Lasting Images - Mary Shannon Will

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:38:15 +0000

Mary Shannon Will was born in Ithaca, New York, and studied at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of New Mexico in Albuquerque and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Iowa. Upon moving to Canada, Will taught at the Emily Carr College of Art & Design in Vancouver.

Will is known for her diverse artistic practice, working in a variety of media including printmaking, painting and ceramics. Today, the artist divides her life and work between Calgary and New Mexico.

Mary Shannon Will, Untitled, 1971. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 1999.

In 1999, Will donated 45 artworks to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection, spanning the breadth of her career from 1968 through 1993. This gift included ceramic pieces, paintings, drawings and archival materials associated with her practice.

These works demonstrate Will's vibrant use of colour based in Pop Art sensibilities, her sense of play within the funk ceramics movement on the Canadian prairies during the 1970s, her extension from traditional woman's forms such as jars and utilitarian objects and her complex grasp of the interests in form and composition developed within abstract artistic movements.

Mary Shannon Will, Unfinished Sculpture, 1980. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of the artist, 1999.

For a look at the full issue of the November Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Dean Emeritus Robert Cook passes away

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:27:55 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge extends its most sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Robert M. Cook, Dean Emeritus (Faculty of Fine Arts), who recently passed away.

Cook came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 1981 to assume the position of director of the newly-formed School of Fine Arts, comprising the departments of art, drama and music and their ancillary units, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Art Gallery, theatre and music conservatory. He was promoted to the rank of professor during his first year as director.

A graduate of Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y., Cook also held an MMEd degree from Boston ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. American born, he came to Canada in May 1971 as the supervisor of music in Alberta's Department of Culture, Youth and Recreation. Two years later he became director of Alberta College's Conservatory of Music. He returned to Alberta Culture in 1974 as director of performing arts, a position he held for seven years.

During this time period, Cook became a Canadian citizen and earned Canada's Jubilee Medal for his contribution to the arts. He also served as a director and honorary life member of the Canadian Choral Federation and the Alberta Band Association.

Before coming to Canada, Cook was an associate professor of music and Chair of the music department at Gonzaga ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Spokane, Was.

Since his retirement in 1989, Cook has been active in several provincial and community arts organizations. He was a founding member and Chair of Music Alberta. He was conductor and artistic director of the Lethbridge Community Band, which he founded in 1987. He was named conductor emeritus for the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra Association, served as a director of the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge and received a Distinguished Band Director's Award from the Canadian Band Association in 1995.

UNews - ITHACA

Lasting Images - Mary Shannon Will

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