Geoff McMurchy
Bio
After first year studies at the (then) Vancouver School of Art, Geoff was on his way to study printmaking at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1977, when he dove into a lake and broke his neck. Following rehabilitation in his home town Edmonton, he returned to Vancouver and became involved in the disability advocacy movement. He did freelance graphic design work for many years and developed an appreciation for community arts through an active role in the early years of the Public Dreams Society. From 1998 to 2013, he was Executive / Artistic Director of Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture, an organization that presented original dance, visual art exhibits, music, theatre and their very successful signature event, the Kickstart Festival. Through Kickstart, Geoff strove to empower artists and performers with disabilities to change cultural misrepresentations, and to shape and control their own narratives. Geoff was one of the five artists featured in Bonnie Sherr Klein’s 2006 film "Shameless: The Art of Disability", which highlighted his long-standing love of dance. Since retiring from Kickstart, Geoff has returned to his own artistic pursuits; writing, telling stories and creating sculptural assemblages.
After first year studies at the (then) Vancouver School of Art, Geoff was on his way to study printmaking at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1977, when he dove into a lake and broke his neck. Following rehabilitation in his home town Edmonton, he returned to Vancouver and became involved in the disability advocacy movement. He did freelance graphic design work for many years and developed an appreciation for community arts through an active role in the early years of the Public Dreams Society. From 1998 to 2013, he was Executive / Artistic Director of Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture, an organization that presented original dance, visual art exhibits, music, theatre and their very successful signature event, the Kickstart Festival. Through Kickstart, Geoff strove to empower artists and performers with disabilities to change cultural misrepresentations, and to shape and control their own narratives. Geoff was one of the five artists featured in Bonnie Sherr Klein’s 2006 film "Shameless: The Art of Disability", which highlighted his long-standing love of dance. Since retiring from Kickstart, Geoff has returned to his own artistic pursuits; writing, telling stories and creating sculptural assemblages.
Burnt Out Musicians Reunion Float
wood, cloth, metal, found objects
20" H x 15" W x 21" D
$1200
wood, cloth, metal, found objects
20" H x 15" W x 21" D
$1200
Artist's Statement
I interpreted the backslash in the exhibit title as a division between opposing forces: Magic / Reality. Good / Bad. This evoked the tension between the kinds of things in life that create happiness, excitement, mystery and magic as opposed to the things that make you feel like it's all pointless because humans are so stupid and misguided - generally speaking - that we could be wiped off the face of the earth at any moment (and probably deserve to be).
After contemplating epic themes involving The Humane Left versus the Political-Military-Industrial Complex, I have taken a "Well at least I can be mindful, have fun and create a little magic in my own back yard" approach.
With "Spring Flower", I'm marvelling at the joy of a flower garden and what an ever-changing vista it can provide. Individual flowers are so fragile and fleeting - subject to slugs, neglect, windstorms and extreme weather, not to mention a short life expectancy. But not this flower.
"Burnt Out Musicians Reunion Float" could be read as: "You can make music and have all the fun you want but you'll burn out and die eventually." Just sayin'. That's the reality. Meanwhile, let's try to enjoy the parade!
With "My Assistance Gryphon", I'm pondering my (growing) need for assistance as I age. I don't have an assistance dog, or need much assistance so far, really (although I need more than any typical able-bodied person my age). If gryphons existed, I'm sure they'd be at least as intelligent as dogs.
Speaking of assistance, as an artist with a habit of envisioning things I can't actually create independently, I feel compelled to acknowledge and thank those who helped realize these assemblages: Gary Henkelmann, Rhiannon Snaith, Kerry Mulhern, Paula Jardine, Claude Gamache, Christy Gain, Linde Zingaro, Calvin Cairns, Catherine Hahn, Ash Channan and especially Matt "Uber-Technician" Hutton.
I interpreted the backslash in the exhibit title as a division between opposing forces: Magic / Reality. Good / Bad. This evoked the tension between the kinds of things in life that create happiness, excitement, mystery and magic as opposed to the things that make you feel like it's all pointless because humans are so stupid and misguided - generally speaking - that we could be wiped off the face of the earth at any moment (and probably deserve to be).
After contemplating epic themes involving The Humane Left versus the Political-Military-Industrial Complex, I have taken a "Well at least I can be mindful, have fun and create a little magic in my own back yard" approach.
With "Spring Flower", I'm marvelling at the joy of a flower garden and what an ever-changing vista it can provide. Individual flowers are so fragile and fleeting - subject to slugs, neglect, windstorms and extreme weather, not to mention a short life expectancy. But not this flower.
"Burnt Out Musicians Reunion Float" could be read as: "You can make music and have all the fun you want but you'll burn out and die eventually." Just sayin'. That's the reality. Meanwhile, let's try to enjoy the parade!
With "My Assistance Gryphon", I'm pondering my (growing) need for assistance as I age. I don't have an assistance dog, or need much assistance so far, really (although I need more than any typical able-bodied person my age). If gryphons existed, I'm sure they'd be at least as intelligent as dogs.
Speaking of assistance, as an artist with a habit of envisioning things I can't actually create independently, I feel compelled to acknowledge and thank those who helped realize these assemblages: Gary Henkelmann, Rhiannon Snaith, Kerry Mulhern, Paula Jardine, Claude Gamache, Christy Gain, Linde Zingaro, Calvin Cairns, Catherine Hahn, Ash Channan and especially Matt "Uber-Technician" Hutton.
My Assistance Gryphon
driftwood, furniture pieces
50" H x 24" W x 36" D
Price to be determined by silent auction. Reserve bid $1900.
Bids may be submitted by email to [email protected].
(Please see below for details.)
driftwood, furniture pieces
50" H x 24" W x 36" D
Price to be determined by silent auction. Reserve bid $1900.
Bids may be submitted by email to [email protected].
(Please see below for details.)
Spring Flower
plate steel, springs, spray paint
35" H x 18" W x 18" D
$700
plate steel, springs, spray paint
35" H x 18" W x 18" D
$700
Auction Details
The auction will close at 9 pm on Thursday, September 12th. Bidders will have several options:
1) place your bid and not think about it until you receive notification of the result.
2) request email notification if and when you're outbid (so that you have the option to increase your bid)
3) submit a "maximum bid", which will only be used to beat the next highest bid by $10. for example, if you submit a maximum bid of $2000 and the next highest bid is $1950, you would win the auction and pay $1960.
The auction will go "live by email" from 7 pm to 9 pm on September 12th to accommodate last-minute competitive bidding.
The winning bidder will be responsible for collecting the gryphon by Sept 13th at the Roundhouse. Buyers will be responsible for any costs associated with crating or shipping the artwork.
The auction will close at 9 pm on Thursday, September 12th. Bidders will have several options:
1) place your bid and not think about it until you receive notification of the result.
2) request email notification if and when you're outbid (so that you have the option to increase your bid)
3) submit a "maximum bid", which will only be used to beat the next highest bid by $10. for example, if you submit a maximum bid of $2000 and the next highest bid is $1950, you would win the auction and pay $1960.
The auction will go "live by email" from 7 pm to 9 pm on September 12th to accommodate last-minute competitive bidding.
The winning bidder will be responsible for collecting the gryphon by Sept 13th at the Roundhouse. Buyers will be responsible for any costs associated with crating or shipping the artwork.
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Photos by Geoff McMurchy