I am an artist specializing in sculpture and drawing. Alongside my father Eric Firth, we’ve created custom stone carvings for private and public spaces, as well as restoration stone carving.
In my artistic practice my sculptures and drawings have been a reflection of the relationship and experiences I have with nature and animals. Through scale and placement the viewer is able to physically and emotionally communicate with my sculptures.
The theme of floral and scale has continued into the private commissions my father and I have completed. Clean flowing lines and strong compositions liven the subject matter. A key component in these carvings is ensuring that the subject matter illustrates what the person wants to express to the public. The natural world has inspired these compositions with the use of foliage that is present in all the carvings thus far. As an artist stone is the medium that I prefer to work with, because of the durability and long historical tradition. This natural material goes back to nature, which I try to incorporate as a theme in my art.
KARA BRUCE
EDUCATION
2009-13 Art and Art History University of Toronto, Mississauga and Sheridan College, Oakville
2009 Art and Design Certificate Georgian College, Barrie
ARTIST TALKS
2017 Public Art Commissions: Behind the scenes (Carl Tacon and Kara Firth) Sheridan College Oakville
AWARDS
2013 People’s Choice Award Headwaters Arts, Orangeville
2013 Therese Bolliger Award Sheridan College, Oakville
2013 Past and Present Techniques Award Sheridan College, Oakville
2013 2nd Place Jurors Choice Award Shelley Peterson Juried Show, Toronto
2012 Sculpture Supply Canada Award Sheridan College, Oakville
2011 Woolfitt Enterprise Drawing Award Sheridan College, Oakville
2010 Woodshop Award Sheridan College, Oakville
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2014 Hair Raising Rivoli, Toronto
2014 Lobby Show- Hair Raising QEPCCC, Oakville
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017 Headwaters Arts Annual Juried Show Alton Mill Art Gallery, Alton
2017 Amazing Animals, Helson Gallery, Georgetown
2015 World of Wonders Helson Gallery, Georgetown
2013 Art Club Show Headwaters Arts, Orangeville
2013 18th Annual Juried Graduating Canadian Sculpture Centre Toronto Sculpture Student Exhibition
2013 Shelley Peterson Juried Student Art UTAC, Toronto
2013 Double Crossing Blackwood Galleries, Mississauga
2012 Chancellors Show University of Toronto, Toronto
2012 Sheridan Open House Sheridan College, Oakville
2012 Not A Panopticon Hazel McCallion Learning Centre, Mississauga
2011 Sheridan Open House Sheridan College, Oakville
2011 1st and 2nd year Art Show Sheridan College, Oakville
2010 Sheridan Open House Sheridan College, Oakville
2009 Scholarship Show Georgian College, Barrie
2009 Sculpture Show Georgian College, Barrie
COLLECTIONS
2015-16 Private Collector, Georgetown
2013 Private Collector, Orton
PUBLICATIONS
2019 The Green Gargoyle, Volume 12 Number 1/2019, Legislative Assembly
2013 BUFF Sheridan College, Oakville
2012 BUFF Sheridan College, Oakville
2011 BUFF Sheridan College, Oakville
COMMISSIONS
2020-21 Awarded commission for Spirit Awards, Town of Oakville
PRESS
https://www.haltonhillstoday.ca/local-news/georgetowns-helson-gallery-welcomes-kara-bruce-as-new-curator-6037767
https://hub.haltonhills.ca/dept/REC/Recreation/Recreation%20Documents/Culture-Days.pdf
https://goo.gl/images/tpQSjL
https://www.erinfair.ca/images/ErinFallFair-Brochure2015.pdf
http://www.sheridanassignments.com/exhibitionslectures.html
http://www.artoronto.ca/?p=19711
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/dvs/sculpture
http://www.akimbo.ca/akimbos/?id=56087k
http://www.arts.utoronto.ca/engagementawards/SPSEAA.htm
http://library2.utm.utoronto.ca/artinthelibrary/art/not-panopticon/fence-post-1-2-3
EMPLOYMENT
Curator
Helson Gallery, Georgetown, Ontario, Town of Halton Hills, 2022 - present
Curatorial Assistant
Helson Gallery, Georgetown, Ontario, Town of Halton Hills, 2013-2022
Studio Assistant
Queen Elizabeth Community and Cultural Centre, Town of Oakville, December 2018-June 2019
Stone Carver
Touchstone Masonry, Hillsburgh, Ontario, 2016-2019
Studio Assistant
4Point Chisel, Artist Carl Tacon, Orton, Ontario, 2014-2016
Strike Crew
Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Lyn Carter- 11th Line
Safety Consultant
City of Cambridge, Cambridge, Ontario, December 2014
Woodshop Technician
Queen Elizabeth Community and Cultural Centre, Town of Oakville, June 2013- November 2014
Studio Assistant
Artist Lyn Carter, Orton, Ontario, May 2013-2016
School Visits Teacher
Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario April 2013-June 25, 2013
Wood Shop Assistant
Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario, fall 2011+2012-winter 2012+2013
Gallery Assistant
Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives, May 22, 2012-September 7, 2012
Sculpture Assistant
Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario, fall 2011-winter 2012
ERIC FIRTH
[email protected]
EDUCATION
1985-89 Restoration Stone Masonry Nova Scotia Institute of Technology Halifax, NS
1978-82 Bachelor of Arts University of Toronto/Mississauga campus
EMPLOYMENT
Self Employed Touchstone Masonry, Hillsburgh, Ontario, 1997-present
Jobs I have been involved in are – Queens Park, Toronto; Osgoode Hall, Toronto; Old City Hall, Toronto; Old Post Office, Collingwood; 1 St Thomas, Toronto; West Edmonton Police Station, Alberta; INDX Condos, Toronto and private commissions
PRESS
http://www.moffatdunlap.com/ontario-real-estate/Modern-Country/534
In my artistic practice my sculptures and drawings have been a reflection of the relationship and experiences I have with nature and animals. Through scale and placement the viewer is able to physically and emotionally communicate with my sculptures.
The theme of floral and scale has continued into the private commissions my father and I have completed. Clean flowing lines and strong compositions liven the subject matter. A key component in these carvings is ensuring that the subject matter illustrates what the person wants to express to the public. The natural world has inspired these compositions with the use of foliage that is present in all the carvings thus far. As an artist stone is the medium that I prefer to work with, because of the durability and long historical tradition. This natural material goes back to nature, which I try to incorporate as a theme in my art.
KARA BRUCE
EDUCATION
2009-13 Art and Art History University of Toronto, Mississauga and Sheridan College, Oakville
2009 Art and Design Certificate Georgian College, Barrie
ARTIST TALKS
2017 Public Art Commissions: Behind the scenes (Carl Tacon and Kara Firth) Sheridan College Oakville
AWARDS
2013 People’s Choice Award Headwaters Arts, Orangeville
2013 Therese Bolliger Award Sheridan College, Oakville
2013 Past and Present Techniques Award Sheridan College, Oakville
2013 2nd Place Jurors Choice Award Shelley Peterson Juried Show, Toronto
2012 Sculpture Supply Canada Award Sheridan College, Oakville
2011 Woolfitt Enterprise Drawing Award Sheridan College, Oakville
2010 Woodshop Award Sheridan College, Oakville
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2014 Hair Raising Rivoli, Toronto
2014 Lobby Show- Hair Raising QEPCCC, Oakville
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017 Headwaters Arts Annual Juried Show Alton Mill Art Gallery, Alton
2017 Amazing Animals, Helson Gallery, Georgetown
2015 World of Wonders Helson Gallery, Georgetown
2013 Art Club Show Headwaters Arts, Orangeville
2013 18th Annual Juried Graduating Canadian Sculpture Centre Toronto Sculpture Student Exhibition
2013 Shelley Peterson Juried Student Art UTAC, Toronto
2013 Double Crossing Blackwood Galleries, Mississauga
2012 Chancellors Show University of Toronto, Toronto
2012 Sheridan Open House Sheridan College, Oakville
2012 Not A Panopticon Hazel McCallion Learning Centre, Mississauga
2011 Sheridan Open House Sheridan College, Oakville
2011 1st and 2nd year Art Show Sheridan College, Oakville
2010 Sheridan Open House Sheridan College, Oakville
2009 Scholarship Show Georgian College, Barrie
2009 Sculpture Show Georgian College, Barrie
COLLECTIONS
2015-16 Private Collector, Georgetown
2013 Private Collector, Orton
PUBLICATIONS
2019 The Green Gargoyle, Volume 12 Number 1/2019, Legislative Assembly
2013 BUFF Sheridan College, Oakville
2012 BUFF Sheridan College, Oakville
2011 BUFF Sheridan College, Oakville
COMMISSIONS
2020-21 Awarded commission for Spirit Awards, Town of Oakville
PRESS
https://www.haltonhillstoday.ca/local-news/georgetowns-helson-gallery-welcomes-kara-bruce-as-new-curator-6037767
https://hub.haltonhills.ca/dept/REC/Recreation/Recreation%20Documents/Culture-Days.pdf
https://goo.gl/images/tpQSjL
https://www.erinfair.ca/images/ErinFallFair-Brochure2015.pdf
http://www.sheridanassignments.com/exhibitionslectures.html
http://www.artoronto.ca/?p=19711
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/dvs/sculpture
http://www.akimbo.ca/akimbos/?id=56087k
http://www.arts.utoronto.ca/engagementawards/SPSEAA.htm
http://library2.utm.utoronto.ca/artinthelibrary/art/not-panopticon/fence-post-1-2-3
EMPLOYMENT
Curator
Helson Gallery, Georgetown, Ontario, Town of Halton Hills, 2022 - present
Curatorial Assistant
Helson Gallery, Georgetown, Ontario, Town of Halton Hills, 2013-2022
Studio Assistant
Queen Elizabeth Community and Cultural Centre, Town of Oakville, December 2018-June 2019
Stone Carver
Touchstone Masonry, Hillsburgh, Ontario, 2016-2019
Studio Assistant
4Point Chisel, Artist Carl Tacon, Orton, Ontario, 2014-2016
Strike Crew
Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Lyn Carter- 11th Line
Safety Consultant
City of Cambridge, Cambridge, Ontario, December 2014
Woodshop Technician
Queen Elizabeth Community and Cultural Centre, Town of Oakville, June 2013- November 2014
Studio Assistant
Artist Lyn Carter, Orton, Ontario, May 2013-2016
School Visits Teacher
Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario April 2013-June 25, 2013
Wood Shop Assistant
Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario, fall 2011+2012-winter 2012+2013
Gallery Assistant
Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives, May 22, 2012-September 7, 2012
Sculpture Assistant
Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario, fall 2011-winter 2012
ERIC FIRTH
[email protected]
EDUCATION
1985-89 Restoration Stone Masonry Nova Scotia Institute of Technology Halifax, NS
1978-82 Bachelor of Arts University of Toronto/Mississauga campus
EMPLOYMENT
Self Employed Touchstone Masonry, Hillsburgh, Ontario, 1997-present
Jobs I have been involved in are – Queens Park, Toronto; Osgoode Hall, Toronto; Old City Hall, Toronto; Old Post Office, Collingwood; 1 St Thomas, Toronto; West Edmonton Police Station, Alberta; INDX Condos, Toronto and private commissions
PRESS
http://www.moffatdunlap.com/ontario-real-estate/Modern-Country/534