Seka Owen

EMMA LAKE REVISITED I + zoom	EMMA LAKE REVISITED II + zoom	EMMA LAKE REVISITED III + zoom	EMMA LAKE REVISITED IV + zoom
EMMA LAKE REVISITED VI + zoom	EMMA LAKE REVISITED VII + zoom	EMMA LAKE REVISITED VIII + zoom	EMMA LAKE REVISITED IX + zoom
EMMA LAKE REVISITED X + zoom	EMMA LAKE REVISITED XI + zoom	EMMA LAKE REVISITED XII + zoom	EMMA LAKE REVISITED XIII + zoom
GRIT SERIES I + zoom	GRIT SERIES II + zoom	Softly Gray Series, 5, 1999 + zoom	Softly Gray Series, 2, 1999 + zoom
Global Harmony Series, IX, 2004 + zoom	Global Harmony Series, VIII, 2004 + zoom	Softly Gray Series, 1, 1999 + zoom	New Vision Series, 5, 1998 + zoom
New Vision Series, 10, 1998 + zoom	New Vision Series, 1, 1998 + zoom	New Search, 1997 + zoom	Field of Activity, I, 1997 + zoom
Field of Activity II, 1997 + zoom	Sheffield Lake, 3, 1996 + zoom	New Vision Series 1, 1996 + zoom	Internal Inner, 1995 + zoom
Cumulus, 1995 + zoom	Passing Through the Mind, 1993 + zoom	Light Across the Sea, 1993 + zoom	New Streams II, 1992 + zoom
The Juggler, 1991 + zoom	Strings of Spring # III, 1990 + zoom

What is your art work about [underlying concept, focus, themes, intent, etc]?

My art is my own ambition-my choice. There is no right or wrong way to interpreting my paintings, which are non representational or abstract. Painting for me is the essence of things I have seen, experienced and learned. In the process of my paintings I need to posses a keen sense of my own direction and identity.

What informs your artwork or what are your influences?

I turn for the inspiration to Italian renaissance and Spanish Mannerism artists, such as Botticelli, Titian and El Greco. Their use of light to delineate form was particularly fascination to me.

What matters to you most about the work that you do?

To look at my paintings, the mind of the viewer should get engaged in a direction he or she had not foreseen and rediscover things they had forgotten. The viewer becomes creator to find the meaning to the artwork inside their own mind and senses.

Do you feel you need to position your work within the context of art history and if so what’s your take on that?

I do not feel I need to position my work within historical context. I leave this to historians, art critics and curators.

Is there a trigger or a starting point for each peace?

My work starts intuitively but with control throughout the application process.

How has your work evolved over the last five years?

Images that radiated from a clearly defined focus in my earlier work have been replaced by more complex compositions with a sensitive balance between structure and spontaneity.

What is currently the central motivation for or conceptual concern in your work?

My conceptual concern is that my paintings should effect others as I am affected by some work of art – each painting to be a joy forever, to be something that esthetically satisfies and enriches a life.

How does your physical/geographical environment inform the work you do?

My art work for me is the essence of things I have seen, experienced and learned. I interpret and convey my inner world through my art by following my senses and subconscious memory.

What mediums, techniques, or processes are involved in your art making [and why these]?

My mediums are acrylic, watercolours and mixed media.

I work on l2 ounce canvas, which is stretched to a board of on stretcher. The canvas is then primed three times by diluting Gesso with water and Weldbound glue to get a milky consistency. Once the surface of the canvas is dry, after each application I send the entire canvas by using an electric sander to obtain a smooth surface. This also gives the permanence to the canvas. The image on canvas usually first explored with my sketchbook using watercolours on paper and some coloured pencils. Once the images have been sketched I proceed to apply washes [water and pigments] on the prepared canvas giving certain direction to the painting. The work starts intuitively but with control throughout the application process. For the texture I use Golden acrylic heavy gel, diluted with acrylic gloss medium and very small amount of water. Into this I add acrylic pigment and a small amount of Lascaux metallic pigment to add more brilliance Lascaux paint is a Swiss product which is very high in quality and permanency.

What are your other passions in life and how these influence your work?

Daily physical workouts [swiming, walking, dancing etc.] Playing piano, composing. Attending concerts, operas. All are contributing to maintain equilibrium between mind and body which gives me balance for my personal and professional life.

Why are you an artist?

As long as I remember always wanted to be an artist. It is an urge that I have to follow.

EDUCATION

• 1977 - Graduated from the University of Alberta, Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, from the Department of Art and Design. Major: Painting. Minor: Printmaking and Art History.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (TRAINING)

• 1997, 1987 - LEIGHTON ARTIST COLONY. Artist in Residence, Banff, Alberta, Canada.
• 1987, 1985 - PARTICIPATING ARTIST’S WORKSHOP. Selected artist. Grand Forks Art Gallery Museum, Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada.
• 1986 - PARTICIPATING ARTIST’S WORKSHOP. Selected artist. Japanese Calligraphy, Devon, Alberta, Canada.
• 1984 - PARTICIPATING ARTIST'S SEMINAR. Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
• 1984 - PARTICIPATING ARTIST'S WORKSHOP. Selected artist, Triangle Artists' Workshop, Mashomack, Pine Plains, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.
• 1992, 1982, 1980, 1976 PARTICIPATING ARTIST'S WORKSHOP. Selected artist, Emma Lake, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS AND AWARDS

• 2005 - Elected to membership in the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
• 1999 - Seka Owen, Recipient of the ARTS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, The Calgary Immigrant Aid Society (CIAS), Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• 1998 - Seka Owen, Nominated in the ARTS ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORY, The Calgary immigrant Aid Society (CIAS), Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• 1997 - PROJECT GRANT, Leighton Foundation, Banff, Alberta, Canada.
• 1986 - PROJECT GRANT, Alberta Culture, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• 1985 - PROJECT GRANT, Alberta Culture, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• 1984 - TRAVELLING GRANT, Alberta Culture, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• 1984 - TRIANGLE ARTIST'S WORKSHOP GRANT, The Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

SELECTED PERMANENT COLLECTIONS

• CALGARY ALLIED ARTS FOUNDATION, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• IMPERIAL OIL, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• YUGOSLAVIAN ACADEMY OF ART AND SCIENCE, Zagreb, Croatia, former Yugoslavia.
• THE ALBERTA ART FOUNDATION, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• GENERAL ASSEMBLY, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, DEPARTMENT OF ART AND DESIGN, PRINTMAKING DIVISION, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• RICHMOND ART GALLERY, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
• PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• CAPITAL CITY SAVINGS, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• THE EDMONTON ART GALLERY MUSEUM, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• OSAKA GAS ENGINEERING CO., Osaka, Japan.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

COMMISSIONS

• 2003 - PAM JONES & KORI MCINTYRE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• 1998 - MR. & MRS. L. LAVINE, Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.A.
• 1990 - MR. & MRS. PAUL REINHART, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 1990 - MILONI TRADING & MARKETING LTD., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
• 1990 - PETRIS IMPORTERS LTD., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 1989 - ALVIN & CAROL PEARL, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
• 1988 - EVITCO, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
• 1988 - MR. & MRS. MARTIN COHOS, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• 1983 - MR. & MRS. CHARLES BRUCE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• 1980 - CAPITAL CITY SAVINGS, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

PUBLICATION OF WORK

• 2003 - Calgary Herald, Art Style, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. February 23, 2003, pg E9.
• 2001 - Art Events, Art Space, "Two Decades by Seka Owen", Fast Forward, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. FFWD, March 22-28, pg. 40, 2001.
• 2001 - New Trail, University of Alberta Alumni Magazine, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Spring 2001 p. 33.
• 1999 - Eva Ferguson, "City-Immigrants of Distinction", Calgary Herald, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. April 24, 1999,B7.
• 1999 - Alice Simmons, Visual Art, Seka Owen Painting, Dandelion, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Volume 25, Number 2, pp.104-105, p.188.
• 1999 - Vis a Vis, "Recipients of the 1999 Immigrants of Distinction Awards, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, p32.
• 1996 - Alice Simmons, Visual Art, Feature Artist, Seka Owen Painting, Dandelion, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 1996 Volume 23, Number 1, pp.11-19, p.95.
• 1992 - Christina Sabat, "Visual Arts in Review", The Daily Gleaner. Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, May 23, 1992, page 7.
• 1988 - Imagery, "Seka Owen '77 BFA", Univeristy of Alberta Alumni Association, New Trail, Edmonton, Alberta, Autumn 1988, page 24.
• 1988 - Elizabeth Beauchamp, "Artists Zest for Life Expressed in Acrylic Abstracts", The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, October 1, 1988, Section F1.
• 1988 - The 15th Exhibition of Yugoslavian Printmaking in Zagreb, Cabinet of Graphic Art, Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Catalogue 1988.
• 1988 - Kenworth W. Moffat, Moffet's Artletter, Volume III, No. 1, March 1988, page 84.
• 1987 "Abstract Paintings, Seka Owen", The Works Newsletter, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, June 1987, Volume 2, Number 2, page 18.
• 1987 - Lelde Muehlenbachs, "Seka Owen", The Essay for Wade Gallery Exhibition, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, October 1987.
• 1987 - Yugoslavian Academy of Art and Science, Cabinet of Graphic Art, Catalogue 1987, No. 125, page 4.
• 1986 - Moffet Kenworth, Moffet's Artletter, Volume 1, No. 10, page 3.
• 1986 - Townslee Nancy, "Seka Owen:New Paintings", The Calgary Herald, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, April 25, 1986, page F8.
• 1986 - Bingham Russell, "Abstract Painting in Edmonton". The Edmonton Art Gallery Museum Update, Volume 7, No. 4, September/October, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, pp. 7-11.
• 1986 - Chalmers Ron, "Abstract Demand Gut Reaction", The Edmonton Journal, September 13, 1986, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Section C.
• 1986 - Adams James, "Abstract Painting in Edmonton", The Edmonton Art Gallery Museum Update, Volume 7, No. 5, November/December 1986.

LECTURES, WORKSHOPS AND TEACHING

• 1999 - ST. MONICA ELEMENTARY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL in Partnership with TRANS ALTA, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Art Magic II. Invited Guest Artist.
• 1999, 1998, 1996 - LECTURE/WORKSHOP, Calgary Sketch Club, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Invited Guest Artist.
• 1997 - BLESSED KATERI SCHOOL, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. "In-School Program". Invited Guest Artist.
• 1997 - MILTON WILLIAMS SCHOOL, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. "In-School Program". Invited Guest Artist.
• 1997 - ST. JUDE SCHOOL, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. "In-School Program". Invited Guest Artist.
• 1987, 1986 - INVITED GUEST ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: The Works, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. June 4, 1987.
• 1985 - LECTURE: Grand Forks ARt Gallery Museum, Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada. Lectured to the general public. Invited guest artist.
• 1985 - INVITED GUEST ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: Grand Forks Art Gallery Museum, Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada. October 8-9, 1985.
• 1984 - LECTURE: The Edmonton Art Gallery Museum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Invited guest speaker and art critic.
• 1984 - WORKSHOP: The Edmonton Art Gallery Museum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• 1984 - LECTURE: Riverbend Junior High School. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Invited guest speaker.
• 1983 - LECTURE: Grant MacEwan Community College, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. April 6, 1983, Invited guest speaker.
• 1982 - LECTURE: The Edmonton Art Gallery Museum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Invited guest speaker.
• 1980 - WORKSHOP: Provincial Museum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. June 1980.
• 1979 - LECTURE: Alberta Culture, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. October, 1979.
• 1979 - LECTURE AND WORKSHOP: University of Alberta, Faculty of Household Economics, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. October, 1979. Fashion Design, Paintings and Airbrush on Fabrics. Invited guest lecturer.
• 1978 - LECTURE: The Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. February 20, 1978. Sponsored by Canadian Society of Educators through Art Conference. "The Docent Program for the Edmonton Art Gallery". Invited guest speaker.

MEMBERSHIPS

• 2004, 2005 - CALGARY ALLIED ARTS FOUNDATION(CAAF), Chairperson, programming, Calgary, Alberta.
• 2005 - TRIANGLE PUBLIC GALLERY, Board Member, Fundraising, Calgary, Alberta.
• 2001 - ALBERTA SOCIETY OF ARTISTS (ASA), Vice President, ASA Provincial, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• 2000 - ALBERTA SOCIETY OF ARTISTS (ASA), President, ASA South Branch, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• 1999 - ALBERTA SOCIETY OF ARTISTS (ASA), Chairperson, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

POSITIONS

• 2003, 2004 - ARTSPACE CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY, Fine Arts Director, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• 1976-86 - THE EDMONTON ART GALLERY MUSEUM, Art Education Department. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Art instructor (part time).
• 1980-84 - CULTURAL AND FINE ARTS, Consultant for programming. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Freelance.
• 1980-81 - GRANT MacEWAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Continuing Education Department. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Art instructor (part time).
• 1979-81 - THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, S.U.B. Gallery. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Art instructor (part time).
• 1977-80 - THE EDMONTON ART GALLERY, The Art Education Department. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Supervisor of Docent Programming.