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About Barbel Smith

Biography
Bärbel (pronounced Bear-bull) was born in Germany and began painting at age eight when she immigrated to Canada. She received her formal training at the Alberta College of Art and has since travelled and lived across Canada and painted from coast to coast.

Her first show was at the Muttart Art Gallery in Calgary in the early eighties, and from there, varied juried shows with the Federation of Canadian Artists in Vancouver and Calgary; ongoing art venues across Ontario, as well as in her own studio.  Bärbel routinely provides art instruction in libraries, schools, and her own studio, where she inspires artists of all ages in their appreciation for Canadian landscapes and the work of the masters.​

​Influences
Bärbel is a Canadian landscape artist who appreciates the works of Lawren Harris and the Group of Seven.  Other influencers are Emily Carr, Doris McCarthy and Ted Harrison.

Location
She currently resides in Colborne, Ontario is married and has nine children, who have all followed her in their appreciation for fine art and this wonderful Canadian landscape which we are privileged to call our home.

Artist's Statement & Philosophy
As an artist I want to meld and intersect the spiritual with the landscape we live in; to incorporate faith and its impact on art by illumination and light-filled canvases.  My inspiration is from the Canadian Group of Seven, particularly Lawren Harris’ middle period and his desire to enlighten, uplift and edify.  Art is a way for the soul to reach out and touch the immortal; to catch a fleeting glimpse of God.

My subject is the ever changing Canadian landscape and the striving of the soul to make sense of the world.  My medium and materials are; a fresh canvas, a loaded brush, a keyed up colour pallet, and applying the paint while watching and waiting.  Art is a form of communication for me; communication between heaven and earth. 

Exhibitions & Shows
2018
Bärbel Smith Art Gallery (Increased Gallery presence having hired a full time Sales Associate)
Pelham Fine Art Show, Pelham Marina, Niagara, Fonthill, ON (proposed)
Whitchurch-Stoufville Art in the Park, Stoufville, ON (proposed)
Riverdale Art Walk - outdoor art show, Artists Network J. Simpson Park, Toronto (proposed)
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON (proposed)
Oakville Art in the Park,  Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park, Oakville, ON (proposed)
Cramahe Studio Tour, Colborne, ON
McMichael Autumn Art Show and Sale Fundraiser - McMichael Gallery, Kleinburg, ON (proposed)

2017
Bärbel Smith Art Gallery
Maple Syrup Festival, Spirit of the Hills Juried Show, Warkworth, ON  (juried)
Cobourg Art Club, Cobourg, ON
Pelham Fine Art Show, Pelham Marina, Niagara, Fonthill, ON 
Spring Studio Show, Colborne, ON
Whitchurch-Stoufville Art in the Park, Stoufville, ON (juried outdoor show)
Cramahe Studio Tour, Colborne, ON
Oakville Art in the Park,  Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park, Oakville, ON (juried outdoor show)
Artwalk in the Square, CF Shops at Don Mills, Toronto, ON  (juried outdoor show
McMichael Autumn Art Show and Sale Fundraiser - McMichael Gallery, Kleinburg, ON

2016
Bärbel Smith Art Gallery
Cobourg Art Club, Cobourg, ON
Pelham Fine Art Show, Niagara, Fonthill, ON
Riverdale Art Walk - outdoor art show, Artists Network J. Simpson Park, Toronto
ICON show, Federation Gallery Show, Vancouver, BC
Whitchurch-Stoufville Art in the Park, Stoufville, ON
Oakville Art in the Park,  Oakville Heritage park,
Queen West Art Crawl,  Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON

2015
Bärbel Smith Art Gallery
Group of Seven Seniors Show  - Art Square Gallery Toronto, ON
Love Art Show - Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON
Riverdale Art Walk - outdoor art show, Artists Network, J. Simpson Park, Toronto
Beaches Show -  KEW Gardens, Toronto
Celebrar Show – Pan Am Games Show, Art Square Gallery, Toronto
Oakville Art in the Park - outdoor show, Oakville Heritage Park,
Cabbage Town Arts - Riverdale Park , Toronto,
Cobourg Art & Letters Show - Cobourg, ON
Intersection - Colborne Art Gallery, Colborne, ON

2014
Bärbel Smith Art Gallery
53rd Annual Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON
Toronto Artwalk North, Mel Lastman Square, Toronto
Bright & Beautiful Show, Colborne Art Gallery, Colborn, ON
Scenes from Western Canada Show, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver, BC
Landscapes Show, FCA, Vancouver, BC
Canvas Unbound, FCA, Vancouver, Bc
Foliage & Flowers, FCA Vancouver, BC
Jubilee – 50th anniversary show - Cobourg Art Club.,

2013
Bärbel Smith Art Gallery
Colborne Art Gallery, Colborne,
Art Gallery of Northumberland, Cobourg, ON
Maple Syrup Art Show, Warkworth Community Hall, Warkworth, ON

2012  
Bärbel Smith Art Gallery
Artists’ Choice Show, FCA Show, Vancouver, BC
Small, Smaller, Smallest Show, FCA Show, Vancouver, Bc
Art Gallery of Northumberland, Cobourg, ON

2011
Haiku Inspirations, FCA Show, Vancouver, BC
Art Gallery of Northumberland, Cobourg, ON

2010
Artists’ Choice Show, FCA Show, Vancouver, BC
Small, Smaller, Smallest Show, FCA Show, Vancouver, BC

2009 - 2014  Cobourg Waterfront Show, Cobourg Victoria Park, Cobourg, 

2008
Plein Air Show, FCA Show, Vanvouver, BC

2007
Small, Smaller, Smallest Show, FCA Show,  Vancouver, BC

2006
Canvas Unbound Show, FCA Show, Vancouver, BC

(10 year sabbatical with no public art shows –raised 9 children)

1994
Dorval Art Association Annual Juried Show
Dorval Library, Montreal, QC

1990
Landscape Show, FCA show, Vancouver, BC

Education
2013          Brian Smith Workshop, Warkworth, ON

2012          Art in Libraries Workshop, Toronto, ON

1994-95     Theological Studies, Online

1990-91     Workshops with B. Simmons, Montreal, QC

1985-88     Alberta College of Art , Calgary, AB - studied under Bill Parker

Media Features
​Nasmith, Cecelia, “Colborne Artist Expands Children’s classes”  The Colborne Chronicle – Northumberland Today  March 31, 2015.

Brown, Moira, interview “Family faces trouble with grace”  100 Huntley St. Interview, (2 episodes) May, 2011

Owen, Bob, “Township Art Classes”, Cramahe Now  Feb 13, 2011

Nasmith, Cecelia, “Art for the Lord show supports Children’s Wish” Northumberland Today, May 16, 2008

Northumberland County Arts Guide – Premiere Edition  2008

Representation
2012-2018   Bärbel Smith Gallery

2017-2018   Indulgences Toronto Design Center Units # 353 & 323 7250 Keele Street Vaughan, ON

2017-2018   Commercial Licensing Agreement with Willow Creek Rug Hooking

2007-08       Journey Through the Arts  Port Hope, ON

1998-2003   Pointe-Claire Gallery,  Montreal, QC

1985             Muttart Art Gallery, Calgary, AB

​Workshop and Studio Instructor
2012-2018  Bärbel Smith Studio Classes      

2014-2018  Community Art Classes Colborne & Castleton Public Library, Studio Instruction

April 2015   Growing up in Art - Instructor for M. Bates CCC, Cobourg, ON

2006-2015  Community Art Classes   Cobourg Public Library

2013            We Believe – Live art performance   Fellowship Baptist Church