User:VVerstraete/sandbox

Biography
Gerrit Verstraete is an artist, author, storyteller, and spiritual mentor. He is an honors graduate of the Ontario College of Art (1964-1968, now OCAD University). He is the founder of the Drawing Society of Canada, and the Canadian Academy of Drawing online. He has a Ministerial Diploma from Summit Pacific College, BC. He also has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from Thompson Rivers University, BC. He completed a Master of Arts in Communication and Technology (MA) degree at the University of Alberta, and he holds a Master of Theology (MTH) degree from St. Stephen’s College / University of Alberta, as well as a Doctor of Creative Arts (DCA) degree at CLU, Fla., USA.

His artistic and professional journey spans over 53 years. He was born in 1945, in the Netherlands and immigrated to Canada in 1958. He and his wife Alice live on Gabriola Island, on the Pacific Northwest coast of British Columbia. There he draws and writes in his Masterpeace Fine Art Studio, as well as being co-pastor alongside his wife in the island’s Church On The Rock, and a founding director of The Hope Centre, a licensed childcare facility and family resource Centre on Gabriola Island.

Gerrit Vincent Leonard Verstraete, AOCA, BFA, was born in 1945. He has been a professional artist for over 53 years. He began his fine art studies as a child in the Netherlands, his country of birth. There he attended Hopmanshuis fine art school in the medieval city of Zwolle. In 1958, the Verstraete family moved to Canada. After completing high school in 1964 he enrolled at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. He graduated with honors in 1968 and is an Associate of the Ontario College of Art ( AOCA ). In 2001 He completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the British Columbia Open University. The journey, however, took an unusual course for the young artist. Instead of pursuing fine arts full time, he founded and owned a design studio that soon grew into a nationally accredited advertising agency. For 15 years, and with a staff of 26 in Toronto and Ottawa, his creativity appeared in print, on billboard, radio, television, in corporate design and "business theatre". His work included many creative projects in the world of performing arts with some of Canada's leading dance and theatre companies. Married and with a growing family that would soon count six children, he continued to attend evening drawing sessions at the college to keep his skills sharp and work fresh. In 1982 he founded the Christian Communications Centre whose work included teaching, conference management and publishing. In 1993 he moved his family to Gabriola Island, British Columbia. There he built a large family home including a spacious studio. Today he spends full time drawing in his Masterpeace Fine Art Studio. He was board member and president of Festival Gabriola, the island's arts council. Gerrit Verstraete is the founder of the Drawing Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Drawing (online).

At age 65 he returned to graduate studies at the University of Alberta, St. Stephen's College (University of Alberta), and Christian Leadership University, USA.

ACADEMIC ( including Post Secondary)

1958 - 1964     Wallaceburg ( Ontario ) District Secondary School

1964 - 1968     Honors Graduate Ontario College of Art ( Communication, Advertising, Design and Fine Arts 4 year college program ) recipient of AOCA, Associate of the Ontario College of Art degree.

1965                Advanced studies in Human Anatomy, University of Toronto, Medical Faculty

1972                Extension studies Business Management, Sheridan College, Mississauga, Ontario

1978                Extension studies Managerial Psychology, Sheridan College, Mississauga, Ontario

1983 - 1986     Graduate Rhema Correspondence Bible School

1989 - 1992     Graduate Ministerial Program CPCC / Canadian Pentecostal Correspondence College, now Summit Pacific College

1999 - 2001     Graduate British Columbia Open University with BFA, Bachelor of Fine Arts  degree (now Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC)

2006                Online studies with The Tate Gallery in London, UK, course: “Modern Art and Contemporary Art.”

2009 - 2012     Master of Arts in Communication and Technology, University of Alberta

2012 - 2015    Master of Theology, St. Stephen’s College, University of Alberta.

2015 - 2016     Doctor of Creative Arts, CLU University, Fla., USA

2015                Appointed as Executive Producer for the Oscar Cahén Centennial (1916-2016) book project.

2016                Initiate a Catalogue Raisonné Project for the creation and management of the John Gould Archives (1929-2010) and the Gerrit Verstraete Archives (1945-)

2018 - 2020     Wrote and published the authorized biography of John Howard Gould

Memberships ( present and past )

Gabriola Community Arts Council / Festival Gabriola Society (BC) - since1997, President of the society 1999 - 2001. The Artery Gallery & Art Centre, Nanaimo / Nanaimo Arts Council / Nanaimo Art Gallery / Continental Arts Centre (Rotterdam, the Netherlands ) / Professional Association of Canadian Theatres / International Visual Arts Association / Mississauga Arts Council / Visual Arts Mississauga / Canadian Netherlands Business and Professional Association / Federation of Canadian Artists / Canadian Marriage Contact Bureau / Toronto Amsterdam Twin Cities Association. / Color Pencil Society of America / CIVA Christians in Visual Arts / founder of the '''Drawing Society of Canada. / Co-founder of The Bastion group, a drawing group in Nanaimo / European Academy of Culture and Arts, Verstraete Evangelistic Association, The Hope Centre. The Golden Key International Honor Society''' (2012). The Cahén Foundation and Archives (2011). Visual Literacy Foundation of Canada (2011), CAA College Art Association (2013, NY). Contributing Member Drawing Research Network, (2013) UK.

Special Exhibitions

1966-1968 -"Graphic Design Canada"  - a retrospective touring exhibition ( also in book form ) touring Canada and Europe, sponsored by the Society of Graphic Designers and    the National Design Council.

1980    "35 Years - A Tribute to Canada" - Canadian Art of Dutch Heritage Exhibition  sponsored by the Canadian Netherlands Business and Professional Association and Toronto's Harbourfront Cultural Centre. Gerrit Verstraete also designed the special  commemorative catalogue that accompanied the exhibition.

1998    "Celebrating the female form" - an exhibition at The Red Gate Gallery, Gabriola BC

1999    "Selection of Drawings" - an exhibition of a selection of the artist's Renaissance  Drawings at The Artery Gallery and Art Centre, Nanaimo, BC

1998 -  1999  "Renaissance Drawings" at the Dales Gallery in Victoria, BC

2001 -  ( October ) "In the footsteps of masters," Portfolio Gallery, Vancouver, Canada

2001 - continuous exhibition of work at the Webster Galleries Inc., Calgary, Alberta

2002 - ( July ) "In the footsteps of masters," Gabriola Artworks Gallery, British Columbia

Special Commissions for public and private display ( 1997 - 1999 )

1.) "Endeavour" - ( completed 1997 ) a special commissioned drawing donated by the Caldwell family of Toronto to Upper Canada College ( Toronto ) fine arts collection, now on            public display

2.) "Endeavour II " - ( completed 1999 ) a special commission for the private collection of the Caldwell family of Toronto.

3.) "The Company" - ( completed 1998 ) a large classical drawing ( 48 X 34 framed ) featuring the original resident actors of the Chemainus Theatre, Chemainus British Columbia. Drawing is on public display.

4.) "The Homecoming" - ( completed 1998 ) large classical drawing ( 45 X 33 framed ) commemorating the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mother Teresa. Recommended for public display by His Royal Highness, Charles, Prince of Wales. Scheduled for public display in Government House, Victoria British Columbia.

5.) "Prayer of Choice" - ( completed 1998 ) a large classical drawing (46 X 32 framed)  celebrating the creativity of Coast Salish master carver, Richard Krentz of Black Creek, BC. Scheduled for display in Queneesh Studios Inc., Vancouver Island.

6.) Participant in annual Thanksgiving Weekend island gallery tour, Gabriola

Books by Gerrit Verstraete

Fiction

On The Run

Sweet Bitter Spring

The Pioneer

Death of a Model

The Ecstasy of Katie Gordon (short story)

Where Lovers Die

The Noah King Ghostwriter Series

Coal Harbour (a Noah King novel)

Cash Creek (a Noah King novel)

Shadow Ridge (a Noah King novel)

Vermilion Forks (a Noah King novel – forthcoming)

The Stone Trilogy

Survivor: a Story of Beginnings

The Quest: a Pilgrim Story

Remnant: a Story of Endings

Non-Fiction

Creative Worlds

The First and Last Kingdom

John Gould: Just me and the paper (biography)

The Kingdom of God – the Age of Governance

Homeward Bound (autobiography – forthcoming)

Poetry

A Remnant Shall Survive: Poetry of the Pacific Northwest 2011-2018

Epics

Cerulean Odyssey: the Long Distance Voyager, Vol.1

Cold Winter Breath, Vol.’s 2-5 of Cerulean Odyssey

Weatherstone: the Quest for E’veden, Vol.1

Weatherstone: the Quest for E’veden, Vol.2

Weatherstone: the Quest for E’veden, Vol.3

Long Poems

The Broadway Players (revised ed.)

Legend of the Copper Canoe

The Window: Revelation as Panorama (forthcoming)

Personal Philosophy

" To share life's journey and teach others what I have learned and to equip them and encourage them to do likewise and teach others "