The Artist: Frank Smith
Artist Statement
Observation, discovery, possession, restoration, transformation, commemoration and preservation are processes in the creation of my art. Memory, emotion and sensory experience is ephemeral but the sources of these, the images and objects with which we live, can seem seductively eternal. Their tangible solidity, weight, presence and substance allow us to indulge in a reassuring illusion of permanence in an existence which is impermanent, fleeting and tenuous.
In my art I am creating an alternative, archival purpose for collected, lost, discarded or treasured images and objects. These images and objects are intrinsically connected to human experiences, memories and moments of insight. The artwork created from these images and objects becomes a concrete manifestation and memento of intransigent, personal memories and instances of revelation.
The essence of my work springs from reflections on inter-connectedness as it relates to our instinct as human beings to commemorate, celebrate or sometimes bemoan our passage through this life. This instinct is manifested in complex behaviours which we adopt to cope with the reality of change and the fact of impermanence. I interpret this instinct and these behaviours in terms of my own life experiences and then utilize chance connections between found materials and diverse media to give them visual expression.
Frank Smith: fsmith@artsmithstudio.com
Some of the images on this page are small square segments of larger artworks. To view a complete artwork, click on the small image.
Artist Bio: Frank Smith
- Founder, Owner and Teacher, The Studio, Mount Albert, Ontario (since 98)
- Visual Arts Teacher and Department Head: Etobicoke and York Region District School Boards (since 77)
- Co-Director, York Region District School Board Arts Camp (since 87)
- Member, Friends of the Heart Meditation and Healing Centre (2000-present)
2007
- Portraits, Group Exhibition, Georgina Arts Centre, Sutton West, Ontario
2006
- "To Be", Two Person Show (with Deborah Colvin), Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Ontario
2003
- "Water", Curated Group Exhibition, Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Ontario
- Juried Exhibition, Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Ontario
- Juror, 36th Annual Juried Exhbition of the Society of Canadian Artists
2002
- "Looking Through the Mirror", Juried Exhibition, F.H.Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Unionville, Ont.
- Society of Canadian Artists Juried Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto
- Juried Exhibition, F.H. Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Unionville, Ontario
- Society of Canadian Artists, Juried Members Exhibition, Roselawn Gallery, Port Colborne, Ontario
- Juried Exhibition, Visual Arts Centre of Clarington, Bowmanville, Ontario
- Selected Artist, York Region Newspaper Group, Celebration of the Arts, Markham Hilton Suites
2001
- Juried Drawing Exhibition, The Eye and the Hand, Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery, Toronto
- Juried Exhibition, Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Ontario
- Society of Canadian Artists Juried Exhibition "Art on the Edge", John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto *Recipient of Juror's Award
- East Gwillimbury Artists Studio Tour
- Society of Canadian Artists, New Members Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto
2000
- Annual Auction, F.H. Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Ontario
- Juried Exhibition, Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Ontario*Recipient of Juror's Award
- East Gwillimbury Artists Studio Tour
1999
- Celtic Reflections Project, Markham, Ontario
- Juried Exhibition, Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Ontario
- Juried Exhibition, F.H. Varley Art Gallery of Markham
- East Gwillimbury Studio Tour
- Annual Auction, Latcham Gallery, Vandorf, Ontario
- Shaw Cable, Featured Artist on "Artfile"
- Small Wonders Exhibition, Kathleen Gormley-McKay Art Centre, Unionville, Ontario
1998
- Juried Exhibition, F. H. Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Unionville, Ontario*Recipient of Juror's Award of Merit
- East Gwillimbury Studio Tour
- Benchmark Project, Markham, Ontario
- Benchmark Artist's Exhibition, Gormley-McKay Gallery, Unionville, Ontario
- Small Wonders Exhibition, Kathleen Gormley-McKay Art Centre, Unionville, Ontario
1997
- Xcavations Group Exhibition, Contact '97, Dufferin Mall Exhibition Site, Toronto, Ontario
- Ten Boxes Group Exhibition, Angell Gallery, Queen Street, Toronto, Ontario
- Juried Exhibition, F. H. Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Unionville, Ontario*Recipient of Juror's Award of Merit
- Benchmark Artist's Exhibition, Gormley-McKay Gallery, Unionville, Ontario
- Small Wonders Exhibition, Kathleen Gormley-McKay Art Centre, Unionville, Ontario
1996
- Erotica Exhibition, Lasting Impressions Gallery, Newmarket, Ontario
- Juried Exhibition, Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Ontario
- World Aids Day Exhibition, McMichael Gallery, Kleinburg, Ontario
- Juried Miniature Exhibition, Kathleen Gormley-McKay Art Centre, Unionville, Ontario
1990s
- Member, Absolutely Apposed Art Studio, Aurora, Ontario (96-98)
- Founder, Owner and Teacher, ArtFun and Fantasy Daycamp (97-2000)
pre-1990
- Watercolour Painting Studies, Seneca College, King Campus, Ontario (80)
- Photography Studies, Ontario College of Art, Toronto, Ontario (78)
- B.Ed. Specialising in Visual Arts, University of Toronto (77)
- Guest Student, Royal Academy Schools, London, England (71-73)
- B.A. Honours in Fine Arts, York University, North York, Ontario (72)
