and painted in Hope for the last 5 years, prior to this I was based in the Thompson Okanagan for 25 years and then North Vancouver for 6 years. My work has been strongly influenced by the artists of the St Ives and Newlyn Schools of Southwest Cornwall where I grew up. My first series of shows were mainly in Central BC and on Vancouver Island. These were quick style renderings in House Paint based on candid moments captured through the lens of my camera. I then had some intermittent shows [mostly group] in New York and Los Angeles but have now returned to my roots in BC. For the last 2 years I have been exploring the internet and have produced a body of work designed to promote a dialogue on anonymity and the release of personal information. The submitted works are inspired by the relationships formed with strangers over the internet. The images produced were based on photos and texts sent to me by these strangers.
Curriculum Vitae
Future Exhibitions
2015 Solo Show VISAC Gallery, Trail BC
2015 Solo Show,Arts Council of New Westminster,New Westminster, BC
2016 Solo Show, Leigh Square Community Arts Village, Port Coquitlam, BC2016
2016 Solo Show, Chilliwack Art Gallery, Chilliwack BC
2016 3 Person Show, Deer Lake Gallery, Burnaby, BC
2016 2 Person Show, Gibsons Public Art Gallery, BC
Solo Shows
2015 “Random Strangers”,April 21st-May 10th Silk Purse Art Gallery West Vancouver BC
2015 “Bill Edmonds questions Anonymity”, March 6th- 28th, Station House Gallery, Williams Lake, BC
2015” Talking to Strangers” Feb 5th-March 14th,Summerland Art Gallery, Summerland, BC
2015 ” Talking to Strangers”, Jan 27th -Feb 14th, Mission Art Gallery, Mission BC
2013 ”You and the Stranger both like Art”, Nicola Valley Arts Council, The Courthouse, Merritt, BC
2004 “Remix”, Nanaimo Arts Council Nanaimo
2004 “Remix”, The Station House Art Gallery, Williams Lake
2-3 Person Shows
2014 ”People and Places”, The Fort Gallery, Fort Langley, BC
2014 “How Soon Is Now?” Sunshine Coast’s Art Centre, Sechelt, BC
2014”Talking to Strangers”, Place des Arts, Coquitlam, BC.
2009 “Unison”, A-forest Gallery, New York
2004 “Candid Moments”, SAGA Public Art Gallery, Salmon Arm.
2004 “Candid Moments”, Old School house, Qualicum Beach
2003 “Candid Moments” KAG, Kamloops, with Renee Van Halm and Susan Schuppi
2003 “Figurative Abstracts”, Maple Ridge Art Gallery, Maple Ridge
Group Shows
2015 Fraser Valley Regional Biennale – Kariton Art Gallery,Abbotsford, BC
2014 “About Face”, North Vancouver Community Arts Council, North Vancouver, BC
2013 Fraser Valley Biennale 2013 Exhibition, The Maple Ridge Art Gallery, BC
2010 “Essence” Group show at Campbell River Art Gallery, Campbell River, BC
2009 “World of Imagination”, APW Gallery New York
2008 “Life in America” State Museum of Arts, Almaty City, Kazakhstan
2008 “Theater for the Arts”, New City Gallery, New York
Texts and Television
2015 Segment on go! Okanagan Shaw TV[”Talking to Strangers”] airing week Feb. 11th
2010 “Visual Artists of the Nicola Valley” Celebrating art and culture in our community
2008 Byron Coleman Review Article in Gallery and Studio Magazine
2003 “Candid Moments” Susan Edelstein, Exhibition Catalogue KAG Kamloops
Exhibition Preview
