Banff National Park Gallery of Fine Art and Photography

Artist Statement and Biography - Robert Sinclair RCA

Artist's Statement

While my work is ‘subject matter’ oriented, it has never been descriptive. It is about exploring, possibly as a metaphor, what is our reality – the answering or exploring of this question(s) will always be visual not philosophical.

Much like sumi-e the most important part of my work is that which is not painted or that which is left unsaid. My work is about searching for balance, specifically a balancing of opposites, in a sense the ‘yin and yang’ of things. Concurrent to this disciplined approach to form is a free and lyrical use of colour.

The result, in my work, is a stillness or quietude as if one is meditating or being presented with a meditative process, ‘the inward path’. This approach has always involved bringing what is called ‘the beginner’s mind’ to my art. A state where you know you are ignorant and are totally open to what is being presented to you. This is a state of awareness and the viewer has always been invited in.

Alberta Centennial Medal for the Arts Recipient

"My primary mode of expression is in watercolour and acrylic stain painting developed around the landscape and botanic themes. At the moment I am working on a 'Bow Valley Series' of mountain watercolours, a series of watercolours involving icebergs floating in the ocean and an islands and ocean theme from the Canadian coasts. In recent years I have also been exploring the oriental single stroke brush painting technique as a way to further explore my landscape themes."

Robert Sinclair, RCA, CSPWC was born in Saltcoats, Saskatchewan in 1939 and holds a B.F.A. from the University of Manitoba and a M.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the State University of Iowa. Robert taught art at the University of Alberta from 1965 to 1996. Since the 1980's he also taught art at the Banff School of Fine Arts and continue to teach at the Red Deer College Summer Series Program. Robert runs his own watercolour workshops combining art and awareness techniques to explore the connections between creativity and physical/spiritual well being. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.

A significant theme is Robert's work is The Bow Valley Series, which he started late in the fall of 1996. These paintings have a quality of being understated. They are suggesting rather than telling or describing the whole story / picture. They invite participation on the part of the observer. Because something is left unsaid, the beholder is given a chance to complete the idea, to actually become part of the painting. The watercolors are an attempt to portray the essence of the feeling, of the place of the Bow Valley.

"I am engaged in the painting of a perception - the perception of the extra-ordinary in the ordinary. Of the backyard flower and of the faraway mountain...of the sun and of the moon...of that which calls my heart. This is the dance I play, and my art is the visible remnant."

Robert Sinclair is a practicing Canadian professional artist who has exhibited regularly in Canada since 1972. He is also a teacher of tai chi and has practiced Buddhist meditation for many years. He is represented in many corporate and public collections across Canada, America, Europe and Japan. Since 1965 his work has been featured in 73 solo exhibitions and 47 group shows at public galleries, universities and commercial galleries in Canada, the United States and abroad.

Studies:

1961                       University of Manitoba, B.F.A.
1965                       University of Iowa, M.A.
1967                       University of Iowa, M.F.A.
1987                       Leighton Artists Colony, Banff, Alberta
1989                       Shozo Sato Sumi-e Workshop, Vail, Colorado
                                Landscape Artist Workshop, Leighton Foundation, Calgary, Alberta
1990                       Shozo Sato Sumi-e Workshop, Vail, Colorado
                                Landscape Artist Workshop, CPAWS, Willmore Wilderness, Alberta
1994                       Shozo Sato Sumi-e Workshop, Fort Bragg, California

Teaching Positions & Workshops:

1965 to 1997: Dept. of Art & Design, University of Alberta
2004 (fall): Dept. of Art & Design, University of Alberta
1973 (summer): Visiting Artist in Residence, University of Iowa
1976 (summer): Special Visiting Artist, Banff School of Fine Arts
1985 to present: Series Summer School Instructor, Red Deer College
1992 to present: Mindfulness and Watercolour Workshops, Black Cat Ranch, Hinton, Alberta
2000: Mindfulness and Watercolour Workshops, Nelson and Kati Kati, New Zealand
2001, 2002, 2004, 2007: Mindfulness and Watercolour Workshops, Willock and Sax Gallery, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
2002: Mindfulness and Watercolour Workshop, Rivergetaways, Drumheller, Alberta
2008:
Artist’s Workshop, Whyte Museum/Willock & Sax Gallery, Banff, Alberta
Mindfulness and Watercolour Workshop, Harcourt House Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
2009:
Retreat - A Visual Haiku Workshop, Willock and Sax Gallery, Banff at Juniper Hotel and Bistro
Drawing and Watercolor Workshop, private (Nanton)
2010:
Travel Log - Drawing and Watercolor Workshop, Willock and Sax Gallery, Banff
'Plein Air" Drawing and Watercolor Workshop, private (Nanton)

Member:
Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts
Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour

Awards:
June 2004, presented with the ATCO Lifetime Achievement in the Arts by the City of Edmonton at the Mayor’s Business in the Arts Awards
February 2006, Alberta Centennial Medal for outstanding contributions to the arts in the Province of Alberta

Solo Exhibitions:

2010 (pending - April)
Robert Sinclair, Travel Log, Willock and Sax Gallery, Banff
Robert Sinclair - Dust of Days, a retrospective at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Robert Sinclair - Cusp, Scott Gallery, Edmonton
2009
Bow Valley Revisit: A Visual Haiku, Willock and Sax Gallery, Banff, Alberta
2008
“New Work”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Banff, Alberta
“Walkabout & Artist’s Talk”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Banff, Alberta
“Dust of Days”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
2006
"As Above, So Below”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
2005
“Pyramid Series”, The Gallery at Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, Alberta
2004
“Potpourri”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
“Alberta Wildflowers”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton, Alberta
2002
"Cross-Sections”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton, Alberta
“Botanic Work”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
2001
“Recent Explorations by Robert Sinclair”, Nikko Yuko Japanese Garden, Lethbridge, Alberta
“Robert Sinclair”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton, Alberta
“The Magic of Jasper Park”, The Gallery at Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, Alberta
2000
“Mountain Mantra”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1998
“Sinclair Recent Works”, Royal Envelope Show, Toronto, Ontario
1997
“Between Sun and Moon”, Profiles Public Gallery, St. Albert, Alberta
“Bow Valley Series”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1996
“Robert Sinclair: A View of Newfoundland”, The Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s, Newfoundland
1995
“Robert Sinclair: Recent Works”, Kathleen Laverty Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
”Robert Sinclair: Call Water-colours”, Horizon Art Galleries, Vancouver, British Columbia
1994
“Song Stream”, Kathleen Laverty Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
“Robert Sinclair: Watercolours”, Della Scala, Toronto, Ontario
1993
“Stillness in Motion:, Kathleen Laverty Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1992
“Robert Sinclair”, Della Scala, Toronto, Ontario
1991
“Carpe Diem”, Kathleen Laverty Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
“Summer Times”, Four Corners Gallery, Red Deer, Alberta
“Heaven-and-Earth”, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff, Alberta
1990
“Summer Dreams”, Thomas Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
1989
Kathleen Laverty Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
“Amaryllis, Amaryllis”, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1988
Madison Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Thomas Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
1987
Madison Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1986
Kathleen Laverty Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Thomas Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Conservatory, Delta Bow Valley Inn, Calgary, Alberta
1984
Hett Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Thomas Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
1983
Chapman Gallery, Red Deer, Alberta
Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Thomas Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
1982
Hett Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton Art Gallery, “Robert Sinclair: A Survey of Recent Work”, Edmonton, Alberta
1981
Thomas Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canadian Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Aggregation Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1980
Chapman Gallery, Red Deer, Alberta
Equinox Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1979
Aggregation Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1978
Equinox Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
Aggregation Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1977
Aggregation Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1976/77 “Pertaining to Space”, The Art Gallery of Ontario; Woodstock Art Gallery; Art Gallery of Brant, Brantford, Ontario; University of Guelph Art Gallery, Ontario; Art Gallery of Windsor, Ontario; Laurentian University Art Gallery, Oakville, Ontario; (Organized and circulated by the Art of Gallery of Ontario Extension Dept.)
1976
“Robert Sinclair: An Eight Year Survey”, Aggregation Gallery, Ontario
“Robert Sinclair: Time and Place”, The Gallery, Stratford, Ontario
1973
Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Banff School of Fine Arts, Banff, Alberta
1972
Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Aggregation Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1971
“Sinclair: Travelling Show”, British Columbia Art Gallery Circuit
1970
Aggregation Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1969
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
1968/69
“Robert Sinclair”, University of New Brunswick Art Centre; Owens Gallery, Mount Allison, New Brunswick
1969
Sackville, N.B; Confederation Art Gallery, Charlottetown, P.E.I.; Memorial University Gallery, St. John’s, Newfoundland
1968
Moorehead State College, Minnesota
1967
Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
1966
Banff School of Fine Arts, Banff, Alberta
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
1965
University of Iowa, Iowa City

Selected Groups Shows:
2008-9 "The Essense of Landscape", Alberta Foundation for the Arts travelling exhibition
2007 “Gallery Artists”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Banff, Alberta
2005   “Gallery Artists”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta; “Gallery Artists”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton, Alberta; “Gallery Artists”, The Gallery at Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, Alberta; “Gallery Artists”, The Gallery at Chateau Whistler, Whistler, British Columbia; “Gallery Artists’, Ingram Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2004 “Draw”, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta; “Edmonton Excels – Half a Century of Painters at the University of Alberta’s Dept. of Art & Design”, FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta; “Gallery Artists”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton; “Gallery Artists”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton; “Gallery Artists”, The Gallery at Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper; “Gallery Artists”, The Gallery at Chateau Whistler, Whistler; “Gallery Artists’, Ingram Gallery, Toronto
2003 “Gallery Artists’, Ingram Gallery, Toronto; “Qu’Appelle: Tales of Two Valleys”, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan;               “Gallery Artists”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton;“Gallery Artists”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton;“Gallery Artists”, The Gallery at Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper;“Gallery Artists”, The Gallery at Chateau Whistler, Whistler;“Gallery Artists’, Ingram Gallery, Toronto.
2002 “Qu’Appele: Tales of Two Valleys”, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario; Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan; “Gallery Artists”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton;“Gallery Artists ”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton; “Gallery Artists”, The Gallery at Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper; “Gallery Artists”, Ingram Gallery, Toronto.
2001 “Bears, Bears and More Bears”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton; “Sweet 16”, Profiles Public Gallery, St. Albert, Alberta
2000 “Mexico/Canada Watercolour Societies Show”, Etobicoke City Hall Art Gallery, Etobicoke, Ontario; “April Flowers”, Ingram Fine Art, Toronto; “The Canadian Landscape”, Ingram Fine Art, Toronto; “Gallery Artists, Spring Show”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton;             “Gallery Artists, Fall Show”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton.
1999 “Royal Canadian Academy Play Card Collection:, Gallery Stratford, Stratford, Ontario; “Incredibly Fine”, Willock & Sax Gallery, Waterton; “Mexico/Canada Watercolour Societies Show”, Museo Nacional de La Acuarela, Coyoacan, Mexico
1998 “Gallery Artists”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton; “Xhuhong Mao with guest Robert Sinclair”, (installation elements piece), Profiles Public Gallery, St. Albert, Alberta
1997 “Gallery Artists”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton
1996 “Gallery Artists”, Scott Gallery, Edmonton
1995 “Growers Well”, McMullen Gallery, University of Albert Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta
1994 “Hidden Values: Western Corporations Collect”, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta; “Asian Pacific Institute Exhibition”, Grant MacEwan College Gallery, Edmonton;
1992/94 “Artist in Wilderness: Images of a Vanishing Alberta”, Provincial Museum, Edmonton; Edmonton Art Gallery, Extension Exhibition, Edmonton; Manulife Place, Edmonton; Centennial Public Library, Edmonton; First Emerald Awards, Convention Centre, Edmonton;                “Life and Space”, Kathleen Laverty Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1991 “Works on Paper”, Virginia Christopher Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1990 “Art of Research and Technology”, Esso, Calgary, Alberta; “Spaces and Places: Landscape Painting in Alberta:, Alberta Art Foundation travelling show, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Hokkaido, Japan; “Serendipity of Fascinating Orchidaceac”, McMullen Gallery, Walter C. MacKenzie Centre, Edmonton, Alberta
1989 26th Annual Sumi-e Society of America, Juried Exhibition, Washington, D.C.; Virginia Christopher Gallery, Calgary, Alberta;                Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour Annual Show, Toronto, Ontario; “Canadian Art”, Government of Alberta Centre Gallery, Hong Kong; “Art for All”, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1988 25th Annual Sumi-e Society of America, Juried Exhibition, New York City
1987 “Art for All”, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta; “Contemporary Edmonton Art”, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1986/88 “Spaces and Places: Landscape Painting in Alberta”, Alberta Art Foundation travelling show
1985 “Christmas Groups Show”, Kathleen Laverty Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta; “Gallery Artists Show”, Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto;      Alberta Pavilion, Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs; Japan World Fair 60th Annual Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour Diamond Jubilee Juried Exhibition (presented to Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle Library)
1984 “Gallery Artists Show”, Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; “Still Life Group Show”, Hett Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1983 “Gallery Artsits Show”, Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; “Group Show”, Hett Gallery, Edmonton; “Choices”, Provincial Museum, Edmonton, Alberta (Alberta Art Foundations Collections); Universiade Kaleidoscope Watercolour Exhibition, Principle Plaza, Edmonton; Canadian Art Exhibition – Crown Suite, Westin Hotel/Hett Gallery, (Prince of Wales and Lady Diana suite) Edmonton, Alberta
1982 “Paper and Clay”, (Alberta Art Foundation) Continuation of University of British Columbia, “Cloud Flowers: Rhododendrons East West”, Travelling Exhibit, Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh; Confederation Centre, Charlottetown, P.E.I.; Norman McKenzie Gallery, Regina; Provincial Museum, Edmonton, Alberta; Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
1981 “Little by Little”, Alberta Art Foundation Show, London, England;“First Purchase”, Harbourfront Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

Selected Collections:
Royal Collection of H.M. the Queen, the Royal Library, Windsor Castle
Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa
Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff
Art Gallery of Windsor, Ontario
Agnes Etherington Art gallery, Queen’s University, Kingston
The Gallery, Stratford, Ontario
Confederation Art Gallery, Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Glenbow Museum, Calgary
Alberta Art Foundation, Edmonton
C.B.C., Calgary
Ontario Institute of Studies in Education, Toronto
Western University, Guelph, Ontario
Simon Fraser University Art Gallery, British Columbia
University of Alberta, Edmonton
University of Iowa, Iowa City
Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
Deutsche Bank, Toronto
The Northland Bank, Edmonton
Guarantee Trust, Vancouver
Norcen Energy Resources, Toronto and Calgary
Shell Canada Ltd., Calgary
Toronto Dominion Bank Collection, Toronto
Oxford Development Group, Edmonton
Esso Resources, Calgary
Chevron Standard
Canadian Superior Oil
Pan Canadian Petroleum
Department of External Affairs, Government of Canada
Toronto Dominion Bank, Edmonton
Canadian Development Corporation
Guarantee Trust
I.D.X. Holdings
Investcan Ltd.
Ouida, Touche and Associates
Vencap Equities Alberta
Athabasca University
Inter-Provincial Pipeline, Edmonton
Government House, Edmonton
Heinze Jordan Co., Toronto
Bannister Construction, Toronto
Dr. Rainer Hocherl, Munich, West Germany
Sceptre Resources Ltd., Calgary
McLeod Dixon, Calgary
British Petroleum, Calgary
Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg
Neuman Thompson, Edmonton
Government of Alberta Agent General to Japan, Tokyo
MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
Wallace & Partners, Toronto, Ontario
Melcor, Edmonton, Alberta