Dennis J. Weber AFCA, CIPA
Dennis Joseph Weber was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in 1951 and lived most of his life in Calgary before moving to Kelowna, B.C. in 1999. His mother's ancestors originated from the Red River area in Manitoba and later Batoche, Saskatchewan, both areas historically important to the Métis. His wife has traced Dennis' French heritage to the 1400's and his Native ancestry (which includes Montagnais, Saulteaux, Miami, Cree, Ojibwa and Sioux) to the 1600's. Dennis is a direct descendent of many famous Canadians including explorer Jean Nicolet, Métis leaders Jean-Baptiste Lagimodiere and Cuthbert James Grant Sr., as well as Canada's first farmer Louis Hébert. 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:
"Our People will sleep for a hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who bring back their culture."
It was around a century after this prediction that Dennis started to explore the possibility of becoming a full-time artist and, in the last twenty years, achieving not only this but also being identified as one of Canada's foremost Métis artist. He is proud to identify with the revitalized Métis Nation.
Dennis works out of his home studio in Kelowna, his preferred media being pencil, pencil/white charcoal or oil. Regardless of medium, he glazes layer after layer to achieve his unique look. He has achieved accredited Signature Member Status in both the Federation of Canadian Artists and the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists and teaches group workshops and private lessons. Dennis enjoys the challenge of drawing from life and his drawing demonstrations are popular at art shows:
"When someone relates to one of my pieces, they usually tell me it's becauseit reminds them of a past experience or someone they know. Creating this bridge between past and present and between our common experiences is what I value most about the art I produce."
Dennis attends a number of prestigious art shows, such as the Western Showcase Sales Salons at the Calgary Stampede and the aboriginal show Dale Auger & Friends in Bragg Creek. ArtWalk, the largest art show of the BC Interior, features 300 artists and is attended by thousands of art enthusiasts. Dennis is consistently voted in the top 10 for the People's Choice Award, and in 2006 receiving the highest number of votes.
For the past two years he has joined the Artist's Ride in South Dakota, which is an invitational event attended by fifty artists from across North America. For the past 25 years, artists have photographed models and movie extras on the Shearer Ranch beside the Cheyenne River for use in their Native and Western art.
Dennis is a consultant for Habitat for Humanity, sits on the board of Kelowna's Métis Children and Family Services, is involved with the national as well as local chapter of the FCA and donates pieces to many worthwhile causes.
His bibliography includes an article entitled Improve Your Image in the March 2001 issue of The Artist's Magazine, one in the Okanagan Life magazine, a page in the North West Artists coffee table book and is frequently featured in Okanagan newspaper articles. He is currently working on a book with renowned author, public speaker and literacy advocate David Bouchard, which will tell the story of the discovery of David's Métis roots.
Dennis is represented by Turtle Island Gallery in Kelowna, and his works of art can be found in collections throughout the world.
Visit Dennis' Family Tree
Curriculum Vitae
Exhibitions
2006
Life and Arts Festival, Kelowna, BC
The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede’s Western Showcase Sales Salon
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
O’Keefe Ranch 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
Jay Contway and Friends, Great Falls, Montana
Life and Arts Festival, Kelowna, BC
The Calgary Stampede’s Western Showcase Sales Salons and Auction
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
ArtWalk, Lake Country
Five FCA group shows in Vancouver including the first international Painting on the Edge
2002
ARTisans at the Shaw, Edmonton
Western Art Show, Kalispell, Montana
The Calgary Stampede’s Western Showcase Gallery
ArtWalk, Lake Country
Two FCA group shows in Kelowna and Vancouver
2001
CIPA show in Vancouver
ARTEssential, Calgary
ArtWalk, Lake Country
Three FCA group shows in Kelowna and Vancouver
2000
ARTEssential, Calgary (formerly Artists Direct)
Aim For Arts, Vancouver, world-wide competition and juried show
The Calgary Stampede’s Western Showcase Artist’s Window
ArtWalk, Lake Country
Four FCA group shows in Kelowna and Vancouver
1999
Artists Direct, Calgary
Native Roots, Valley Branches, solo exhibition, Kelowna
Spruce Meadows, Calgary, commercial exhibition
1996
Calgary City Hall, Metis Days, group exhibition
1990
Devonian Gardens, Calgary, juried solo exhibition
Education & Workshops Attended
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 Taught
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, Kelowna—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, Kelowna—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
Genesis®, Central Okanagan Chapter of FCA, Kelowna, BC
2001
Novice, Peachland, BC
2000
Portraits, Central Okanagan Chapter of FCA, Kelowna, BC
Awards
2006
Commission to produce an image for National Aboriginal Day - Spirit of Dumont oil painting.
Voted People's Choice at Lake Country's ArtWalk
2005
Award of Excellence—FCA Black & White Show, Vancouver, BC
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)
Bibliography
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)
