MICHAEL A. HUNTER CV

cv 2015

Michael Hunter

Artist Statement 2015

My primary concern is to paint things that I am passionate about. An issue that I find particularly motivating is the current human treatment of the environment. The environment sustains every life; we all depend on and use its resources to our advantage, whether it is directly and purposefully, or not. How we use the environment is important if we are to continue to live healthy lives. In the last century, we have progressed at an amazing rate relative to the rest of human history. I feel we may be paying a price for our apparent progress through pollution and waste. We create nuclear waste to make power; claiming the carbon footprint produced is minimal in comparison to coal burning power plants. We in turn use our lakes and rivers to cool the generators of power plants, which warms and pollutes our limited water supply. I am not a politician and I do not have the answers or alternative solutions. Nonetheless, I am made uneasy by the fact that we are working against nature in search of material wealth.

I draw inspiration for my work not only from my concern for the environment, but from my family’s history and rural past. My time spent raised on the open landscape of a farm and living so close to Lake Erie developed in me a deep respect for the Great Lakes and disgust at how they are being polluted. The human impacts on the environment and the ignorance of the future limitations we will face do to our mismanagement of it are subjects if great interest to me. One must only carefully observe our once clear lakes to realize the greatly detrimental effects caused by our actions as a society.

My next series of paintings, Lake Erie to Huron, will deal with the natural lines that the water and wind create. After every storm the sand on the beach is transformed. Lines are carved making designs in the sand. I will attempt to translate this landscape in much the same way as I did with my painting Natural Writing (2015), carving the lines into the plywood. These new works will also contain garbage I find on the beach in order to represent the ever expanding need of humans to create and consume millions of tons of consumer goods. These goods create waste and my inclusion of them will show how out of control humans are, especially since these goods mostly end up in a landfill, incinerated, or dumped into the ocean. The ecological devastation of plastic is the main message I am trying to convey in my work.

BIOGRAPHY

· Born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, 1969

· Moved from the family dairy farm in Jerseyville to Muir, Ontario, Canada 1976

· Moved to Temple, Texas, 1993-1997, and Hamden, Connecticut, United States, 1997-2003

· Moved to Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, 2003-2018

Moved to Wawa 2018

EDUCATION

· Fanshawe College, Woodstock, Ontario, Diploma - Mechanical Heating and Cooling Technician 2004-2006

· University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Bachelor of Fine Art 1991-1993

· Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Diploma Fine Art 1988-1991

AWARDS

2013 – Jurors choice Visual Elements 55th Annual Juried Exhibition, October 12^th-December 7th Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2013- Honourable mention "Beating The Storm" 2nd annual arts country juried competition June 15-July 7, Glenhyrst Gallery, Brantford.

GRANTS

2015 Ontario Arts Council Framing Grant

EXHIBITIONS

SOLO SHOWS

2017 - Taking the Natural and Forcing it into a Constructed State July 15 - September 23rd Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2014 - Ingersoll Creative arts Center "Breaking through the door of perception" Door series March 2-March 30

2012 - Oxford county art project, Art in public spaces April 2012-September 2012 Woodstock District Community Complex, Woodstock, Ontario.

2011 - Oxford county art project, Art in public spaces December 2010-February, Woodstock District Community Complex, Woodstock, Ontario.

2005 - “How’s the Water” June 9-August 30, Chili David’s Restaurant, Woodstock, Ontario.

2001 - The Community Gallery at Bethany Chiropractic Center, April 28-June 30, Woodbridge Connecticut.

2001 - Hamden Miller Memorial Library, February 22-April 5, Hamden, Connecticut.

2001 - Fish and Chipper, April 2000-April 2001, Port Rowan, Ontario.

2000 - Fish and Chipper, April 12-October 25, Port Rowan, Ontario.

1997 -Printed images, Pressor Art Gallery, May 4-April 4, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, Texas.

1996 - Sorges Restaurant, March 1-October 15, 57th St, Temple, Texas.

GROUP SHOWS

2016 - Visual Elements 58th Annual Juried Exhibition, July 16 -September 23, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2015 - Visual Elements 57th Annual Juried Exhibition, July 18 -September 26, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2015 - Sally Creek Golf course February 26-April 1, Woodstock, Ontario.

2015 - ACG 4 County Group Show, February 9-March 31, Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Port Dover, Ontario.

2015 - Art at the Inn Gallery Opening, January 8-February 10, Elmhurst Inn Ingersoll, Ontario.

2015 - Canadian Employment Services in the boardrooms, February 10-March 27, Woodstock, Ontario.

2015- Main lobby of the Woodstock Hospital March 17-April 21, Woodstock, Ontario.

2015 - Christmas in the Village, Westland Gallery 156 Wortley Road, London Ontario December 9-January 3

2014 - 4th Annual 50/50 A Fundraising Exhibition & Sale November 28-December 13, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2014 - The Seventh Annual Oxford Studio Tour May 1 & 2, 451 Drew St., Woodstock, Ontario.

2014 - The Light House Festival Theater, September 4-October 22, Port Dover, Ontario.

2013 - Visual Elements 55th Annual Juried Exhibition October 12^th-December 7th Woodstock Art Gallery. Woodstock, Ontario.

2013 - 3nd Annual 50/50 A Fundraising Exhibition & Sale, October 20-December 15, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2013 - The Annual Art Auction Friday, November 1, St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, St. Thomas, Ontario.

2013 - Second Annual Arts Country Juried Arts Competition June 15^th-July 7^th, Glenhyrst Art Gallery, Brantford, Ontario.

2013 - “Farm to Shore”- Eva Brook Donly Museum & Archives. This special exhibit shows the works of Canadian artists Barbara Clark Fleming and Michael A. Hunter highlighting farm scenes and the Lake Erie shore. March 1-30 Simcoe, Ontario.

2012 - 2nd Annual 50/50 A Fundraising Exhibition & Sale October, 20-December 15, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario

2012 - Visual Elements 54th Annual Juried Exhibition grand opening of the new gallery September 29-November 24, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2012 - “Identity Transfer” - Juried Exhibition, January 14-March 3, St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, St. Thomas, Ontario.

2011 - Visual Elements A New Era 53th Annual Juried Exhibition, September 10-November 5, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2011 - 1st Annual 50/50 A Fundraising Exhibition & Sale, November 30-December 10, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2010 - “22 Inspired Art” JMR Art Gallery May 22 to June 19, Bayfield, Ontario.

2010 - The Third Annual Oxford Studio Tour May 1 & 2, 451 Drew St., Woodstock, Ontario.

2009 - Oxford Creates Craigowan Golf & Country Club, November 13-15 Hwy 59 N RR #6 Woodstock, Ontario.

2009 - Peek Week April 11- 18, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2009 - Second Annual Oxford Studio Tour May 2 & 3, 451 Drew St., Woodstock, Ontario.

2008 - Oxford Creates Craigowan Golf & Country Club November 13-15 Hwy 59 N RR #6 Woodstock, Ontario.

2008 - Visual Elements 50th Annual Juried Exhibition May 31-July 19, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, Ontario.

2004 - Art Show at the Arts Project, September 21-25^th, 203 Dundas St., London, Ontario.

2002 - City-Wide Open Studios 400 artists October 19-31^st, New Haven, Connecticut.

2002 - 47^th Annual Spring Exhibition Mount Carmel Art Association April 8-May 3, Connecticut.

2002 - Hamden Town Hall December 2001-June 2003. Showing of Hamden Connecticut Artists.

2001 - City-Wide Open Studios 350 artists October, 19-31^st, New Haven, Connecticut.

2001 - Edgerton Park Carriage House Exhibition, June 16-17, New Haven, Connecticut.

2000 - City-Wide Open Studios 400 artists, October 19-31, New Haven, Connecticut.

2000 - Hopkins Vineyard September 16-18, New Preston, Connecticut.

2000 - City-Wide Open Studios 400 artists, October 6-2, New Haven, Connecticut.

1999 - Hopkins Vineyard September 16-18, New Preston, Connecticut.

1999 - Housatonic Art League Juried Exhibition Rail Road Station, New Milford, Connecticut.

1999 - Cultural Activity Center November 1- 30, Temple, Texas.

1994 - London Regional Art and Historical Museum February 19-May 1, London, Ontario.

1993 - “Generating Voice”, August 5-September 12, McIntosh Gallery University of Western, London, Ontario.

1992 – The Center of Contemporary Art, March 1-April 1 St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, St. Thomas, Ontario.

1991 – University Center at the University of Windsor, December 1-January 1, Windsor, Ontario.

1991 – Fanshawe College Graduation Exhibition, April 17-May 5, McIntosh Gallery University of Western, London, Ontario.