Les Potter

Leslie Howard Potter was born in 1947 in Kimberley, BC and raised on a farm south of Biggar, SK. He became involved in making art and writing songs in the late 1960’s; received his MFA in 1993 from the U of S, Saskatoon, SK.

Leslie’s exhibition record dates back to the early 1970’s and includes numerous group and solo exhibitions. His art is in a number of private and public collections. As well, he has completed many commissions for the City of Saskatoon, City of Prince Albert, Town of Outlook and the University of Saskatchewan. Leslie has also taught sculpture and painting through the Mendel Art Gallery, the Extension Division, U of S and the Department of Art and Art History, U of S.

Much of his art deals with peace and people’s struggles in achieving peace. Lately Leslie has been interested in the connection between western notions of sub-atomic physics and eastern philosophies such as Taoism and Buddhism. His latest pieces are reflecting this influence.

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

1993 Masters of Fine Arts, U of S, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
1986 Bachelor of Fine Arts; distinction, U of S, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
1978 Pre-Employment Welding; distinction, Kelsey, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

SOLO EXHIBITIONS & JURIED INSTALLATIONS

2008-2013 Queen & Sacrarium, City of Saskatoon, Placemaker Program
2007-2013 Mediator & Contrapuntal Jazz, City of Saskatoon, Placemaker Program
2006-2013 Dreamwalker, City of Saskatoon, Placemaker Program
2005-2010 Boomerang Bench, City of Saskatoon, Placemaker Program
2004-2006 Jazzman, City of Saskatoon, Placemaker Program
2002-2004 The Silent One, City of Saskatoon, Temporary Sculpture Placement (TSP)
1997-2013 PianoForte, City of Saskatoon, TSP
1997-1999 Windbells & Mika, The Protector, City of Saskatoon, TSP
1995-1997 Peace Warrior, City of Saskatoon, TSP
1994 Western Peace Wall & Visionaries, Collection City of Saskatoon, TSP
1993 Uncommon Realities, Snelgrove Gallery, U of S, Saskatoon, SK
1993 Totems On The Other Side, Artworks, Saskatoon, SK
1987 Sculptures by Leslie Potter, Education Building, U of S, Saskatoon, SK
1987 Leslie Potter: Seven Stones, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
1986 Leslie Potter: BFA Exhibition, Snelgrove Gallery, U of S, Saskatoon, SK
1986 New Aluminum Sculpture, The Vinnish Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
1982 Leslie Potter: Recent Works, Mark’s Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

SELECTED TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2010-2013 Third Sound, L. Potter & A. Popoff, Saskatchewan tour, curated by Don Stein
2007 Artist by Artist Mentorship Project: TransFIGUREment, Leslie Potter & Shelley Kaszefski, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2006 Music with Sculptures, Leslie Potter & Anahit Falihi, Convocation Hall, U of S, Saskatoon, SK
2004 Artist by Artist Mentorship Project: The Sound of the Green Violin, Leslie Potter & Anahit Falihi, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2001-2005 Pineapple Sky & Harpo, collaboration with Alicia Popoff, City of Saskatoon, TSP
1999-2010 Musicians, collaboration with Alicia Popoff, City of Saskatoon, TSP
1998 Continuum, Leslie Potter & Alicia Popoff, Artworks, Saskatoon, SK
1990 Sheriden Forbes/Leslie Potter: Sentinels and Symbols, Artworks,
Saskatoon, SK
1990 Alicia Popoff & Leslie Potter, Porsgruun, Larvik & Eidsvoll Galleries, Norway
1985 Potter & Popoff, Frances Morrison Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
1982 Les Potter & William Epp, Sturdy Stone Centre, Saskatoon, SK

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2014 Collaboration, STM Gallery, Saskatoon
2013 Art for Arts’ Sake, STM Gallery, Saskatoon
Dimensions, SCC touring exhibition
2012 Abstractions & Beyond, The Mix Gallery, Saskatoon
Diversity, STM Gallery, Saskatoon
2011 Celebrate the Arts, STM Gallery, Saskatoon
2010 Emma Lake and North, The Gallery / art placement inc., Saskatoon SK
2010 Artifact, SCC Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2010 Winter Salon Show, The Gallery / art placement inc., Saskatoon SK
2010 Artistic Evolution, STM Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2009 Playing with Dimensions, SCC touring exhibition
2009 Saskatchewan’s Finest, SCC Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2009 ‘Coming Together’, STM Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2008 Group show of gallery artists featuring Leslie Potter, The Gallery / art placement inc., Saskatoon, SK
2008 In Concert, STM Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2007 Dimensions 2007, SCC touring exhibition
2007 In Concomitance, STM Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2006 PSA - 7th Biennial Invitational Sculpture Show, Francis Morrison Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2006 Sculpture Inspired by Music, Innovation Place, Saskatoon, SK
2006 One and All: A Collection of Artwork by USCAD Instructors, STM Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2005 PSA Sculpture Exhibition, Innovation Place, Saskatoon, SK
2004 Heavy, The Chapel Gallery, North Battleford, SK
2004 Id, Parkridge Centre Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2001 Waiting for Rain, Parkridge Centre, Saskatoon, SK
2001 PSA Sculpture Show, The Chapel Gallery, North Battleford, SK
1998 Defining the Landscape, Diefenbaker Canada Centre, Saskatoon, SK

SELECTED COMMISSIONS & AWARDS

2010 Culture on the Go Grant (with Alicia Popoff)
2009 Shaw Centre Corridor Art Installation, Saskatoon, SK (collaboration with Alicia Popoff)
2002 Prince Albert Arts Centre Sculpture Commission, Prince Albert, SK
2000 Saskatchewan Arts Board Grant (with Alicia Popoff)
2000 Town of Outlook Sculpture Commission, Outlook, SK
2000 PCS/Commerce Department, U of S Commission, Saskatoon, SK
1990-1992 University of Saskatchewan Scholarships, Saskatoon, SK
1990 Saskatchewan Arts Board Grant
1988 Saskatchewan Arts Board Grant
1987 Saskatchewan Arts Board Grant
1986 Judith Poole Award, Department of Art & Art History, U of S, Saskatoon, SK
1985 Saskatchewan Arts Board Grant

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, SK; CBC, Regina, SK; City of Prince Albert, Prince Albert, SK; Town of Outlook, Outlook, SK; Saskatchewan Arts Board; PCS/Commerce Building, Saskatoon, SK; University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Robertson, Sheila. Together In Every Sense, Star-Phoenix, Accent, Saskatoon: Hollinger Canadian Newspapers LP, March 21, 1998; Husband and Wife Engage in Artistic Conversation, Star-Phoenix, 9 January, Prism, Saskatoon: Armadale Communications, 1993; Sculptor, Painter Complement Each Other, Star Phoenix, 4 August, Prism, Saskatoon: Armadale Communications, 1990; Show Establishes Dialogue Between Sculpture, Painting, Star-Phoenix, 17 March, Prism, Saskatoon: Armadale Communications, 1990; Entranced by the Stone, Star-Phoenix, 31 October, Accent, Saskatoon, Armadale Communications, 1987
Moppet, George. Leslie Potter: Seven Stones, Saskatoon: Mendel Art Gallery, 1987
Sullivan, Pat. Prairie Sculpture Symposium, Vanguard, October, 1985
Enright, Robert. Saskatoon, Canadian Art, (Winter/December): 51-57, 1984

SELECTED ART RELATED ACTIVITIES

2013 Member, CARFAC Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Craft Council (SCC), Mendel Art Gallery
2009-2013 Instructor, Welded Steel Sculpture, Walter Murray Collegiate, Saskatoon, SK
2008-2012 Instructor, Welded Steel Sculpture, Kenderdine Campus, Emma Lake, SK
2007 Juror, Winter Festival, Art Gallery of Prince Albert, Prince Albert SK
2006 Curator, The Bill Epp Show, touring exhibition (with James Korpan)
2006 Essay for Steelheads, work of James Korpan
2005 Juror, OSAC Showcase, U of S, Saskatoon, SK
2005 Participant, Artists’ Workshop Emma Lake, Kenderdine Campus, SK
2004-2005 Sculpture Instructor (3 sessions), Kilburn Hall Youth Centre, Saskatoon, SK
2004 Juror, Iron In The Wind, SCC touring exhibition
2004 Juror, OSAC Showcase, North Battleford, SK
2004 Essay for catalogue, Of Heaven and Of Earth, work of Garry Berteig
2004 Resource Person, Unstructured Emma, 2004 Emma Lake Collaboration, Kenderdine Campus, Emma Lake, SK
2003-2013 Sculpture Instructor (part-time), USCAD, U of S, Saskatoon SK
2003 Curator, Horizons: A Perspective on Landscape, SCC Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2002-2005 Mentor for CARFAC Saskatchewan’s Mentorship Program (three times)
2001-2002 Instructor, Welded Steel Sculpture, Mount Royal Collegiate, Saskatoon, SK
2000 Juror, OSAC Showcase, Swift Current, SK
1999-2004 Resource Person, More Big Fun, U of S, Saskatoon, SK
1998 Curator, Craft on Stream, SCC Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
1997 Curator, Music in Your Ear, SCC Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
1996 Curator, Early Saskatchewan Woodworkers, SCC Gallery and The Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK (with Dan Ring)
1996 Resource Person, Conservation & Collaboration Woodturning and Furniture Design, Kenderdine Campus, Emma Lake, SK
1996 Sessional Lecturer (Sculpture), Department of Art & Art History, U of S, Saskatoon, SK
1996-2013 Metal & Stone Juror for the SCC, Saskatoon, SK
1993-2013 Part time Exhibitions & Education Coordinator (job shared) for the SCC, Saskatoon, SK
1989-1995 Resource Person, welding & casting workshops, Sculpture, Department of Art & Art History, U of S, Saskatoon, SK
1989-1990 Painting Instructor, Extension Division, U of S, Saskatoon, SK
1983-2002 Participant in 9 Prairie Sculptors’ Association Symposia, Saskatoon, SK