SCROLLING DOWN THE PAGE WILL TAKE YOU TO:
- A statement by the artist
- Biography
- Art Historian
- Narrator
- The artist's catalogue (Dasein)
Clicking on an image will result in a slideshow of the images.
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
Throughout human history, the body has been the most resonant yet enigmatic symbol of our innermost being. It evokes fear, awe, pathos, the knowledge of mortality and our search for immortality, sexuality, sensuality and all the complex layers of meaning that lie between. Our fascination with the representation of the human figure is rooted in its ability to hold a mirror to our shifting, fragmented notions of self. It offers an elusive and unstable connection between the primal self and the public persona.
In spite of, or perhaps because of, the difficulty in locating the figures' precise significance in our dedicated understanding of existence, the figure still holds, and will always hold, its obsessive power.
My work is a continuing search for the physical signs of our spiritual state. The nude is both a timeless and time bound vehicle for that search.
BIOGRAPHY
At work in the studio!
Photograph by Dan Nystedt
Michael Burtch is a graduate of Queen's University in Kingston Ontario.
He currently is:
- a retired Director-Curator of the Art Gallery of Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie
- an Adjunct Professor of Art History and Research Associate with the Nordik Institute at Algoma University .
- a sculptor and a sound artist with an extensive exhibition history.
As an art historian Burtch has published numerous articles and catalogues on artists including:
- J. Barry, David Bierk, Ken Danby, John Howlin and Evan Penny
- most recently he contributed his curatorial essay to the Art Gallery of Algoma's “One Hundred Years of Art in the Sault”.
- His book “Hymn to the Sun” about the early work of Jack Bush accompanied a national tour of the artist’s work.
He was engaged in a major research project with Gary and Joanie McGuffin on the Group of Seven. The project entailed extensive research and field study with the goal of identifying, documenting and interpreting exact sites in Algoma and Superior’s north shore where members of this famous group of artists painted their iconic works.
This extensive research resulted in a documentary film, commissioned by TVO and produced by White Pine Pictures, which was released in October 2015 for broadcast.
During his teaching years Michael was named a "Hotshot prof" in the Globe and Mail of October 21, 2014. This article reviewed all Canadian Universities and in each of them a "Hotshot prof." was chosen and Michael was chosen for Algoma University.
ART HISTORIAN
Traipsing through Smoke Lake Algonquin Park bush areas, like this picture depicts, did lead Michael and Dr. Al Gordon to finding the painters sites.
Photograph by Gary McMuffin
An enthusiastic Art Historian.
His search for paintings by the Group of Seven is a testament to this.
A movie was made of his discoveries called "Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven". You will find the complete movie and a trailer to enjoy.
If you haven't seen this movie, you must.
You can buy the movie Painted Land at the Art Gallery in Sault Ste. Marie.
A Sault Star article describes with photographs and text "How an art detective (Michael Burtch) discovered the sites of iconic paintings of 100 years ago."
Follow this graphic story! The artwork of the Group of Seven is pictured.
DASEIN: CATALOGUE OF WORK
CURRICULUM VITAE
Curriculum Vitae :Michael Burtch
Education:
Graduated 1977, B.A. (Honours) – Art History
Awards and Other Activities:
2017-18; Sault Ste. Marie-Medal of Merit
2017 Canadian Screen Award; Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research; Painted Land.
In Search of the Group of Seven (with Nancy Lang, Gary and Joanie McGuffin, Rebecca
Middleton and Emma Hambly)
2015 Award of Excellence- Tourism Sault Ste. Marie
2015 Award of Excellence-Algoma Kinniwabi, Sault Ste. Marie
2014- present; Research Associate- NORDIK Institute
2003 Community Recognition Award – City of Sault Ste. Marie
Exhibitions and Commissions:
2023- Black Water, Sunken Cathedrals, with Annie King as part of Fringe North
2022- Playsmelter Festival; Sudbury; with Annie King
-Summer Moonfest ; Group exhibition; Art Hub; Sault Ste. Marie
-Stories Steeped in Stone; with Annie King
- Fringe Festival North- workshop with Annie King
2017- solo exhibition- Art Gallery of Algoma; January-March
2015- Group exhibition- “Shifters”; 180 Projects, Sault Ste. Marie; January 17-February 22.
2012- Solo exhibition; Transient Phases; May 3- July 22; Art Gallery of Algoma
2010 – Four and Friends Exhibition – Bruce Mines, ON
2009 – Commission – Official Mace: Algoma University
2004 – Commission – Sculpture – ‘Deep Breath’, Smoke Free Sault Ste. Marie – City of Sault Ste. Marie, ON
2003 – Commission – St. Basil Secondary School – Sault Ste. Marie, ON
2001 – Commission – Sculpture Installation – ‘Corpus Mobilis’, John Rhodes Centre – City of Sault Ste. Marie, ON
2000 – Group Exhibition – WKP Kennedy Gallery, North Bay, ON – Exhibition
1999 – Finalist – Loggers Memorial Sculpture – Blind river, ON
1998 – Baptismal Font – St. Veronica’s Sault Ste. Marie, ON
1998 – Exhibition, Solo, Cornwall Gallery, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
1998 – Commission – Sculpture – ‘Compassion’ 100 th Anniversary General Hospital, Sault Ste.Marie, ON
1996 – Exhibition, Solo – Olive M. Craig Gallery, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
1990 – Sounds of Invention, International Sound Symposium, Memorial University Art Gallery, St. John’s Newfoundland ; Reviewed in Art Post Magazine, Toronto; Fall 1990 issue
1990 – Sound Sculpture – Waterfront Project, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
1987 – Outdoor Sculpture – City of Sault Ste. Marie, ON
1987 – Exhibition – Meta Gallery, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
1986 – Multi-Media Performance, Burtch/Bannerman/Prentice
1986 – Outdoor Installation – Burtch/Morin
1985 – Studio Installation – Sault Ste. Marie, On
1984 – Multi-Media Performance – Visions Gallery, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
1984 – Studio Installation – Sault Ste. Marie, ON
1984 – Multi-Media Performance, Theatre Algoma, Algoma University College, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
1983 – Exhibition Burtch/Moorhouse/Morrison – Sault Ste. Marie Public Library
1983 – Award, Best Drawing, Algoma Fall Festival of the Arts
1983 – Exhibition, Group Show Sault Ste. Marie, ON
1980/81 – Exhibition, Sir Sanford Fleming College Faculty Exhibit, Lindsay, ON
1970/80 – Award, Drawing, Victoria County Spring Festival of the Arts, Lindsay, ON
1974 – Solo Exhibition, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba
Sounds Tracks and Performances:
Composed and Recorded for artists Peter Kolisnyk and Joan Frick
Performed as a percussionist with: Blind Justice- Brandon. Manitoba, The Bill Smith Trio, The
Last of the Red Hot Dada, Judy Ross Dance, Shannon Moan · Hinterbrane Project; Performances; April; 2011, Burtch-Huot Studio
May, June; 2012; Art Gallery of Algoma
November 2012; Art Gallery of Algoma with Alanna Bondar
November 2014; Art Gallery of Algoma; DVD of Hinterbrane exhibition and sound track with Dan Nystedt Co-Produced, researched and appeared in documentary film; “Painted Land, In Search of the Group of Seven” By White pine Pictures and TVO.
DVD ; Sound Track for “Nude Pretending a Bear’s Safe” by Chris Shoust
DVD “Chimes” filmed and edited by Chris Shoust; produced by Michael Burtch; percussion by Michael Burtch
May 2023; Audio track for The Vision Network’s “Voice of the Lakes”, commissioned by National Geographic UK and Destination Ontario.
Set Designs:
2017; “RED” In Your Eyes Projects
2018; “GIRL IN THE GOLDFISH BOWL” In Your Eyes Projects
2020; “IF WE WERE BIRDS” In Your Eyes Projects and Algoma University
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