steffichfineart
michaelHAMES
Michael Hames has produced a
remarkably diverse collection of works including sculpture, illustrations,
landscapes, still life, nudes and portraits in his career. As a painter,
sculptor and teacher, Michael has excelled in his artistic expression.
Michael was born in
Ontario in 1952 and spent his childhood in western
Canada.
He became interested in art early in life and while attending art school, he ran
an art centre on Saddle Lake Indian Reservation in
Alberta.
Making early note of
his talent, Michael was awarded the Elizabeth T. Greenshields Memorial
Foundation Grant upon graduating from the Alberta College of Art in 1975.
In the late 1970's,
Michael taught drawing through Selkirk College and spent many seasons as a tower
man on the fire lookouts in the mountains of western Alberta. Michael has
worked as a freelance illustrator since moving to the coast in 1985 and has
twice exhibited at the National Museum of Canada. His work hangs in private
collections around the world.
Frequent pilgrimages to
the foothills of south western Alberta continue to be an inspiration for many of
his landscapes. Michael's figurative work has a timeless, haunting quality.
Also an accomplished sculptor, his sculpture is typically bronze and original,
although he has two limited edition bronze castings depicting a raven and a hawk.
Landscape Statement
Natural environments
can be intimidating in their emptiness giving them an ability to provoke
emotions uncommon to everyday experience. I believe the "Big Empty" inspires an
awareness of the absurdity of a personal genealogy or historical reference in
the face of such an obvious and overwhelming lack of momentum to the passage of
time.
My Process
A basis of the creative
process is for me a sincerity of intent- the intention being simply to adhere to
the ethic of creative development. To rely on a single technical skill is to
follow a recipe of recognizable style and is a declaration of creative
limitation or a submission to fiscal responsibilities. The manipulation of
unfamiliar materials introduces technical challenges in the form of accidents,
opening doors to fresh approaches to increasingly old subjects.
If I have a recognizable style, I would hope that it exists as a communication
of emotional or intellectual response. I have no desire to be bored….or boring.
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