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NEWS
Reproductions of Dulcie Foo Fat's "Chinese New Year" from The City of Calgary Public Art Collection will soon [spring/summer 2018] appear on glass shelters as part of the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes. One copy will be paired with a Jim Nicoll painting at the southbound shelter near Falconridge Blvd and Castleridge Blvd NE. Another will be paired with a Chris Flodberg painting at the westbound shelter near 37 St and Richardson Way SW.
Dulcie Foo Fat's work "Chinese Dinner" is featured on Glenbow Museum's Artpad website. Have a look!
Wikipedia now has an entry for Dulcie Foo Fat. Here!
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I make art because the process engages me. Working from postcard size photographs, mostly of landscapes but occasionally of figures or interiors, I am attracted to an image by the way in which light reveals form through the modulation of colour and to the complex rhythms which structure the microscopic landscape of the forest floor.
Motivated by an excitement and desire to "know" my source material through the process of rendering it, I have a great respect for the visual facts as I find them. I sense that, in the small universe of rocks and microscopic lichen that are frequently my subject, apparently random events are in fact determined by variables or laws of physics and biology too innumerable to quantify.
My influences range from the depiction of the nature in early Renaissance painting and the interiors of Vermeer to the colour field abstractions of Jackson Pollock. I would like to create an art that occupies a territory between Abstract Expressionism and Photorealism. My unfashionably apolitical ambition is, in the manner of a craftsperson, and in a world saturated with art objects, to add a few works of beauty. In doing this I record the fragile groundscapes of the Rocky Mountains, part of the shrinking natural world of which we have custody.
For me evolution is a slow and intuitive process. I am presently trying to relinquish control and balance deliberate marks with chance events. In recent works I have begun to fracture and focus on still smaller areas of the images which are my subject, eliminating contextual clues. I aspire to transcend my source material, the photograph.
NARRATIVE BIOGRAPHY
Dulcie Foo Fat was born in London, England in 1946. She obtained a B.A. in painting from Reading University in 1969 and an M.A. in Fine Art from the University of Calgary in 1974. In 1977-78 she was awarded a Canada Council B grant and in 1989 received an Alberta Project grant which enabled her to undertake a photographic expedition in the Northern Yukon. In 1985 she was a resident visiting artist at the Djerassi Foundation in Woodside, California and in 1990 a visiting artist in the Department of art at the University of Waterloo, Ontario.
Throughout the past thirty years her paintings have been exhibited nationally and internationally including a solo travelling exhibition organized by the Whyte Museum in 1987 (Dance With Minutiæ: the Paintings of Dulcie Foo Fat). Her work is included in many private and public collections in Canada and other countries including those of the Glenbow Museum, Remai Modern, the McMichael Canadian Collection, the University of Calgary and Lethbridge University, and the Whyte Museum. Dulcie lives and works in Calgary. From 1988 to 2012 she taught for the Extended Studies department of the Alberta College of Art and Design (now: Alberta University of the Arts) and the Continuing Education Department at the University of Calgary. |
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| Born |
| London, England, 1946 |
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| Education |
| B.A. Honours Degree in Fine Art, Reading University, Berkshire, England, 1969 |
| Post-Graduate Teaching Certificate, Whitelands College, London, England, 1970 |
| M.A. Fine Art, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1974 |
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| Grants |
| 1989-1990 | Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism Project Grant (used for photographic research in Northern Yukon National Park, Western Arctic) |
| 1977-1978 | Canada Council B Grant |
| | | Visiting Artist Residency |
| Djerassi Foundation, Woodside, California. Resident Artist, 1985. |
| Department of Art, University of Waterloo, Ontario. Visiting Artist, 1990. |
| | | Teaching Experience |
| Extended Studies, Alberta College of Art. Instructor in credit and non-credit courses in Introductory Drawing, 2 Dimensional Art Fundamentals, Introductory Painting, Colour and Landscape Painting, 1989-2012. |
| Fine Art Department, University of Calgary. Sessional Instructor, Art Fundamentals, 2002-2005. |
| Red Deer College, Series '90, '91, '93. Instructor in Intermediate and Advanced Painting, Landscape and Still Life Painting, 1990-1993. |
| Alberta College of Art. Sessional Instructor in Introductory Painting, 1989-2003. |
| Faculty of Continuing Education, University of Calgary. Instructor in "Colour Theory", "Landscape and Still Life, Real and Imagined", and "Painting from the Photo", 1988-2012. |
| The Banff Centre, Alberta. Resident Artists in "Artist in the School" Program, 1984-1989 (Lethbridge, Calgary and Medicine Hat). |
| Alberta College of Art. Sessional Instructor, 3rd year Drawing, and Introductory Painting, 1983-1984. |
| Fine Art Department, University of Calgary. Sessional Instructor, Drawing and Design, 1974-1975. |
| University of Calgary. Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Drawing, 1971-1974. |
| | | Principal Solo Exhibitions |
| 2011 | Dulcie Foo Fat: New Works, Masters Gallery, Calgary, Alberta |
| 2007 | New and Selected Paintings, Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto, Ontario |
| 2000 | Foo Fat / Thomas, Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia |
| 1999 | Recent Paintings, Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1991 | Recent Paintings, Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto, Ontario |
| 1987-1988 | Dance with Minutiæ: the Paintings of Dulcie Foo Fat, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff, Alberta |
| 1987-1988 | Dance with Minutiæ: the Paintings of Dulcie Foo Fat, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta |
| 1987-1988 | Dance with Minutiæ: the Paintings of Dulcie Foo Fat, The McMichael Canadian Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario |
| 1987-1988 | Dance with Minutiæ: the Paintings of Dulcie Foo Fat, Art Gallery, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland |
| 1987-1988 | Dance with Minutiæ: the Paintings of Dulcie Foo Fat, McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ontario |
| 1987-1988 | Dance with Minutiæ: the Paintings of Dulcie Foo Fat, UBC Fine Arts Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia |
| 1987-1988 | Dance with Minutiæ: the Paintings of Dulcie Foo Fat, The Nickle Arts Museum, the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1986 | New Paintings, Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto, Ontario |
| 1982 | Recent Paintings, Aggregation Gallery, Toronto, Ontario |
| | | Principal Group Exhibitions |
| 2022 | About Blooming Time, The Whyte Museum, Banff, Alberta, Banff, Alberta |
| 2021 | Portraits: Remembering the Face, The Edge Gallery, Canmore, Alberta |
| 2021 | The Forest's Edge, The Edge Gallery, Canmore, Alberta |
| 2016 | GENERATIONS: 50 Years of Art at the University and Beyond, Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta |
| 2013 | Made in Calgary: The 1980s, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta |
| 2013 | Made in Calgary: The 1970s, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta |
| 2009 | Gallery without Walls: Celebrating 50 years Calgary Allied Arts Foundation, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta |
| 2009 | The Big Summer Show, Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto, Ontario |
| 2009 | Group Show, Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia |
| 2007-2008 | Our home and Native Land: an Exhibition from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Embassy of Canada, Washington D.C., USA (September 18th 2007 to January 15th 2008) |
| 2006 | SEE: three decades of realist painting at the University of Calgary, Mezzaine Gallery, University of Calgary |
| 2004-2005 | Faculty Show, Fine Art Department, University of Calgary |
| 2004 | Informal Ideas, 04-03, Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto |
| 2003 | Faculty Show, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta |
| 2002-2005 | Faculty Show, Fine Art Department, University of Calgary |
| 2002 | Perspectives: Women Artists in North America, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinberg, Ontario |
| 2001 | Faculty Show, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta |
| 2000 | Faculty Show, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1999 | High Realism: Paintings from the collection of the Alberta for the Arts Foundation, The Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, Alberta |
| 1997 | Faculty Show, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1997 | Moving Through Ecosystems, Muttart Public Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1996 | Rediscovering the Landscape of the Americas, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico |
| 1996 | Rediscovering the Landscape of the Americas, Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas |
| 1996 | Rediscovering the Landscape of the Americas, Western Gallery, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington |
| 1996 | Rediscovering the Landscape of the Americas, Memorial Art Gallery, Univeristy of Rochester, Rochester, New York |
| 1996 | Rediscovering the Landscape of the Americas, Gibbs Museum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina |
| 1996 | A Visual Interlude, The Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1996 | Faculty Show, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1996 | A Musician's Nomenclature, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1995-1998 | Faculty Show, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1994 | Hidden Values: Western Corporations Collect, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1994 | Gallery Artists 2, Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1994 | Reflecting Paradise, Home Oil Tower, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1993 | Distinctly Canadian, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario |
| 1990 | Spaces and Places: Eight Decades of Landscape Painting, Hokaido Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo, Hokaido, Japan |
| 1990 | Recent Paintings, Wynick/Tuck Gallery, Toronto, Ontario |
| 1989 | Painting Representing Landscape, Alberta College of Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1988 | From the Landscape, Alberta College of Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1988 | Close-ups, Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan |
| 1987 | The Contemporary Landscape, Oakville Gallery, Oakville, Ontario |
| 1987 | Contemporary Realism, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1986-1987 | Spaces and Places: Landscapes from the Alberta Art Foundation, The Nickle Arts Museum, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1984 | Faculty Show, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1983 | Choices: From the First Decade of the Alberta Art Foundation, Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1982 | Calgary Corporations Collect Realism, Muttart Gallery, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1981 | Gallery Artists, Aggregation Gallery, Toronto, Ontario |
| 1980 | Alberta Now, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1979 | Alberta Society of Artists: The Shell Canada Collection, Shell Center Gallery, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1979 | Late 70's Accessions from the Alberta Art Foundation, Beaver House Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1979 | Late 70's Accessions from the Alberta Art Foundation, Red Deer Gallery, Red Deer, Alberta |
| 1978 | Subway Gallery, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1977 | Albertawork, Alberta College of Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1977 | Alberta Society of Artists, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1977 | Realism in Canada Traditional and New, Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan |
| 1976 | Three Painters, Southern Alberta Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta |
| 1974 | Prairie '74, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1974 | Young Contemporary, Alberta College of Art Gallery, Calgary Artists, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1974-1975 | Rose Museum, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1974-1975 | Rose Museum, Burnaby Art Museum, Burnaby, British Columbia |
| 1974 | Fourteen from Calgary, Latitude 53 Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta |
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| Principal Collections |
| Alberta Art Foundation, Alberta Culture, Edmonton, Alberta |
| Bank of Montreal, Calgary, Alberta |
| City of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta |
| Credit Suisse, Toronto, Ontario |
| Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta |
| Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta |
| McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario |
| Remai Modern, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| Nova Corporation, Calgary, Alberta |
| Petro Canada, Calgary, Alberta |
| Shaw Communications Inc., Calgary, Alberta |
| Shell Canada, Calgary, Alberta |
| University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta |
| University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta |
| Whyte Museum, Banff, Alberta |
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| Selected Bibliography |
| Brandon, Dickenson, Grattan. The Good Lands: Canada through the eyes of Artists. 2017. |
| Kjorlien, Melanie, Editor. Made in Calgary: An Exploration of Art from the 1960's to the 2000s. The Glenbow Museum. 2016. |
| Townshend, Nancy. Art Inspired by the Canadian Rockies, Purcell Mountains and Selkirk Mountains 1809-2012. Bayeux Arts Inc.. November, 2012. |
| Laviolette, Mary-Beth. Alberta Art Chronicle: Adventures In Recent And Contemporary Art 1970-2000. Altitude Publishing. December, 2005. |
| Zimon, Kathy E.. The Alberta Society of Artists: the First Seventy Years. University of Calgary Press. 2000. |
| Kope, Gordon. Beauty Under Siege: Paradise Found. Avenue Magazine. Calgary Allied Arts Foundation. September, 1996. |
| Westra, Monique. Dance with Minutiae: The Paintings of Dulcie Foofat, exhibition Banff: The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. 1988. |
| Tousley, Nancy. "Artist Explores Detail with Methodical Zeal." The Calgary Herald. September, 1986. |
| Ainslie, Patricia. "The Norcen Gift." Glenbow. September/October, 1986. |
| Ainslie, Patricia. "New Art Acquisitions." Glenbow. July/August, 1984. |
| Stocking John. "A Fine Feeling for Light." Visual Arts Newsletter. October, 1984. |
| Hume, Christopher. "Calgary Artist Closes in on the Details of a Vast Land." Toronto Star. April 11, 1982. |
| Mays, John Bentley. "Traditional Form, Novel Approach." The Globe and Mail. April 10, 1982. |
| Tousley Nancy. "Interview with Dulcie Foo Fat." Glenbow. September/October, 1986. |
| Ainslie, Patricia. "New Art Acquisitions." Artscanada. December/January, 1978-79. |
| Woods, Kay. "Toronto - Showcase of East and West." Arts West. April, 1982. |
| Hogg, Carol. "Here's a Painter who Freely Uses the Camera as a Tool." The Calgary Herald. October 19, 1974. |
| McGregor, Ron. "The Art Show Offers Variety of Interests, Styles." Edmonton Journal. February 9, 1974. |
| Richards, Jean. "Gallery Summer Show is Best Yet." Edmonton Journal. July 13, 1974. |
| Twenty/Twenty, Contemporary Canadian Art. selected by Marci and Louise Lipman. Lester and Orphen Dennys Publishers, Toronto. |
| Foofat, Dulcie. An Examination of the Relationship between the Style New Realism in Painting and Modern Art and between New Realism and Traditional Realism (unpublished thesis). University of Calgary. 1974. |
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| All designs, images and text are copyright to Dulcie Foo Fat |
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