$1,600
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Being an artist who divides their time equally painting and carving, I have been gifted the opportunity to express myself through two mediums, stone and canvas, and both I approach with humor and optimism. In the world we live in, there is much to be cynical about, but I have found an outlet that I, myself, gather much joy and light, and am so fortunate to be able to pass that joy on. As a Aboriginal man from the Little Red River Cree Nation, I gather much inspiration from the stories passed on by elders within my community, stories that have evolved and changed, some documented, some not, but the essence of these characters are passed on through the years. As an artist, I am inspired by the essence of some of these characters and then, in keeping with the tradition of my indigenous roots, create new stories filled with wonder and morals, and bring them to life through my chosen medium, canvas and stone with written word.
As a contemporary Aboriginal artist in pursuit of becoming my true authentic self (in this ever-evolving culture), I am aware that much of my craft comes from an innate ability that I have been born with, and believe this to be a blessing and a responsibility, both of which I take very seriously. I am continuously using my gift to create new stories inspired from traditional characters with my stone and canvas. I seek inspiration from the past as I create a bold and colourful future.”
Jason Carter is one of Canada’s most exciting and accomplished contemporary Aboriginal visual artists, celebrated for both his paintings and his carvings. He had a solo show at Alberta House on Alberta Day at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. His work has been acquired into dozens of private collections (The Government of Alberta, The City Of Edmonton, AFA, Rogers Media, Syncrude, The Shaw Art Collection, The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to name a few) as well, he has had several exciting public shows, including the Royal Alberta Museum, Art Gallery of Alberta, The Art Gallery of Calgary and the Indian and Northern Affairs Public Art Display in Ottawa, Ontario.
Jason has been commissioned by the Art Gallery of Alberta, The Canada Council for the Arts, The Alberta Foundation of the Arts, The Edmonton Arts Council, The Works International Visual Arts Society, The Society of Manufacturing Engineers of Canada, Winter Light Festival, Syncrude Canada, The Government of Canada and most recently, The Edmonton International Airport to create a 100ft x 7ft permanent installation for the new EIA which opened Summer 2012, with an expected viewing of over 1 million people per year. He is currently working with The Wood Buffalo Regional Municipality again, building and installing a 12-ft sculpture, and with The City of Calgary on a giant installation to be announced late 2015.
He created permanent murals for the Amiskwaskahegan (Beaver Hills Park) in Edmonton and was one of three artists part of the LRT/SOUTH Extension beautification project. He was recently celebrated as ‘Emerging Artist of the Year’ at the Mayor’s Evening of the Arts in Edmonton as well as Avenue Magazines Top 40 Under 40. Jason illustrated his first Children’s book April 2011, “WHO IS BOO: The Terrific Tales of One Trickster Rabbit” inspired by his first carving of a rabbit which he called ‘Nanabozho’ (inspired by the Ojibwe trickster character). Since then, ‘WHO IS BOO 2: The Continued Adventures’ has been published as WHO IS BOO 3 is expected to be released in 2015. He recently completed an 18-paining series for the Art Gallery of Alberta part of the T-REX Program called ‘Urban Animals’ which will tour Alberta for 3 years, and published his next children’s book of the same name, ‘Urban Animals’, as well, opened the ‘World Of Boo’ in the BMO World of Creativity Children’s Gallery at the Art Gallery of Alberta through May 2015.
2003
MacEwan College, Digital Arts & Media
2001
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Graphic Communications
2018
The Wild Party, Towne Square Gallery, Oakville, Ontario, Oct 25, 2018 – Nov 11, 2018. Jason explores the playful relationship between the rocky mountains and its wild inhabitants
2017
The Curious Bear in the Red Canoe, Bearclaw Gallery, Edmonton Alberta April 2017 A new series in Stone and Canvas.
2016
The Wild Party, Gallery @501, Sherwood Park, Thursday September 1 thru October 23, 2016. Jason Carters’ exploration of the term ‘WILD’ reveals the ‘animal’, specifically the bear, wolf, moose, bison and rabbit (of course), playfully rendered in canvas, stone and mixed media examining the ‘urbanization’ of the ‘wild’ animal.
2016
Princes Of The Prairies, Okotoks Gallery. An homage to what was once considered to be the ‘Prince Of The Prairies’, the grain elevator. A celebration of the history, the meaning and the culture that these majestic towers on the prairie landscape, represent. A series in stone and canvas. Curated by Mary-Beth Lavoilette.
2016
“Who Is Boo: The Curious Adventures of One Trickster Rabbit” Okotoks Gallery. The book series comes to life, as the original paintings from the first boo book engage children of all ages. A series in canvas.
2015
The World Of Boo, Art Gallery Of Alberta, An installation created by collaborators Jason Carter and Bridget Ryan. Inspired By their book series ‘Who Is Boo?’. Experiment with ideas and create meaning through a variety of interactive experiences in this exhibition dedicated to the celebration of story telling.
2014
You Are Here, The Carter-Ryan Gallery, Canmore, A new series of stone and canvas exploring the canoe and the feeling of balance and serenity found within the canoe the landscapes and ourselves.
2013
The Human Form, The Carter-Ryan Gallery & Live Art, An exploration of the human body in stone and canvas. Commissioned by The Canada Council for The Arts.
2013
The Rise, The Bearclaw Gallery. Edmonton. An exploration on the moment where the prairies meet the mountains and give rise to the grandeur that is the Rocky Mountains.
2013
Who Is Boo: The Terrific Tales of One Trickster Rabbit, The Art Gallery of Calgary, Bringing story to life through canvas and stone of one trickster rabbit. (July 18- August 31, 2013)
2012
Art Gallery of Alberta, Urban Animals, Touring Exhibit Program(TREX) (December 2012–September 2015) Province wide tour of 18 original acrylic on canvas paintings that playfully explore the relation between Rural and Urban Animals.
2012
To Dream The Bear, The Carter Ryan Gallery and Live Art Venue. Supported by The Canada Council For The Arts, a 20 carving series exploring the bear ‘In Dreams’ through, alabaster, chlorite, and soapstone.
2011
Who Is Boo, The Royal Alberta Museum. April 16 – July 3, 2011. Supported by The Alberta Foundation For The Arts, Twenty-one 30” x 40” paintings from the children’s book WHO IS BOO (illustrated by Jason Carter) brought to life in Acrylic paint and sculptures of Rabbits, Bears and Wolves.
2011
The Year of the Rabbit, The Catalyst Theatre, based on the Chinese zodiac, rabbit sculptures and colorful canvas depicting the various types of rabbit (metal, water, wood, air, and fire) filled this theatre.
2011
Narrative Quest, Royal Alberta Museum, features a selection of artworks by 22 Aboriginal artists from the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. The prevalent themes in these artworks are often based on storytelling. They are stories immersed in the past, reflective of the present and hopeful for the future.
2010
Alberta House, Vancouver Olympics, Jason Carter was the only artist to have a solo exhibit at the Alberta House during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics featuring 6 stone sculptures. As well, the Honorable Minister of Culture publicly acknowledged that Jason Carter in an international press conference.
2010
Jason Carter, The Bearclaw Gallery, An introduction to Jason Carter as The Bearclaw Gallery excitedly announce the addition of Jason Carter to the gallery roster. A new series of sculpture and colorful canvas.
2009
The Tail of Giving, The Catalyst Theatre, Winner, Best Visual Arts Installation
2010
See Magazine Edmonton. Supported by The Alberta Foundation For The Arts.
2008
Nanabozho: The Trickster Rabbit. September 12 – October 31, 2008 @ Sun and Moon Gallery & Studio a new series of 20 carvings and 30 paintings that explore the wonderful world of the trickster rabbit and the many characters he often foiled, duped and/or taunted.
2019
Museum of Aboriginal Peoples’ Art & Artifacts. 30 ft x 2.5 ft painting panel commissioned by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and on permanent loan to the Museum in Lac La Biche.
2018
Canada Goose Inc. Five, five foot polar bear sculptures for the launch of Polar Bear International day in conjunction with a new custom Pantone blue colour. Produced for each location, Tokyo, London, Toronto, Manhattan, and Chicago.
2017
The Moose Hotel, Banff Caribou Properties, Created 175 original works for each room, and four large scale painting for the common areas.
2017
Canada Goose Inc. Three to five stone polar bear sculptures for the launch of each Canada Goose location, Tokyo, London, Toronto, Manhattan, and Chicago.
2017
Travel Alberta. Commemorative art piece for Rendezvous 2017. Delegates to receive image from a painting showcasing our province to over 2000 participants from around the world.
2017
Canada 150 Medallion. Design. Canada 150 in 150 is a celebration of citizens whose stories have made Canada the country that it is. Designed medallion representing arts/technology/community.
2016
The Calgary International Airport, The Calgary Airport Authority and Jason Carter have worked closely over the past years on a over 100 square meters of original artwork which was installed at The Calgary International Airport in the summer of 2016. The YYC expansion is set to open on October 29th 2016.
2015
Aboriginal Interpretive Trail located in Fort McMurray, Alberta, ‘The Red Warrior’ is a large scale (12’) sculpture made out of hard coated EPS foam with a galvanized steel frame and cherry red industrial coating. In collaboration with Heavy Industries in Calgary Alberta. Installed in the Summer of 2015.
2012
The Edmonton International Airport, ‘Old Man Mountain and Great Mother Bear’ A 100’ x 7’ mural installation above Security Check-In at the United States Departures with an expected viewer-ship of over eight million people per year for the new EIA annex which opened September 2012.
2012
Edmonton Arts Council, The south light rail transit(LRT) beautification project, Jason created five colourful murals that run along the 111 Street LRT Line in the community of Lendrum.
2012
The Works International Visual Arts Society, Amiskwaskahegan Park (AKA Beaver Hills Park) , Edmonton Alberta, ‘Seven Northern Beavers’ metal sculptural flags posted to honor the history of the park and its indigenous roots.
2010
The Winter Light Festival (Edmonton) Designed and provided paintings for three billboards to promote the winter festival in Edmonton, Alberta, from 2010 to 2012.
2014
Syncrude Canada, commissioned Jason to create a 60” x 30” Acrylic painting in commemoration of their 50th anniversary. ‘The Remarkable Bison’ and 1300 giclee prints were created to be distributed to staff.
2014
Shaw Art Collection, ‘Like Rabbits’ Canadian Soapstone.
2013
City of Edmonton/City Council, ‘Standing Bear’ (Chlorite soapstone) Gift to departing Mayor Mandel.
2013
Athabasca Tribal Council, ‘Turning Moose on Orange’ (40” x 60” Acrylic on Canvas) To be displayed in the lobby of the tribal councils main office.
2013
Western Manufacturing Technology Show, Three Sisters (40” x 60” Acrylic on Canvas) Designed conference imagery which was used in all the marketing and advertising.
2010
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (Northern Alberta) Design and paint ‘The Turning Bison’ (40” x 60” Acrylic on Canvas) to be displayed in the Central Offices of RMWB
2009
Alberta Foundation for the Arts Collection, ‘Baby Bison’ (Chlorite) ‘Mother Eagle’(Wonderstone).
2008
The City of Edmonton, Office of Mayor Stephen Mandel ‘Digging Rabbit’
2008
Government of Canada, Indian Affairs, The Photographic Expose. Community Well-Being Index.
2018
Creative Duo Award, Mayors Evening of the Arts, Canmore
2017
Distinguished Alumni, Grant MacEwan University
2012
Avenue Magazine Top 40 under 40, Edmonton Alberta
2012
Emerging Artist Award, Mayor’s Evening of the Arts Awards, Edmonton
2012
Alberta Foundation of the Arts Grant Recipient ‘The Human Form’
2011
Canada Council For The Arts Grant Recipient – ‘To The Dream The Bear’
2010
See Magazine ‘Best of Edmonton’ – Art Installation “Nanabozho: The Tail of Giving’
2010
Alberta Foundation of the Arts Grant Recipient ‘Nanabozho: The Tail of Giving’
2011
Who Is Boo?, Illustrator. Who Is Boo: The Terrific Tales of One Trickster Rabbit is a 66-page illustrated children’s book written by Bridget Ryan and illustrated by Jason Carter that chronicles a perpetually curious rabbit who is in a continual race around the world with his brother and along the way, meets many animals. Entering its Third printing in 2019
2012
Urban Animals, Illustrator. How often have you thought ‘hey, there is moose in the front yard’, when in actuality the moose is thinking ‘hey, there is a house in my front yard’. Urban Animals is a highly entertaining, visually stunning journey exploring urbanization. Created in conjunction with the Art Gallery of Alberta, TREX touring exhibit which is touring the province of Alberta until 2016
2014
Who Is Boo 2?, Illustrator. Who Is Boo 2?: The Terrific Tales of One Trickster Rabbit is a 66-page illustrated children’s book written by Bridget Ryan and illustrated by Jason Carter that continues the perpetually curious rabbit who is in a continual race around the world with his brother and along the way, meets many animals.
2015
Who Is Boo 3?, Illustrator. Who Is Boo 3?: The third instalment of The Terrific Tales of One Trickster Rabbit is a 66-page illustrated children’s book written by Bridget Ryan and illustrated by Jason Carter that continues the perpetually curious rabbit who is in a continual race around the world with his brother and along the way, meets many animals.
2019
Who Is Boo 4?, Illustrator. Who Is Boo 4?: The fourth instalment of The Terrific Tales of One Trickster Rabbit is a 66-page illustrated children’s book written by Bridget Ryan and illustrated by Jason Carter that continues the perpetually curious rabbit who is in a continual race around the world with his brother and along the way, meets many animals. Released date of September 2019.
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