As an Artist I am compelled to explore the unseen world and the universal harmonic that governs it…. to create what I see, what I sense, what I dream.
I was born and raised in northern Saskatchewan, where the prairies and the boreal forest meet. You could say that my early artistic education happened in the playground of unlimited freedom and exploration of that place. The light and the infinite sense of space peculiar to the landscape of my childhood, influences my work – you could even say that they are the source of it.
There is nothing about my art career that has been linear or that fits into categories or boxes. After completing my MFA, transitioning to an independent professional practice happened gradually, and alternated between years of intense studio practice and part-time work.
I never aspired to be a gallery or commercial artist – to making work to hang on a wall – although I have done that. My tendencies leaned towards making large-scale work, creating visual experiences in alternate environments. I make bodies of work then look for a place to exhibit. I get an idea and it consumes me until I get it out of my head and into the world – making the vision visible –
The prevalence of theme based and curator driven exhibitions over the years left little room for my work within conventional cultural institutions. In 1995, in response to this trend I created an Open Studio event out of my Vancouver studio at 1000 Parker St along with other participants in the building. Each year we invited other artist studio buildings to join in. This event is now known as the Eastside Culture Crawl. It was a way to invite the public into our studios and our process, educating them about the importance of creative pursuits, maintaining control over what we exhibited and how, as well as keeping all the profits from work sold, increasing our income and our independence.
Louise Pagé
Okori
2017
University Education
Master of Fine Arts, painting University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC 1990
Bachelor of Fine Arts, painting University of Calgary, Calgary, AB 1980
Other
‘silence, awareness, existence’ artist residency Arteles Finland January 2019
BAiR artist residency Banff Center for Arts and Creativity Banff AB 2018
Painting / sculpture workshop George Ketterl Vancouver, BC 1996
Early childhood education degree Langara College, Vancouver, BC 1991
Emma Lake professional artist workshop Peter Bradley John Link 1986
Expositions
‘hai’lights : labyrinth Ki Smith Gallery New York, NY March 17th – March 31st 2021 finalist in Art takes 2021 international competition
‘hai’ lights : Grindavik Iceland September 2019
‘hai’lights : koivu Haukijärvi Finland ‘silence awareness existence’ artists’ residency January 2019
‘hai’ lights : kokku Haukijärvi Finland ‘silence awareness existence’ artists residency January 2019
‘hai’ lights : BAiR fall residency Banff School of Fine Arts Banff AB Sept 17th – October 20th 2018
‘hai’ lights : Equinox vigil installation Union Cemetery Calgary, AB September 22nd 2018
‘hai’ lights : labyrinth Blaeberry Valley Golden, BC Dec 2016 – Feb 2017
Three definitions of the sublime Eric Cameron curator Triangle Gallery Calgary, AB Mar 22 – May 4 2007
U of C Alumni Exhibition U of C Theatre Calgary, AB Sept 2000
‘jardins de la nuit’ Amy’s on 2nd Prince Albert, SK May – Jul 2000
‘saisons de repos, saisons de rêves’ souvenirs de Saskatchewan’ Eastside Culture Crawl, Vancouver, BC Nov 1999
‘les rêves des jardins d’hiver’ installation Eastside Culture Crawl Vancouver, BC Nov 1998
Island Mountain Arts Instructor’s exhibition Wells, BC Jul 25 – Aug 10 1997
daydreams painted on a prairie sky : a meditation on beauty Open Studio Event Vancouver BC Dec 1996
Work in Progress: Vancouver artists in their studios Juried Vancouver, BC
May 6 – 29 1994
‘réflections de mon esprit‘ MFA solo exhibition Queen Elizabeth Theatre Gallery, Vancouver, BC Aug – Oct 1989
BC Artists at the Square ’88 Juried Robson Square Media Centre Vancouver, BC Jan 5 – Mar 6 1988
BFA Graduate Exhibition Nickel Arts Museum Calgary, AB
Apr 28 – May 21 1979
Nickel Arts Museum Opening Exhibition Juried Nickel Arts Museum Calgary AB Jan 12 – Feb 25 1979
Professional associations
CARFAC National
CARFAC Sask
Copyright Visual Arts (CARCC)
Publications
Spirit Matters : Ron (Gyo-Zo) Spickett Artist, poet, lay priest Geoffrey Simmins 2009 ISBN 1700-9995 pages 188-189
Three definitions of the sublime Eric Cameron ISBN 978-0-9783176-0-7 2007
‘The Culture Club’ Reg Street Western Living Magazine November 1998 pg 20 – 23
