Please consider me in your search for a Gallery Assistant. I believe my degree in Art Education; ongoing practice of visual art; experience displaying art; skills with hand tools; communications background and abilities with webpage management, digital photography and videography make me an ideal candidate.

Making art has been a part of my entire adult life. After studying Commercial Art in high school, I enrolled in a BFA program at the U of A, later opting to complete an Art Education degree. Here’s a gallery of some of my early work and you’ll note that Bombus Terestris, (1970), is adapted as the banner on my website. The annotation on the work reads, “A colorful play on words emphasizing that the “bee” at the centre of our lives is, Being,” which references the spiritual nature of much of my work.

I continued to explore my interest in art while teaching internationally. Working in six different countries outside Canada, I taught art using the Irish Leaving Certificate, IGCSE and International Baccalaureate PYP, MYP and Baccalaureate curricula. My acrylic on paper, Nadia and Friend, (2004), features two of my students in Libya.

Returning to Canada in 2012, I worked with a web designer to launch my WordPress website, which showcases my practical experience in a variety of media. The website, which I have managed since, features my  writing, photography, multi-media art, painting, music and video production. One of the major works of this period was a wood carving (commissioned by Timberspan Wood Products) The Spirit of Prince George, 2015 (2014), which commemorates Prince George’s Centennial. For this project, I worked with various woodworking tools, including a laminate trimmer, which I used to carve the wood. I use my blog and X Account to share my work and ideas that are important to me.

I am familiar with Microsoft Office, Illustrator, Photoshop and various video editing programs. Here’s the poster I designed for my show at the Bob Harkins Branch of the Prince George Library in 2014.

In my current position as a Facilities Maintenance Worker with the Mustard Seed, part of my duties include:

Basic carpentry skills for renovations e.g. painting, drywall repairs, replacing light bulbs and ballast, plumbing, doorknobs and lock and door closures

Working with staff, volunteers, community participants and residents

Inspecting Mustard Seed properties and ensure compliance with Health and Safety Standards

Other relevant experience includes my communications and public relations work with The University of Calgary, Nanaimo Business Examiner and Canadian Forest Industries Magazine. My duties as Marketing Manager for T-MAR Industries included promoting inventory and services, creating brochures, surveying customers and designing and overseeing the installation of the company’s annual show booth at the Truck Logger’s Convention in Vancouver. Major highlights include the launching of the company newsletter, The T-MAR Times, and project management for a “live forestry” demo in the BC interior.

In all of these positions, my skills as a writer, photographer and designer were utilized and, during my time as a Journalism Instructor at Grant MacEwan Community College, one of my photographs was added to the college’s collection.

Moving to Edmonton in April 2021, I have worked in the custodial field, beginning in homeless shelters for the Mustard Seed Organization on a contract basis. In the spring of 2022, I joined Horizon North (a division of Dexterra Group), and worked as a custodian or cook in Alberta’s fire base camps, MEG Energy Site near Conklin and Cenovus Energy Site near Fort MacMurray.

Safety and other training have been a vital component of my recent work. In addition to completing WHMIS for the Mustard Seed, I have completed courses in Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ), Food Safe as well as a Workplace Violence course which dealt with various forms of harassment, for Horizon North.

I am active participant in Edmonton’s Interfaith Society for Education and Action and a member of the Alberta Crafts Council. I have had discussions with Harcourt House Artist Run Centre regarding studio space and the use of its pottery facilities; volunteered with the Latitude 53 Gallery by helping paint the new gallery and participated in a number of its workshops. Photos appearing below include a picture of Hanny Khoury at his studio in Edmonton Centre.

I’ve made numerous submissions to juried calls for work. My photograph, Spool on the Water, was accepted for the EPL juried show, FLOW, in November, 2023.

The philosophy that I bring to my life is one of overarching positivity and the belief in Love without opposite. I maintain that, through our power of decision, we can choose to forgive and live in the now and not be overshadowed by the past.

As an artist, I’ve created a number of works along this line and my Happy Face Series, is one example. Instead of a Death Star, I created a Life Star. Teach Only Love, and Believe Be Love, continue that theme. My music video, Brand New Song, showcases my song writing, singing, art and video editing abilities while raising awareness of the need to help people with drug dependency issues.

I believe I am an excellent candidate to fill the position of Gallery Assistant. Accordingly, let me suggest we meet to discuss the possibility of me joining Strathcona County in that position.