User:Kuzso/sandbox

[User:Kuzso|Kuzso]] (talk) 16:35, 22 March 2012 (UTC)

Gerard J Kelly was born at Burin, Newfoundland. He grew up in Mooring Cove, just outside Marystown on the Burin Peninsula. In high school Gerard studied art with Ronald Fredette who encouraged Gerard to continue his artistic interest. It was Ron Freddette who enabled Gerard to go to Saint Michaels Print Shop, then located in Saint Michaels and work with Don Wright for two weeks in 1979. Don influenced Gerard's decision to go to University and instead Gerard enrolled in the Visual Arts Program opening up at Bay St. George Community College in 1980, now CONA. Gerard's relationship with Don Wright continued until Don's untimely death in the mid 80's. Ray Mackie was the main instructor for the visual arts program at BSGCC, but many prominent Newfoundland artist also taught there. Gerard studied painting and drawing with Gerry Squires, and Print making and drawing with Scott Goudie, and drawing with and printmaking with Don Wright. "I remember I made my first sculpture when working with Gerry Squires. He took us out to Port aux Port for a day of landscape painting. I spent most of that day piling driftwood to create a form on the beach. Then I spent the rest of that day drawing what I had constructed. Later in the year with the encouragement of Ray Mackie I worked with the drawing to create a monster of a plaster sculpture that later had to be destructed to move it from the building."

In 1982 Gerard graduated from the Visual Arts Program at BSGCC, with a Diploma in Visual Arts, and started work on his BFA at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Gerard was accepted with one year advanced standing. Having studied mostly all painting, and drawing, and becoming very proficient at it Gerard's intention to become a painter was interrupted by faith.

"I was working back shifts at a Green Gables store and slept in on Registration day. By the time I got to the College all the classes were filled. Administration found a spot for me in the first year sculpture class, and I never looked back!"

At NSCAD Gerard excelled at sculpture being first in the class in first year and maintaining a high standing thorough out his studies. While studying for his Bachelors Gerard held his first solo exhibit at the LSPU Hall Gallery in St. John's, Newfoundland, "Three Pieces of Art". Gerard studied with many prominent Canadian and International artist while he studied at NSCAD. John Greer, who was head of the Sculpture Dept. at NSCAD at that time has been a major influence on Gerard's career since. Gerard graduated from NSCAD in 1986 with a BFA and a major in sculpture. Gerard's graduating exhibit was shared with an Ontario artist and was called "Myth-Guided Youth". Mythology is a theme that has run through Gerard's work since.

After graduating from NSCAD, Gerard moved to New Brunswick and lived in Saint John, and Fredericton, where he was invited to take part in exhibits with local artist. He exhibited at the Windrush Gallery in Saint John in 1987 and at Gallery Connection in Fredericton in 1989.

In 1990 Gerard returned to Newfoundland, and in 1991 took part in the "No Fishing" exhibit with many prominent Newfoundland artist. In 1994 Gerard returned to college and completed a two year course in woodworking at CONA in Burin. He graduated with a Diploma in Woodworking Technology.

Gerard has been working as Sculpture Technician at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, MUN, since 1997. Gerard has built bronze furnaces and helped develop bronze casting using the lost wax method at SWGC, though he primarily works in stone. He has championed stone carving on the island in many presentations and exhibits. He has made use of the Arts and Culture Centers across the island to bring his art to a broad Newfoundland audience and has taken part in political discussions and news interviews forwarding the causes of Newfoundland artist. In 2005 Gerard was selected as one of eight stone carvers from across Canada to take part in the first Atlantic Stone Carving Symposium which was held in Inverness, NS. He has lobbied and talked with Government about funding of the Arts and Culture Centers across the Island so that they can host peer reviewed exhibits and pay CARFAC fees. This year Gerard was invited to take part in round table discussions on this subject due to his stance, and rapport with Government.

Gerard is represented by the Red Ochre Gallery in St. John's and State of the Art Gallery in Corner Brook. Gerard has work in many private and corporate and Government collections, and as an artist continues to promote Newfoundland art and artist and Newfoundland marble throughout the world. In 2009 Gerard took part in exhibits in, Kilkis, Greece and in Istanbul, Turkye. Presently working on a Masters of Fine Art in Sculpture at the University of Alberta.