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Bio

Elise Findlay is a visual artist based in Banff, Alberta. Having grown up in the mountains she has developed a deep love of her home landscape which is a central theme and inspiration in her art.
Through her landscapes Elise explores the complexities of a place and how humans interact, navigate, and experience the natural world. It is this interaction, along with memory, that Elise uses to build and layer her landscapes employing a variety of media. Elise is currently in her third year of study at AuArts in Calgary, majoring in Drawing with a minor in Object Design. Along with her studies Elise sits on the Public Art Committee for the town of Banff. She is a lifelong learner, as well as her certificate as a Red Seal Cabinetmaker, her work as a draftsman and CNC programmer/operator, she has an undergrad degree from Dalhousie University in Sociology and Comparative Religion. After Elise has finished her undergrad at AuArts she plans to continue onto a masters as well as establish a studio in Banff to continue, through her artwork, to explore this dramatic and inspiring Canadian landscape and the human impact and interactions with it.

My practice explores place and how our understanding of self can be expressed in the attachment we have to particular landscapes. I rely on memory, emotion, and knowledge to depict places that are both specific in their representation of an actual location, and general, in that, the landscapes are built from imagined and remembered routes of travel. Aware of Canada’s problematic history in relation to imagery of the land, I try in my work to depict a connection to place rather than an idealized version of a space. The idea of making a place real through experience is essential to my work. It is also essential on a personal level because it is through place that I ground myself as part of a community. In our current stasis and social separation, I find in place, a connection, and a solace in belonging that is both fixed in its solidity and flexible in the cycles of change.

Artist
Statement

Curriculum
Vitae

Bachelor of Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts (Drawing  

Major, 3D Object Design Minor), Alberta University

of the Arts - Current

Journeyman Cabinetmaker Certificate, Red Seal,

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Social Anthropology

and Comparative Religion, Dalhousie University

 

Barbara and John Poole Family Scholarship

AuArts Scholarship for a Self-Directed Research Project

Barbara and John Poole Family Scholarship

Gregory Arnold Memorial Scholarship

Jason Lang Scholarship

AuArts Scholarship for a Research Project

Louise McKinney Post Secondary Scholarship

AUArts Board of Governors’ First Year Scholarship

Eaton Entrance Scholarship, AuArts

AWMAC Southern Alberta Cabinetmaking Scholarship 

AWMAC Southern Alberta Cabinetmaking Scholarship

AWMAC Southern Alberta Apprenticeship Contest,

Third Place

AWMAC Southern Alberta Cabinetmaking Scholarship

Apprenticeship of Industry and Training Board Scholarships

in the Cabinetmaker trade.

 

Whyte Museum, Solo Exhibition - Under the Mountain's

Shadow

Artist in Residence Carya/Village Commons, organized

through the Calgary Allied Arts Foundation.

Artist in Residence - Anastomosis Group Residency, Sparrow

Artsspace

YWCA Banff Express Consent workshop facilitator &

community art piece, Working Together - Hosted at

Canmore artsPlace

Live art demo for YWCA Banff Women of Distinction

awards event and community piece Inspiration

AuArts President's Show

cSpace Group Exhibition - In Response to [    ]

Marion Nicol Gallery LRT Space

Solo Exhibition - Under the Mountain's Shaow

Hear/d Residency & Under Maintenance Exhibition

Marion Nicoll Gallery

EAWP Residency & "Unbouned" Publication (CMagazine)

AuArts President’s Collection

Participation + Live Demo - Ojibway Club Art Show

AuArts President’s Show 

YYC Airport Showcase

AuArts President’s Show

AuArts Student’s Association First Year Show

The Sounds of Algonquin immersive album release 

(cover art display/ongoing project, second show spring 2022)

 

Uncanny Dwellings – AuArts Drawing + Painting Exhibition

    Town of Banff Public Art Committee 

Marion Nicoll Gallery, Jury Member

Education

2020

2015

2010

Awards

2022

2021

2021

2021

2020

2020

2019

2019

2018

2015

2014

2014

2013

2013

Exhibitions + Residencies

2022

2022

2022

 

2022

2022

2022

2021

2021

2021

2021

2020

2020

2020

2020

2019

2019

2019

Juries + Committees

2021

2019-Present

2019

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Halifax, NS

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Canmore, AB

Canmore, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Pointe au Baril, ON

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Banff, AB

Calgary, AB

Calgary, AB

Algonquin Part, ON

Calgary, AB

Banff, AB

Calgary, AB

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