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Elizabeth Forrest

Artist member since 2023
Pro
Waterloo, Ontario

A graduate in printmaking from the Ontario College of Art and Design, Elizabeth Forrest later travelled to Kyoto, Japan (the 90’s) to learn traditional Japanese woodblock print aka “mokuhanga”, a medium which she has continued to practice and develop in her work to the present. Also drawn to mixed media, she has combined mokuhanga with silk screen and recently, with pochoir/stencilling. Her artistic pursuits include behind the scenes work in "shodo" or Japanese calligraphy, and life drawing with attention to digital drawing on the Ipad.

Elizabeth has an extensive exhibition record including an number of solo and group shows with printmaking facility, Open Studio, Toronto. She joined membership gallery Gerrard Art Space in 2015 and held four solo shows there while participating in various group exhibitions abroad and locally. Over her career she’s been awarded three Canada council grants for work, travel and curatorial projects. Her work can be found in significant corporate collections such as National Bank, RBC and BMO.

Moving to Waterloo in 2018 allowed her to rent affordable studio space, enjoy a more rural lifestyle and dig into the local artscene. In 2022 her design was selected for a public art installation at two parks in Waterloo, Ontario (Hemlock Park and Sunview Park) The extensive park development designed by landscape architect Nick Minigan of Guelph, is still under construction.

Elizabeth’s work is characterized by observation of social behaviours (recently), natural and cultural phenomena as seen in works related to travels to Newfoundland, and earlier in the 00's, non representational works (Grid series). In other words she works serially through a variety of image approaches. A constant in her work has been the use of Japanese papers or "washi", which she loves for its adaptability to a variety of media, in particular mokuhanga. Hence most of her work consists of works on paper. These are framed by "floating" them in an airy box frame which renders them as objects and respects the life in paper itself. Unfortunately this is hard to see in digital images and can best be appreciated when viewed in person.

Over the years, Elizabeth has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions at Toronto’s Open Studio print facility, more recently in the Kitchener Waterloo area, as well as many internationally based shows notably in Japan, and the USA. For more details please see her website, www.elizabethforrest.ca and elizabethforrest.imprimo.ca


Work

Wild Shores
Collage, 2D artworks,
Separations
Screen Motif Collection
Screen motif collection
Re-Visions
Re-Visions
Re Visions
Margin

Inside the Studio


Q+A

Only thing you need when you leave the house

A list.

Beverage of choice

My morning espresso -essential.

Favourite book

Currently, The Old Ways, by Robert Macfarlane.

Why is art important to you?

Making a work of art is like exploring, it's an adventure. I am constantly honing the tools to discover my own thoughts.

When did you start making art, and why?

I've been producing art since my childhood; professionally since the 80s.

When I'm not making art, I'm (a) ...

Working in my garden allotment, exercising(cardio, weights,yoga), long walks, attending openings, having coffee with a friend

Upcoming Exhibitions
2023-11-17

Kitchener, Ontario
Grand River Artists Collective

2024-04-01

Echizen, Japan
International Mokuhanga

2024-04-15

Kitchener, Ontario
Walter Fedy Engineering Art rental

Select Past Exhibitions
2023

John B Aird Gallery, group
Print 2022 online Catalogue

2019

Print London, Ontario
Fire, there will be fire

2017

Honolulu, Hawaii
International Mokuhanga Exhibition

2016

Lincoln, Nebraska
Metropolis and Invisible cities

2014

Tokyo, Canadian Embassy
Intersections

2008

Japan Foundation Toronto
Water, Wood, Paper, International Mokuhanga Exhibiton

2013

Open Studio Member's Gallery
Margin

2022

Gerrard Art Space
Separations (solo)

2019

Gerrard Art Space
Re Visions

2021

Kitchener
Artspay Annual Members Show

2022

Kitchener 44 Gaukel Arts Build
Artspay Annual Members Show

Accolades
2022

Elizabeth Forrest
City of Waterloo, Northdale public art project

2017

Elizabeth Forrest
Purchase Prize, Hawaii State foundation for the Arts

2022

Elizabeth Forrest and others
Microgrant ($1000)

2014

Elizabeth Forrest and others
International Mokuhanga Conference

2008

Elizabeth Forrest & Japan Foundation Toronto
Canada Council award for exhibition at Japan Foundation Toronto

1988

Elizabeth Forrest
Canada Council Grant for research and travel to Japan

2010

Elizabeth Forrest
Residency Grant for Draw International

1997

Elizabeth Forrest
Canada Council Travel for Exhibition

Press
2023

John B Aird Catalogs
Print 2023

2015

Book, April Vollmer, pp186,221,222,223
Japanese Print Workshop

2013

Book, Rebecca Salter, p13
Japanese Woodblock Printing

College Women's Association of Japan
Annual Print Competition and Sale catalogues

2024

Book, Carol Wilhide Justin (UK)
JAPANESE WOODCUT: traditional techniques and conntemporary practice

Residencies
2012

Newfoundland
Grates Cove

2010

Caylus, France
Drawing International

1992

Shikoku, Japan
Papermaking

Education
1988

Kyoto Seika University
Mokuhanga research student

1975

Ontario College of Art
AOCA

1970

University of Toronto
B.Ed

1969

Glendon College, York U. Toronto
B.A. English

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