James Culleton is a Canadian contemporary multimedia artist and designer based in Saint Boniface, a city ward of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He specializes in blind-contour drawing and sculpture, and his work has been exhibited across Canada and into the United States.[1]

James Culleton
Alma materUniversity of Manitoba
Known forblind-contour drawing and sculpture
Websitehttp://jamesculleton.com

Education

edit

Culleton received a BFA (Honours) from the University of Manitoba in 1999. His teachers included Diana Thorneycroft and Diane Whitehouse, among others.

Work

edit

Culleton produces mural and chalkboard art, oil and acrylic on canvas and blind contour drawings in pencil and ink, as well as water-jet steel sculpture and multi-media installations. As a designer, Culleton has designed large furniture pieces for EQ3, The Pinnacle Seating Studio, and Palliser Furniture. He has also recorded five albums as a roots-based singer-songwriter,[2] released two volumes of themed line drawings, and is active as a public speaker,[3] writer,[4][5][6] and teacher.[7]

Projects

edit
 
facade of West End Cultural Centre, showing Culleton's water-jet steel musical instrument sculptures
 
Birch tree mural, Club Regent Casino, Winnipeg, MB
 
Smithville Legacy Portraits, Smithville, TX
  • West End Cultural Centre facade:[8] Large-scale steel sculptures of musical instruments featured on the facade of the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, a commission completed in 2010.
  • Winnipeg Folk Festival Labyrinths:[9][10] Mowed grass labyrinths on the grounds of the Winnipeg Folk Festival in Bird's Hill Park, MB, produced annually since 2007.
  • McCanna House Residency Project:[11] Multimedia exhibit at the North Dakota Museum of Art that included drawings, paintings, photos, a nine-track album featuring music and performances by the artist, and a series of music videos starring Uncle Charlie, a life-sized puppet produced through collaboration with puppeteer Curtis Wiebe. Grand Forks, ND. 2015.
  • Crokicurl:[12] painted ice installation combining the sport of curling with the board game crokinole, at The Forks, Winnipeg, MB. Feb. 2017.
  • Canada Day Viking Ship:[13] floating barge of recycled materials and animated LED light, built in partnership with Gimli High School for Canada 150 celebrations. Gimli, MB. July 2017.
  • Tiny House on the Prairie Art Residency:[14] Kelwood, MB. Aug. 2017.
  • Aviary 3.0:[15] sound and sculpture installation of wooden birds paired with motion sensor-activated bird calls, one of six winners in the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba's 2018 Winter Garden project. Brandon, MB. 2018. Another version of this installation, Aviary 4.0, created by Culleton and artist Michael Koch-Schulte using electro-luminescent birds and sound houses focused on crow and raven calls, was included at the North Dakota Museum of Art's bi-annual auction. Grand Forks, ND. Feb. 2018.
  • Snowplaces:[16] snow-sculptured winter living room installations featuring "snofas," log end tables, and other furnishings constructed to evoke the idea of home in the outdoors. Created as part of Riding Mountain National Park's Winter Adventure Weekend. Wasagaming, MB. Feb. 2018.

Birch Tree Mural:[17][18] birch tree forest-inspired mural on north-facing side of Club Regent Casino. At 60 feet (18 m) tall and 500 feet (150 m) wide, the mural is the largest in Manitoba.[19][20] Winnipeg, MB. July 2018.

  • Smithville Legacy Portraits:[21] large-scale mural of historical community leaders. A commission from the City of Smithville upon receipt of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Smithville, TX. Nov. 2018. Part II of this project was completed in Apr. 2019, via a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.
  • conFluENCE, with Michael Koch-Schulte: water-jet cut steel fence with internal lighting. On-site installation at Hargrave Place, Winnipeg, MB. Dec. 2018.
  • There's Snowplace Like Home,[22] with Chris Pancoe and Jakobi Heinrichs: snow sculptures highlighting selected species at risk within Riding Mountain National Park. Wasagaming, MB. Feb. 2019.
  • Sun Spectrums:[23] rainbow-themed mural commissioned by Brandon Downtown Development Corporation, Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation, and City of Brandon. Brandon, MB. May 2019.
  • Transcona Welcome Mats:[24] three sidewalk murals commissioned by Transcona Biz Improvement Zone. Winnipeg, MB. July 2019.
  • Zoo Lights Festival, with Mike Friesen and Michael Koch-Schulte: animal-themed light installations at Assiniboine Park Zoo. Winnipeg, MB. Jan. 2020.
  • The Jeep!: Styrofoam replica of World War II jeep commissioned by Princess Auto. Winnipeg, MB. Jan. 2020.
  • The Wheel: large-scale metal art sculpture erected as part of the Dawson Trail Art and Heritage Tour in southern Manitoba, Nov. 2022[25]

Collections

edit

James Culleton Designs produces large and small-scale textile and fabric pieces based on Culleton's art.

Awards and distinctions

edit
  • 2021: Support - Adapt Grant for Media Arts; Music; Visual arts, Manitoba Arts Council[26]
  • 2021: Individual Artist Grant for Artists Working in All Artistic Disciplines, Winnipeg Arts Council[27]
  • 2018: W. Cliff Packer Memorial Award at the Open Juried Competition and Exhibition of the Manitoba Society of Artists[28] for the piece "Forks River Trail."
  • 2015: Pinnacle Award from the American Society of Furniture Designers in the category of motion furniture [29] for his M1 series, designed for Palliser Furniture.[30]
  • 2015: EQ3 Generation Art award for textile design,[31] used to produce limited-edition pillows, ottomans, and napkins sold in support of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation.
  • 2005: Bourse en Arts Visuels from the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec, awarded for research and creation in architecture, media arts, visual arts, and craftsmanship.[32]

Exhibitions

edit
  • Je suis ici/I Am Here: La Maison des Artistes, St. Boniface, MB. Oct. 8 - 20, 2020[33]
  • Vanished Days: Prairie Fusion Arts & Entertainment Centre, Portage la Prairie, MB. Feb. 18 - Mar. 28, 2020[34]
  • Lyrical Lines: Drawings by James Culleton: Wayne Arthur Gallery, St. Boniface, MB. Feb. 5 - 20, 2020[35]
  • Drawings and Watercolours of Transcona: Transcona Funeral Chapel, Winnipeg, MB. June 8, 2019[36]
  • Dear Margery: North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, ND. Sept. 24, 2016 - Jan. 15, 2017[37]
  • Perjinkities: Sketchbook Drawing Exhibition: Art City, Inc., Winnipeg, MB. Sept. 20 - Oct. 20, 2007[38]
  • Contouring Quebec: Portage and District Arts Centre, Portage la Prairie, MB. June 2008[39]

Workshops and classes

edit
  • 2018-present: Instructor at Winnipeg Art Gallery[40]
  • 2017-present: Instructor at Forum Art Centre, Winnipeg, MB[41]
  • 2016-2021: Instructor in Graphic Design and Manual Writing and Design, Continuing Education Department, Red River College, Winnipeg, MB[42]

Publications

edit

Books

edit
  • Contouring Quebec, c2009.[43]
  • Lyrical Lines, c2011[44]
  • McCanna House c2016

Albums

edit
  • The Minglers [self-titled] c2001
  • Brokenhead c2003[45]
  • Ca va bien, today? c2009[46]
  • At Christmas Time, c2018[50]<
  • Spooky Songs (with the Coffin Bangers, featuring Al Simmons), c2019
  • Unusual Friendships, c2020

References

edit
  1. ^ "James Culleton: Dear Margery". North Dakota Council on the Arts. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  2. ^ "James Culleton". Manitoba Music. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  3. ^ "PechaKucha Night Winnipeg Archives". gdc.net. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  4. ^ "Some say volumes about the North, while others set their mark in toner". The Uniter. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  5. ^ "Non-representational, not abstract". The Uniter. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  6. ^ "Drawing on the rules of the new age". The Uniter. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  7. ^ "RED Blog / Design instructor earns Pinnacle Award from American Society of Furniture Designers". news.rrc.ca. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  8. ^ "New sculptures capture the intimate connection between art and music". The Uniter. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  9. ^ "Find Your Path at Folk Fest". Winnipeg Folk Festival. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  10. ^ "World-Wide Labyrinth Locator - Locate a Labyrinth". labyrinthlocator.com. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  11. ^ "Culleton bringing history to life". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  12. ^ "Crokicurling has turned the genteel pastime of crokinole on its ear". Winnipeg Free Press. 4 Feb 2017. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  13. ^ Newman, Roger (July 5, 2017). ""Gimli Harbour busy with afternoon Canada Day activities."" (PDF). Gimli Enterprise News. Vol. 9, no. 27. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  14. ^ "Artists & Makers in residence - the tiny house on the prairie". Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  15. ^ "wintergarden". wintergarden. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  16. ^ Culleton, James (2 February 2018). "Artist carving snow sculptures at Riding Mountain National Park this week". Brandon Sun.
  17. ^ Fuller, Simon (2018-07-09). "Artist's presence is larger than life". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  18. ^ "Explore Winnipeg's murals". Tourism Winnipeg. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  19. ^ "The Murals of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: Murals". themuralsofwinnipeg.com. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  20. ^ "Transcona is officially home to Manitoba's largest mural!". transconabiz.ca. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  21. ^ "ABC Legacy Portrait Project". Smithville Cultural District. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  22. ^ "Local ice artists carving species at risk throughout Riding Mountain Nat'l Park". Global News. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  23. ^ "Beautification & Murals – BNRC". Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  24. ^ Birnie, Sheldon (2019-07-10). "Take a walk on the wild side". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  25. ^ "Dawson Trail Art and Heritage Tour". Facebook.com. 3 Nov 2022. Retrieved 21 Feb 2023.
  26. ^ "Grant Results". Manitoba Arts Council. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 21 Feb 2023.
  27. ^ "Grants Awarded". Winnipeg Arts Council. 21 Feb 2023. Retrieved 21 Feb 2023.
  28. ^ Manitoba Society of Artists (4 Mar 2018). "Open Juried Competition and Exhibition 2018". Retrieved 1 Apr 2018.
  29. ^ "2015 pinnacle winners". American Society of Furniture Designers. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  30. ^ "Award-Winning Furniture by James Culleton for Palliser | Palliser Furniture Blog". www.blog.palliser.com. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  31. ^ "Home & Garden Spotlight: James Culleton". Ayoko Magazine. 2015-02-28. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  32. ^ Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Quebec (19 June 2006). "Rapport Annuel 2005-2006" (PDF). Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  33. ^ "Je suis ici / I Am Here". La Maison des Artistes. 8 Oct 2020. Retrieved 21 Feb 2023.
  34. ^ "Culleton farming exhibit coming to arts centre". Portage Daily Graphic. 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  35. ^ Fuller, Simon (2020-02-04). "A snapshot in time". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  36. ^ Chapel, Transcona Funeral. "Transcona Funeral Chapel". Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  37. ^ "North Dakota Museum Of Art | past 2017 James Culleton Dear Margery". ndmoa.com. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  38. ^ Iwasaki, Takashi. "Perjinkities - Art City - Semai Gallery". takashiiwasaki.info. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  39. ^ "Archived Gallery Exhibits 2008 to 2014". www.portageartscentre.ca. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  40. ^ "WAG Learning and Programs 2020". issuu Winnipeg Art Gallery. 7 Nov 2019. Retrieved 21 Feb 2023.
  41. ^ "Art Instructors, Forum Art Centre". Forum Art Centre. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  42. ^ "RED Blog / Design instructor earns Pinnacle Award". RED Blog. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  43. ^ "James Culleton - McNally Robinson Booksellers". www.mcnallyrobinson.com. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  44. ^ "Lyrical Lines". Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  45. ^ Music, Manitoba. "by James Culleton". Manitoba Music. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  46. ^ Music, Manitoba. "by James Culleton". Manitoba Music. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  47. ^ Music, Manitoba. "by James Culleton". Manitoba Music. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  48. ^ Music, Manitoba. "by James Culleton". Manitoba Music. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  49. ^ "New music". Winnipeg Free Press. 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  50. ^ Music, Manitoba. "by James Culleton". Manitoba Music. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  51. ^ Melanson, Jenna (16 March 2022). "James Culleton releases new children's single, "Superfun"". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved 21 Feb 2023.
edit