Calgary visual artists Jeff de Boer and Ron Moppett will be recognized at the in-person Convocation ceremony, just prior to the opening of the 2022 Grad Show, the first since 2019.
On Thursday, May 26, 2022, Alberta University of the Arts will host its first in-person convocation in three years and will recognize visual artists Jeff de Boer and Ron Moppett as the 2022 Honorary MFA recipients. Both de Boer and Moppett are AUArts alumni, and notable Calgarians with esteemed international careers in the arts.
“Two of the most influential artists and innovators in the world are AUArts alum Ron Moppett and Jeff de Boer and it is our honour to present them with this honorary degree,” said M. Carol Ryder, AUArts Board Chair. “It is important to recognize outstanding contributors to arts and culture, and they join other notable artists and arts champions who have previously received AUArts Honorary MFA degrees such as Alex Janvier, Katie Ohe, Harry Kiyooka, Chris Cran, and Sharon Carry.”
Jeff de Boer (Class of ’88, Jewellery), is best known for his authentic suits of armour for cats and mice that are collected internationally. From small jewellery to large public works, Jeff has completed some 3,000 projects. His public work can be found throughout Alberta, in multiple locations from parks and hospitals, to museums, shopping malls and airports.
“Being bestowed with an honorary Master of Fine Art from Alberta University for the Arts is the high point of my 34-year professional career as an artist and proud Calgarian. I am not only grateful for my education, I am equally grateful for the decades of mutual support and friendship this award represents,” said de Boer.
Ron Moppett (Class of ’65, Painting), is recognized for his contemporary paintings that are in collections around the world. One of his most notable recent projects is THESAMEWAYBETTER/READER, a monumental mosaic tile wall work measuring approximately 110 feet long by 13 feet high in Calgary’s East Village.
“I went to art school because I loved painting and thought it possible to earn a living drawing cartoons for Walt Disney. Four years later I was in thrall with the paintings of Francis Bacon,” said Moppett. “The trust I earned as a student afforded me much privilege later as the gallery curator for over 20 years. A dream ‘day job’ for a working artist. Thank you.”
The Honorary MFAs will be bestowed at the May 26, 1 pm Convocation at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, after which the Grad Show 2022 exhibition and reception will open at Alberta University of the Arts Illingworth Kerr Gallery and will be on display until June 4.
The annual art exhibition features work from the graduating class of AUArts. Grad Show 2022 is free and open to the public, and one of the university’s major event highlights each year and a milestone in the careers of graduating students in various bachelor programs.
“One of the most important milestones for our graduating students and our community is participating in Grad Show, our largest annual exhibition,” said Dr. Daniel Doz, AUArts President and CEO. “We invite you to experience the innovative and so diverse creativity of the Class of 2022 and tomorrow's leaders of art, craft and design.”
Organized by Illingworth Kerr Gallery, the on-campus professional gallery at AUArts, the annual Grad Show opens directly after the May 26 Convocation ceremony and features work by graduating students. AUArts is the only dedicated art, craft, and design university on the prairies, offering Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Ceramics, Drawing, Fibre, Glass, Jewellery and Metals, Media Arts, Painting, Print Media, and Sculpture, and Bachelor of Design degrees in Photography and Visual Communication Design.
The same day, AUArts also launches a custom-built Grad Show website, which has been the exhibition platform for the past two years. By placing Grad Show portfolios online, graduates are afforded the opportunity to exhibit up to ten works, alongside a written statement which will be active on the website for one year, and then archived. This digital platform is a complementing feature to the in-person exhibition and increases accessibility for viewers and visibility for graduate work. Grad Show 2022 virtual exhibition launches Thursday, May 26, 2022.
As a special new initiative to celebrate 2022 Grad Show’s return to campus, on Saturday, May 28, 2022, AUArts will host the first Grad Show 2022 Community Day from 2-5 pm. Everyone is invited to visit the exhibition, and discover the new faces of art, craft, and design. There will be free parking during Community Day for the first 200 visitors.
Grad Show 2022 is sponsored by TD Insurance.
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