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Christine Benson: Artist
2023 Platinum Winner: Best Local Artist: Christine Benson
Artist Statement
“I am always looking around me, taking mental snapshots of places, things and landscapes and jotting down sentences and experiences. My work is often quite stylized and usually involves a sense of rhythm and repetition. My imagery is almost always inspired by nature- however I am also inspired by many other diverse sources including urban sprawl, the local landscape and my daily life.
I work primarily in the medium of relief printmaking that often reflects the tensions of living in a technology oriented world, and the solace that can be found in nature and the rural landscape.
For me each part of the printmaking process is an important step in realizing the final image. Behind each of my prints there has been an exciting transformation from rough sketch to carved image to final print. Each of my linocuts are hand-printed on a variety of handmade papers that are carefully chosen to compliment the image. The paper often plays an important role in the finished piece and oftentimes I will combine my images with collaged and hand sewn details to form a sort of paper tapestry.”
Click here to see Christine's Art work
About Christine
I graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 2003 where I received my A.O.C.A.D and completed my B.F.A in 2004. In 2001, 2002 and 2003 I was awarded several OCAD Awards for my work in the medium of printmaking and since graduation I have been exhibiting my work throughout Ontario. Selected exhibitions include: Virus Arts (Toronto), Transit Space (Toronto), OCAD (Toronto), The Colborne Art Gallery (Colborne), The Art Gallery of Northumberland (Cobourg), The Upstairs Gallery (Port Hope), A.K. Collings Gallery (Port Hope) and The Blue Tomato (Peterborough). I am also an annual participant in the Northumberland Hills Studio Tour and along with my husband musician Mike Woods, we own and curate The Journey Through the Arts Gallery in Port Hope. In addition to the art gallery we also run Journey Through The Arts (visual art, music and drama programs for adults, children and throughout local schools). I am also an enthusiastic advocate for the arts in Northumberland through my involvement on the Municipality of Port Hope’s Cultural Advisory Committee.
CV
Education 2003-2004 The Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto
Bachelor of Fine Arts1999-2003 The Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto
Associate of the Ontario College of Art and Design (A.O.C.A.D)
Major in PrintmakingAwards 2003 OCAD Printmaking Award 2002 OCAD Printmaking Book Arts Award 2002 OCAD Printmaking Award 2001 Aboveground Arts Supplies Award For Proficiency in Printmaking Selected Exhibitions 2009 Ganaraska Studio Tour, Port Hope 2009 “Rural Routes”, Rails End Gallery, Haliburton 2008 The World Washi Summit, A.K Collings Gallery, Port Hope 2008-Present The Blue Tomato Gallery, Peterborugh 2005-Present The Journey Through the Arts Gallery, Port Hope 2004-Present The Northumberland Hills Studio Tour 2004-2006 The Colborne Art Gallery, Colborne 2004-2006 The Annual Juried Exhibition, Art Gallery of Northumberland 2004 The Artist As Storyteller, The Upstairs Gallery, Port Hope 2003 GO West, The Japanese Paper Place, Toronto 2003 Be Not Afraid: The Ontario College of Art and Design’s Annual Student Exhibition, Toronto 2003 The Spring Print Expo, Transit Space, Toronto 2003 Southern Graphics Conference, Boston Massachusetts 2003 Thesis 9, Virus Arts Gallery, Toronto 2003 Gallery 39, Belleville, Ontario 2003 2nd International Print Exchange (KC Print Studio, Winnipeg, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts, China) 2003 Somewhere or Other, Transit Space, Toronto Collections and Publications 2006 The Link Magazine (Cover) 2005 Watershed Magazine (Illustration) 2003 Jerry-Rigged Printmaking Anthology (Published by OCAD) 2002 We Sold Our Souls For Blocks and Rollers (Published by OCAD) 2001 Sweatshop (Published by OCAD)
