Curriculum Vitae

Exhibitions

2011
"Kamloops Cowboy Show", Kamloops, BC
"Footprints" at Peachland Arts Festival, Peachland, BC
MCSBC "Roots Festival", Armstrong, BC
National Aboriginal Day Celebration, Kelowna, BC
"For the Love of Art Almighty", Kelowna, BC
The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede's Western Showcase "Sales Salon" and "Auction", Calgary
"Kiyanaw" at the Capital EX, Edmonton, AB
Dakota Dunes PowWow, Whitecap Nation, Saskatchewan
"MetisFest", Peace Gardens, Manitoba
"The West is Best", Senator St. Germain's ranch, Surrey, BC
"Authors & Artists Faire", Penticton, BC
"Riel Day", Kelowna, BC

2010
Eastern Canada Book Launch for "The Secret of Your Name" Oshawa and Durham Metis Association, Oshawa, ON
"Kamloops Cowboy Show", Kamloops, BC
"Jay Contway and Friends", Great Falls, MT
"Zion Flute Festival", Zion Canyon, Utah
Winter Olympics, Aboriginal Village, Vancouver, BC
MCSBC "Roots Festival", Armstrong, BC
The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede's Western Showcase "Sales Salon" and "Auction", Calgary
125th Anniversary of "Back to Batoche", Batoche, SK
"Heritage Festival", Edmonton, AB
"Artist Ride", South Dakota
MetisFest, Peace Gardens, Manitoba
Lake Country's "ArtWalk"
"The West is Best", Surrey, BC
Kelowna Metis Association Christmas, Kelowna, BC

2009
MNBC AGM, Penticton, BC
MCSBC "Roots Festival", Armstrong, BC
"Voyage", Metis Crossing, Alberta
"Zion Flute Festival", St. George,Utah
The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede's Western Showcase "Sales Salon", Calgary, AB
"Kiyanaw" at the Capital EX, Edmonton, AB
"Gathering of Nations" PowWow, Albuquerque, New Mexico
"MetisFest", Peace Gardens, Manitoba
"Metis Showcase", Abbotsford, BC
"Canadian Rodeo Finals Art Show", Edmonton, AB
"Potter's & Artisans" Show, Kelowna, BC
Kelowna Metis Association Christmas, Kelowna, BC
Book Launch of "The Secret of Your Name", Turtle Island Gallery, Kelowna, BC

2008
"Kamloops Cowboy Show", Kamloops, BC
"Life and Arts Festival", Kelowna, BC
MNBC AGM, Kelowna, BC
The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede's Western Showcase "Sales Salon" and "Quick Draw" Calgary, AB
Lake Country's "ArtWalk"
"Metis Showcase", Abbotsford, BC

2007
"Life and Arts Festival", Kelowna, BC
"We Are Metis", Kelowna Museum, Kelowna, BC
MNBC AGM, Kelowna, BC
The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede's Western Showcase "Sales Salon" and "Quick Draw" Calgary, AB
"Artist Ride", South Dakota
Lake Country's "ArtWalk"
"Okanagan Valley Painters" Christmas Show, Kelowna, BC
Dale Auger Benefit, Calgary, AB
"Western Indian Art Show", Calgary, AB

2006
"Life and Arts Festival", Kelowna, BC
The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede's Western Showcase "Sales Salon", Calgary, AB
"Artist Ride", South Dakota
Lake Country's "ArtWalk"
"Dale Auger & Friends", Bragg Creek, AB

2005
"Evening With the Arts Tour", Whistler, BC
"Jay Contway and Friends", Great Falls, MT
"Life and Arts Festival", Kelowna, BC - Featured Artist
"Five Corners Show", Victoria, BC
The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede's Western Showcase "Sales Salon", "Auction" and "Quick Draw", Calgary, AB
O'Keefe Ranch's "Cowboy Festival and National Art Show", Vernon, BC
Lake Country's "ArtWalk"
"Dale Auger & Friends", Bragg Creek, AB
"The Heritage Gala Weekend", Jasper, AB

2004
"Inspired Imagery", Kelowna, BC
"Spokane Western Art Show", Spokane, WA
"Jay Contway and Friends", Great Falls, Montana
"Life and Arts Festival", Kelowna, BC
The Calgary Stampede's Western Showcase "Sales Salons" and "Auction", Calgary, AB
"ArtWalk", Lake Country, BC
"Dale Auger and Friends", Bragg Creek, AB
Three FCA shows

2003
The Calgary Stampede's Western Showcase "Gallery", "Auction", "Silent Auction" and "Artist's Window", Calgary, AB
"ArtWalk", Lake Country, BC
Five FCA group shows in Vancouver including the first international Painting on the Edge

2002
"ARTisans at the Shaw", Edmonton, AB
"Western Art Show", Kalispell, Montana
The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede's Western Showcase "Gallery"
"ArtWalk", Lake Country, BC
Two FCA group shows in Kelowna and Vancouver

2001
CIPA show in Vancouver, BC
"ARTEssential", Calgary, AB
"ArtWalk", Lake Country, BC
Three FCA group shows in Kelowna and Vancouver

2000
"ARTEssential", Calgary, AB (formerly Artists Direct)
"Aim For Arts", Vancouver, BC, world-wide competition and juried show by FCA
The Calgary Exhibitions and Stampede's Western Showcase "Artist's Window", Calgary, AB
"ArtWalk", Lake Country
Four FCA group shows in Kelowna and Vancouver

1999
"Artists Direct", Calgary, AB
"Native Roots, Valley Branches", solo exhibition, Weber Gallery, Kelowna, BC
Spruce Meadows, Calgary, AB, commercial exhibition

1996
Calgary City Hall, "Metis Days", group exhibition

1990
Devonian Gardens, Calgary, AB, juried solo exhibition

 

Education & Workshops Taken

2003
Dianna Ponting, pastels, Vernon

2001
Nita Leland, colour theory, Kelowna

2000
Neil Patterson, oil painting, Kelowna
Tom Huntley, drawing, Kelowna
Rick McDiarmid, watermedia, Kelowna

1986
Alberta College of Art - accredited oil painting course

 

Workshops and Speaking Engagements Given

2011
FCA Central Okanagan Chapter portrait workshop, Kelowna, BC
Toast Masters International Conference, "Sages in the Desert" talk "Being Metis", Osoyoos, BC
Two Enderby Arts Council portrait workshops, Enderby, BC
Glenmore Elementary students Native Flute making classes, Kelowna, BC
Native Flute making classes through MCSBC, Kelowna, BC
Two forums attended for the Metis Commission, Vancouver, BC
School District 23 Professional Development Day, Lake Country, BC

2009
Okanagan Photographic Workshops-OPAW, "Still Life from an Artist's Perspective", Kelowna, BC and organized two Native photoshoots
Seniors For Learning workshop at home studio, Kelowna, BC
Demo for seniors at Rutland Seniors Centre, Kelowna, BC

2008
Two CIPA portrait workshops, Kelowna and Calgary
Central Okanagan Photography group-COPS - Still-life workshop

2007
Okanagan Photographic Workshops-OPAW, "Still Life from an Artist's Perspective", Kelowna, BC

2006
Oil painting workshops at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna, BC
Drawing workshop, Central Okanagan FCA, Kelowna, BC
One day workshop for native high school art students, Kelowna's Westside
Okanagan Photographic Workshops-OPAW, "Still Life from an Artist's Perspective", Kelowna, BC
Drawing and life-painting workshop, South Okanagan Chapter of the FCA, Naramata, BC

2005
Okanagan Photographic workshops-OPAW, "Still Life from an Artist's Perspective", Kelowna, BC
Drawing workshop, Mission Painters, Kelowna, BC
Oil Painting workshops at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna, BC

2004
Life-painting workshop at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna, BC

2003
"Using Genesis® Paints", Central Okanagan Chapter of FCA, Kelowna, BC

2001
Novice workshop, Peachland, BC

2000
Portrait workshop, Central Okanagan Chapter of FCA, Kelowna, BC

 

Awards/Special Commissions

2011
Awarded the Communication and Leadership Award by Toastmaster International, Osoyoos, BC
Commissioned by The Ranche at Fish Creek Historical Society to produce two images for their Artisan Garden Project

2010
Painting of a west coast native was commissioned as part of Mural Mosaics "Kunamokst"
Commissioned to paint a teepee for the Oshawa and Durham Metis Association, Oshawa, ON
Commissioned to paint a teepee during the Olympics at Sinclair Centre for Mukwa Teepees

2008
Commissioned by Gabriel Dumont Institute to produce "The Waiting Game"
Painting "Native Legacy" commissioned as part of Mural Mosaics "Le Cadeau Du Cheval"

2006
Commissioned by GDI to produce "The Spirit of Dumont" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Gabriel Dumont's Death. It was later used for the National Aboriginal Day Poster.
Voted "People's Choice" at Lake Country's ArtWalk

2005
Award of Excellence-FCA Black & White Show, Vancouver, BC
Awarded Senior Signature Status (CIPA), Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists
Best Artist, First Annual O'Keefe Ranch National Art Show, Vernon, BC
Voted in top ten for People's Choice Award at Lake Country's ArtWalk

2004
Voted number four for People's Choice Award at Lake Country's ArtWalk

2003
Awarded Associate Status (AFCA), Federation of Canadian Artists
Voted number three for People's Choice Award at Lake Country's ArtWalk

2002
Voted number four for People's Choice Award at Lake Country's ArtWalk

2001
Awarded Associate Status in the CIPA (Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists)

2000
Voted in top ten for People's Choice Award at Lake Country's ArtWalk
Awarded Active Status in the FCA
Finalist in the Year 2000 Competition, The Artist's Magazine (1 of 50 chosen from a field of 14,900 entries in the Portrait Category) for the painting "Sound of a Distant Drum"

 

Bibliography

2012
Eleven images for the book "Making it Right" to be published by Rubicon Publishing

2011
Five images with write-ups included in Gabriel Dumont Institute's book "Gabriel Dumont: Le Chef in words and Pictures"
The image "The Healing Circle" used in the textbook "Aboriginal Values, Beliefs and Aspirations"

2010
Article in Okanagan Art Works "Dennis Weber preserving the history of his people"

2009
Twenty images for "The Secret of Your Name" by author David Bouchard published in English and Michif as well as in French and Michif by Fitzhenry & Whiteside

2008
"The Spirit of Dumont" painting included in the Donna Cona Calendar

2007
The painting "A Fleeting Moment" (Louis Riel) used for grade five activity cards published by Thomson Nelson

2006
Okanagan Life Magazine article entitled "The Photographic Pencil"

2005
"Northwest Artists" coffee table book

2001
Article entitled" Improve Your Image, Competition Spotlight", The Artist's Magazine (1 of 12 chosen from the 280 Finalists of all 5 categories in the Year 2000 Competition)

 

November 6, 2011

Dennis Joseph Weber was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in 1951 and lived most of his life in Calgary, Alberta.  He feels his mother's Métis heritage contributed to the development of his art and continues to influence it.  The fascinating story of the Métis Nation's 17th century origins, through to it's official Canadian recognition in the 20th, could be told through Dennis' ancestors.  Louis Riel, Canada's most renowned Métis (and Dennis' first cousin five generations removed), was not only instrumental in the creation of Manitoba, but also a poet, visionary and ultimately a martyr.  He stated in 1885, the year of his death:

"My People will sleep for one hundred years.  When they awaken, it will be the artists who give them back their spirit."

It was, in fact, about a century after Riel's prediction that Dennis started to explore the possibility of becoming an artist full-time. Since then, he's achieved not only that, but for helping to revive his culture, is now considered one of Canada's foremost Métis artists.

In 1999 Dennis moved to Kelowna, BC and still works out of his home studio.  His mastery of the media he uses (oil, pastel, pencil, charcoal or colored pencil) is due in part to his glazing technique, one of many skills he employs.  Dennis has achieved accreditation in both the Federation of Canadian Artists (AFCA) and the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists (CIPA, Fellow). He was recently asked by the Curator of the House of Commons to apply to paint Paul Martin's portrait (for a complete list of awards and commissions scroll down to his CV).  His demonstrations and adult workshops are much in demand but he also finds time to mentor children for the Metis Community Services Society of BC and teach Aboriginal children in Kelowna's School District 23.

Dennis says of his art:

"When someone responds to my work, they often tell me it's because it reminds them of a past experience, favourite place or someone they know.  Creating a bridge between our common experiences is what I value most about the art I produce."

Dennis attends a number of art events each year, including; for four years the Artist Ride in South Dakota, an invitational event attended by fifty artists from across North America; since 2002 the Calgary Stampede's Western Art Show, the last eight years in the Sales Salons; and Kiyanaw, part of the Capital EX in Edmonton, which is for Canada's top Aboriginal artists (see other shows in his CV).  In addition, throughout the year his art can be seen at various Métis events.  In 2007 his personal collection of Métis artifacts was on display alongside his art at the exhibition We Are Métis in the Kelowna Museum.

Dennis' bibliography includes David Bouchard's "The Secret of Your Name", "Making it Right", a book published by Rubicon Publishing for their Turtle Island Series, articles published by the Gabriel Dumont Institute as well as a number of images in school textbooks (see complete list below).  He is represented by Turtle Island Gallery in Kelowna and Moonstone Gallery in Calgary.

December 28, 2011

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