Wilf Perreault

Wilf Perreault
RCA SOM
Born
Wilfrid Donat Joseph Perreault

(1947-10-06) October 6, 1947 (age 77)
near Albertville, Saskatchewan, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Saskatchewan
Known forPainting, Printmaking, Sculpture

Wilf Perreault RCA SOM (born October 6, 1947) is a Canadian artist and sculptor.

Biography

Wilf Perreault was born on October 6, 1947, on his family's farm, halfway between Albertville and Henribourg, 25 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to parents Armand and Eveline Perreault (née Nobert).[1] In 1953, Armand Perreault moved his family to Saskatoon.[1]

While growing up in Saskatoon, Perreault received private art lessons from Herb Wilde, a former student of the Saskatchewan painter, Ernest Lindner, Bill Epp and Louise Malkin.[2] Perreault is known for his landscapes[3] and paintings of alleyways.[4][5] His work has been influenced by artists such as Reta Cowley and Dorothy Knowles.[5] His formal art training began at the University of Saskatchewan,[3] where his interest in representational painting conflicted with the New York–style abstraction, prevalent in Saskatchewan at that time. Under the instruction of Otto Rogers and Bill Epp, he instead focused on abstract sculpture.[1][6]

Perreault graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1970 and a Bachelor of Education in 1971 before moving to Regina to teach.[7] In 1981 Perreault became the artist-in-residence with the Regina Catholic School Board.[7] Part of his work during this time was the creation of murals and stained-glass windows for the Canadian Martyrs Church.[8]

Perreault finds comparisons between his career as a teacher and his art stating: "Teaching is a bit like painting back-alleys. It's taking an ordinary subject and turning it into something beautiful: taking students who aren't turned on to art and seeing the lights go on for them once they discover art. It's really something wonderful."[9]

photo taken by Wilf with his Canon EOS 20D & a self-timer, March 17, 2007
Wilf Perreault painting at an easel in his studio, 2007

Awards and press

Perreault's work has been included in several exhibitions,[10][11][12] commissions and awards in and outside of Saskatchewan. In 1989 he was chosen to represent Canada and was awarded a Silver Medal in Les Jeux de la Francophonie in Maroc, Africa—a juried exhibition of work by artists from 42 countries.[13] He is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, and was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2016.[14][15]

In 2014, Wilf Perreault: In The Alley, a Retrospective Show was held at the MacKenzie Art Gallery. The show covered over 40 years of work and over 40 pieces of art, plus many of his silkscreens.[16][17][18] Alongside the exhibition, an eponymous titled book and film, were produced, both detailing his process of getting inspirations for the resultant works of art that were on display.[19]

  • Perreault, Wilf- Evening Jazz, original silkscreen on Lexan, 17+5⁄8 in × 11+1⁄2 in (450 mm × 290 mm), 2016
    Perreault, Wilf- Evening Jazz, original silkscreen on Lexan, 17+5⁄8 in × 11+1⁄2 in (450 mm × 290 mm), 2016
  • Perreault, Wilf- Piffles' Dream, original silkscreen on Lexan, 18 in × 12 in (460 mm × 300 mm) image, 2010
    Perreault, Wilf- Piffles' Dream, original silkscreen on Lexan, 18 in × 12 in (460 mm × 300 mm) image, 2010
  • Perreault, Wilf- Heart in the Park, acrylic on canvas, 72 in × 72+1⁄2 in (1,830 mm × 1,840 mm), 2009
    Perreault, Wilf- Heart in the Park, acrylic on canvas, 72 in × 72+1⁄2 in (1,830 mm × 1,840 mm), 2009
  • Perreault, Wilf- College Ave, acrylic on canvas, 28 in × 21 in (710 mm × 530 mm), 2010
    Perreault, Wilf- College Ave, acrylic on canvas, 28 in × 21 in (710 mm × 530 mm), 2010
  • Perreault, Wilf- Winter Trees, acrylic on canvas, 23 in × 15 in (580 mm × 380 mm), 2013
    Perreault, Wilf- Winter Trees, acrylic on canvas, 23 in × 15 in (580 mm × 380 mm), 2013

References

  1. ^ a b c Wilf Perreault; In the Alley / Dans La Ruelle. Mackenzie Art Gallery. 2014. ISBN 978-1-55050-595-5.
  2. ^ Beatty, Gregory (December 10, 2014). "Playing In Alleys". Hullabaloo Publishing Workers Co-operative. ISSN 1199-9225.
  3. ^ a b Katz, CJ (November 5, 2014). "A Magical Moment: Getting up close and personal with artist WIlf Perreault". The Leader-Post. pp. 9–10. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Bouchard, Gilbert (March 31, 2006). "Back alley views of Regina". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. p. 64. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Fudge, Paul (October 23, 1981). "Wilf Perreault's brush makes back alleys and lanes exciting". The Leader-Post. Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. p. 18. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  6. ^ Ivanochko, Bob, "perreault_wilf_1947-". The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. University of Regina. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Canadian Plains Research Center, ed. (2005). The encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Regina, Saskatchewan: Canadian Plains Research Center. ISBN 978-0-88977-175-8.
  8. ^ "Future of Regina church with 'huge amazing masterpieces' in question". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 17, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  9. ^ Perry, Meta (April 24, 1986). "Regina's back-alley artist probes behind the scenes". Regina Leader Post. Postmedia Network. pp. B9. ISSN 0839-2870. ProQuest 2214075898.
  10. ^ Perry, Meta (1986). "Wilf Perreault: Back Alley Realism". Border Crossings. Vol. 5, no. 3. Arts Manitoba Publications Inc. pp. 56–58. ISSN 0831-2559.
  11. ^ Roberton, Linda (November 5, 1989). "'Painterman' likes young critics". Regina Sun. Postmedia Network. p. 6. ISSN 1181-3768. ProQuest 2214199362.
  12. ^ Seiberling, Irene (November 25, 2016). "Sask artist Wilf Perreault inspired by the everyday back alley". Regina Leader-Post. p. 1. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  13. ^ "Les médaillés par édition". Les Jeux de la Francophonie. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  14. ^ "Artist Wilf Perreault among 10 joining Sask. Order of Merit". CBC News. May 24, 2016. p. 1. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  15. ^ Chabun, Will (May 2016). "Notable Saskatchewanians to receive Order of Merit". Regina Leader Post. Postmedia Network. pp. A4. ISSN 0839-2870.
  16. ^ Seiberling, Irene (September 20, 2014). "Back alley celebration". Regina Leader Post Arts Life section. Postmedia Network. p. 27. ISSN 0839-2870. ProQuest 2056090058.
  17. ^ Froese, Christalee (Fall 2015). "A Humble Worker at his Canvas". Prairies North magazine Vol 17 No 3. pp. 51–55. ISSN 1711-7216.
  18. ^ Froese, Christalee (Winter 2015). "Alley Artist". Westworld magazine. Westworld Publications. p. 50. ISSN 0843-3356.
  19. ^ Barclay, Byrna (December 1, 2014). "ARTIST AS WATCHER/WRITER AS WITNESS". Grain Magazine. Vol. 42, no. 2. pp. 6–7. ISSN 1491-0497 – via EBSCOHost.