ARTIST STATEMENT

On collage:

It is the medium that excites me. The contrasts of colour, texture and form give life to my imaginings.
I enjoy working in a very spontaneous, PROCESS way. I play around with the collage, watercolour
and drawing at the beginning. Then, I let the work take on its own unconscious level by
restating fields with paint and pastel, softening and intensifying as I go.
Finally, I have fun by adding elements such as sewing and stamps.
This is a very layered process which can take weeks. Encaustic will be part of the process.

The titles are also a source of pleasure for me. I pin up all the pieces on a big board and go with
the 'stream of consciousness'. I respond to the GESTALT of the piece by engaging recalled thoughts and memories and allowing them to take precedence over any literal idea. I enjoy feedback from others about the titles as people are invited to take meaning from their own life experience.

Music also plays a big part in my work as it is my wish that the viewer can appreciate
my pieces like good songs. I like to think that the colors act as harmonic chords, form and
line make the rhythm and melodic structure and the textural elements give the collages character
and style in a rich, cross-cultural way.

I have been making collages solidly since my graduation from O.C.A. in 1987. I never tire of it.
Often, I go back to the basics; drawing and painting outdoors, portraits and interiors and still life,
but this is just for refreshing enjoyment and learning.

Over the past few years I have greatly enjoyed teaching. My students brought me so much joy
and I miss them since my move to Guelph. Our weekly painting, drawing and portrait classes
were so great. I have had fun teaching 'young artists' here in Guelph on Saturday mornings at
The Guelph School of Art, and still with my 'Scientists/Artists' with my Scientists in School programs
that I do around Wellington county, entitled; 21st Century Renaissance - The Power of Science
and Art.

I can often be found at the Barber Gallery helping out in the gallery/exhibition space or up in the workshop.

As an artist, I feel so grateful for all the support I receive from my family and friends.
It gets a bit crazy around here, especially right before a show! I never plan on stopping though.
I canít, it is what I do, collage.


Toby MacPhee March 2005




 


GUILDED


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WORLD'S BEST HELPER




TABLEAU


CONTACT
TOBY MACPHEE
email:tmacphee766@sympatico.ca



EXHIBITIONS

2004 - 2006
BARBER GALLERY
Participated in juried gallery shows; Fire in the Head, Proceedings,
Yuletide Ingredients
On going representation of my work

May 2005
ART IN THE MILL
Fun fundraiser for Guelph Youth Music Centre programs

October 2004,2005
GUELPH ARTS FESTIVAL
Annual art show and sale in downtown Guelph

December 2004
GROUP EFFORT
Here and Now Gallery, Toronto
Small works collective by Toronto artists

September 2003
COLLAGE INSTALLATION
Window of Opportunity invitational 22 piece
A Show of Hands, Toronto

September 2002
SQUARE PEGS
Here and Now Gallery, Toronto
Solo exhibition

July 2000
THE DIGNITY OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Toronto City Hall Rotunda Group Fundraising exhibit for 'Women in Transition'

April 2000
ART 6
Arts and Letters Club, Toronto, Ont.
Group exhibit

December 1999, 2000
DECK THE WALLS
Trinity College, Toronto, Ont.
Group exhibit invitational

December 1998
HOLIDAY COLLECTION
Ontario Crafts Council Gift Shop,
Richmond Adelaide Centre, Toronto, Ont.

February 1998
MINIATURES
Praxis Gallery, Toronto, Ont.
Group exhibition of miniature art

July 2000, 1999, 1997,
TORONTO OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITION
1996, 1994, 1992, 1991, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Ont.

1990, 1988, 1987
December 1996
2nd ANNUAL MINIATURE EXHIBITION
Robert Cadotte Gallery, Simcoe, Ont.

October 1996
WILLIAM MORRIS WAS NOT A CAT
Robert Cadotte Gallery, Simcoe, Ont.
Exhibition of new works in Polaroid Transfer and collage with artist Karen Wylie

February 1996
UNIQUELY ONTARIO, TORONTO GIFT SHOW
Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ont.
Trade show for home - based artisans

December 1995
1st ANNUAL MINIATURE EXHIBITION
Robert Cadotte Gallery, Simcoe, Ont.

September 1995
LYNNWOOD BIENNIAL JURIED EXHIBITION
Lynnwood Arts Centre, Simcoe, Ont.
Show featuring 30 artists of the Haldimand - Norfolk region

July 1995
ARTFEST 1995
Lynnwood Arts Centre, Simcoe, Ont.

December 1994
FURNITURE BY ARTISTS
Forest City Gallery, London, Ont.

July 1994
SPRING GARDEN SHOW
Gibson Gallery, London, Ont.

February 1994
MERGE
Forest City Gallery, London, Ont.
Juried group exhibition of up and coming area artists

December 1993
6th ANNUAL MINIATURE SHOW AND SALE
Gibson Gallery, London, Ont.

December 1990
PERCIEVED ARTIFACTS
Gallery 291, 80 Spadina Ave. Toronto, Ont.
Solo exhibition of works in collage

July 1990
ROUND - UP
Open studio tour of Toronto Artists

March 1990
SOLO EXHIBITION
Ballett Mackenzie Art Gallery, St. Catharines, Ont.

January 1990
WOMEN OF A KIND
Lincoln Regional Arts Council, Grimsby Public Library
Group exhibition of area artists

1989
BALLETT MACKENZIE ART GALLERY
St. Catharines, Ont.
Participated in all monthly collective shows

January 1988
ELECTRIC IMAGES, Toronto, Ont.
Exhibition of 12 works on permanent display

October 1987
2nd ANNUAL MINIATURE SHOW
Del Bello Gallery, Toronto, Ont.

May 1987
THE ELMWOOD WOMEN'S CLUB, Toronto, Ont.
Juried show of OCA Scholarship winners

MEDIA AND BOOK PUBLICATIONS

2005
CATEGORY SEVEN
artwork appearing in made for T.V. movie

March 1995
THROUGH THE YEARS by Mary Black
Cover Illustration

May 1986
O.C.A.P. Printmaking Anthology


LECTURES, TEACHING,SEMINARS

1989/1990
Guest Instructor for weekly Painting and Drawing classes at Ballett Mackenzie Art Gallery

February 1990
Lectured at Mohawk College 'Understanding Modern Art'

1997/1998
Hosted a co-op placement in my studio in Simcoe, Ont.
also, a Polaroid workshop at the high school

March 1998
Art Workshop at Glenhyrst Gallery '3D daze' and 'Double Takes'

March 1999
Ontario Crafts Council - Volunteer group
Slide show and presentation 'Talking Collage'

September 2001
Arts Guild Scarborough - Lecture and Collage Demo

January 2002
Don Valley Art Club - Lecture and Collage Demo

February 2002
Arts Guild Scarborough - Collage Workshop

May 2002
Training Session - for Parks and Recreation leaders 'Teaching Collage to Kids'

2002/2003
Monthly workshops of ìThinking Artî for TDSB in Primary Gifted Class (GR.1, 2, 3)

2001-2003
Taught for Toronto Parks and Recreation, Adult Art Classes, Acrylic Painting,

2001-2004
2001-2005 Drawing,Outdoor Painting, Portraiture
2001-2006

-2004/2005
Taught at the GUELPH SCHOOL OF ART ,Young Artists
-currently teaching with Scientists in School ì21st Century Renaissance - The Power of Art and Science

ABOUT THE ARTIST

- Graduate of the Ontario College of Art (1987) and winner of the David L. Stevenson & Son Award for Painting
- Visual Artist working in collage, mixed media and Polaroid Transfers
- In May 1995 formed company COLLAGE ART AND DESIGN, selling functional art.

- Works are available in:
Toronto; 'Art Interiors' 446 Spadina Rd.
'A Show of Hands' 1016 Eglinton Ave. West

Hamilton;'The Boutique' 944 King St. West
Guelph; 'Barber Gallery' -- 167 Suffolk St. West







INFO FOR ARTISTS

 
All artwork copyright © by the Artist