Biography
   

 John Sabourin, a Dene from the Dehcho First Nation of Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada. John began painting acrylics in 1989, but became serious about pursuing a career as an artist in 1995 after completing a Fine Arts Course with Arctic College. He decided to continue formal studies of Art at the Victoria College of Art, Victoria, British Columbia, graduating in1999. John's paintings explore the complex relationship between humans and nature. As a carver he embraces his Dene culture bringing stone to life through stories and legends.

  John has sold paintings to private collectors in Canada and the United States. He has completed commissions and murals including a granite sculpture for the French Federation in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in 2005 and a painting for the City of Yellowknife Public Library in 2004. In 1999, along with two other artists, John completed a five foot marble sculpture that celebrated the cultural diversity of Canada's north. John has been interviewed by local and national news media including A.P.T.N. and Global TV and he has been featured on C.B.C. Artspots.

  In February 2007, John was honored to represent the N.W.T. in "Burning Cold" a juried art exhibition of ten Canadian artists at the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon. The show will be travelling to Nanaimo Art Gallery in January, 2008 and Oakville in August, 2008. After numerous group exhibitions in places such as Sydney, Australia (2002), Arizona (1998), and New Mexico (1995). John had a solo exhibition of his carvings at Nor-Art Gallery in Yellowknife, N.W.T. in February, 2006. In 2005, John received the People's Choice Award and in 2004 the Artists' Choice Award for his work at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik, Northwest Territories where he had been exhibiting his paintings and carvings since 1993. From 2003 - 2007 he was pleased to participate in the Open Sky Festival in Fort Simpson, N.W.T.

  John feels privileged to be able to work at something he cares about so deeply, and enjoys sharing his art and knowledge with others. He has taught carving workshops to students at schools in Yellowknife, N.W.T. since 2003 and to adults at various art festivals.

  John is represented by Snow Goose Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario, Guild Shop, Toronto, Ontario, Birchwood Gallery, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Bear Claw Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta and Arctic Artistry Gallery in New York.


Curriculum Vitae


John Sabourin


Education

2005 Honorary Fine Arts Certificate, Aurora College, Fort Smith, NT
1999 Victoria College of Art Diploma, Victoria, British Columbia
1995 Fine Arts Certificate, Aurora College, Fort Simpson, NT
1989 Fine Arts Certificate, Intro. Print making, Intro. Intaglio, Arctic College, Cape Dorset, Nunavut

Awards and Achievements

2007 First Place/Artists’ Choice Award, National Snow Sculpture Competition, Gatineau, Quebec
2005 People’s Choice Award, Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuvik, NT
2004 Artists’ Choice Award, Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuvik, NT

Upcoming Exhibition

2008 December "Christmas Show" Sandra Whitton Gallery, Kingston, ON

Solo and Group Exhibitions

2008 October - November Sandra Whitton Gallery, Kingston, ON
2008 "Burning Cold" Oakville Galleries
2008 Thousand Island Arts Autumn Fall Colours Studio Tour
2008 "Burning Cold" Nanaimo Art Gallery January 11-February 16, 2008
2007 “Burning Cold,” Yukon Arts Centre, Canada Winter Games (juried) Feb.
2005 Nor-Art Gallery, Yellowknife, NT (solo)
2002 Arctic Artistry Art Gallery, New York, NY
2002 “Our Legend,” Australia and Canadian Indigenous Art, Walkabout Gallery, Sydney, Australia
1999 Victoria College of Art, MacPherson Playhouse, Victoria, BC
1998 “Spirits in the Sun” Scottsdale, Arizona (group)
1997 Fort Simpson Visitor Information Centre, Fort Simpson, NT
1995 “Keeping our Stories Alive,” Dene and Inuit of Canada Exhibition, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Commissions

2007 Sculpture for the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, NT
2006 Raven Project for the City of Yellowknife, NT, Yellowknife Art Society
2005 Sculpture, French Federation, Yellowknife, NT
2003 Mural for the Public Library, City of Yellowknife, NT
1999 “Sculpture of the North,” French Federation, Yellowknife, NT
1995 Mural for the Visitor Information Centre, Village of Fort Simpson, NT

Teaching Introduction to Soapstone Carving

2009 January 17th 9-4pm Intro. to Soapstone Carving Kingston School of Art ph.(613) 549-1528
2008 October 4th Queen's University Intro. to Carving Workshop
2008 Kingston School of Art ,Kingston, ON Carving Workshop

2008 Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuvik, NT
2007 Open Sky Festival, Fort Simpson, NT, 2003-2007
2007 Schools of Yellowknife District #1, 2003-2007
2006 Chief Jimmy Bruneau School, Rae Edzo, NT
2006 Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuvik,NT 1993-2006
2006 Summer Solstice Festival, Yellowknife, NT, 2004-2006
2002 M.W. Moore P.S. Shining Tree, ON


Photos



In the Studio, Yellowknife, NT



John and Eli, Yellowknife Legislative Assembly
2006



In the Studio, Yellowknife, NT



John's Sculpture



Raven Project
2006



Winterlude Gatineau, Quebec
National Snow Sculpture Competition 2007 First Place/Artist Choice Award