I am a self-taught artist with a varied experience in the arts community over the last 35 years. In the 1980s, I worked at a sign and display company in all aspects of the business from display design, fabrication and installation. I worked on large scale installations such as Disney, Expo 86, Edmonton Space Science Centre, Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, John Janzen Nature Centre, Travel Alberta and many more. In the 1990’s, I worked with the Edmonton First Night Festival, the Citadel Theatre Teen & Children’s festivals. I was Marketing Coordinator for the Works Festival & PR manager for Art Evo gallery in City Centre Mall in 1992. In 1991, I formed the Blue Collar Art Company with 2 artist friends and we produced sculptural furniture and specialty store fixtures for 2 years. During this time I also produced & recorded 3 cd’s; designed numerous cd covers and websites; and filmed & edited 2 music videos which aired on MuchMusic.
After moving to Calgary in 1993, I began to focus more on painting while continuing to produce sculptural steel work in conjunction with several glass artists. Our work was sold in 3 or 4 galleries in Calgary. I returned to Edmonton in 1995 to help run the family business. In 2013, I began painting seriously again and have produced art for solo and group shows as well as corporate and public art. I also have become an advocate and social media promoter for artists and art.
I love the experience of producing live art and interacting with the public while doing so. I have made art at numerous festivals and venues including Astral Harvest 2016/2017, Kaleido Festival 2016/2017, ChalkItUp on 118 2016/2017, Deep Freeze Festival 2017, Gallery At Milner (Edmonton Public Library Main Branch), Lotus Art gallery and more.
In, 2015, I was the creator of the Twitter event #artAdventCalendar which encouraged artists to post original art for 25 days in December. Over 20 Edmonton artists participated and the hashtag had over a million impressions. In 2016, 66 artists from around the world participated with over 6 million impressions. In 2017, 200 artists from around the world participated with over 2300 original works of art posted and over 25 million impressions.
In 2016, I was the founder of the #artforYMMHelps auctions to raise money for the Red Cross Fort McMurray fire relief. 24 artists from around the world donated 28 pieces of original art and raised over $18,000 for relief efforts.
Awards/Nominations
● 2016 Alberta Foundation for the Arts 25 Influential Alberta Artists from the past 25 years. http://affta.ab.ca/AFA25/Artists/All-Nominated-Artists
Long Term Exhibitions
● Shaw Conference Centre Community Arts Program, Edmonton April 2017 – March 2018 http://www.shawconferencecentre.com/about-us/in-the-community/community-art-program/
Solo Shows/Exhibitions
● Pop Up Art Show: Oct 7 2015
● Gallery at Milner: Alberta: Of Earth and Sky Jan. 2-30, 2016
● Alcove Gallery, Jubilee Auditorium: Buffalo Lake Skies Jun 15-Aug.2 2016
● The Carrot Arts Coffeehouse: SDO Project June 27-July31 2016
● Jake’s Gallery: Sun and Earth September 12 – October 8 2016
● Remedy Cafe on 124th street December 1-31 2016
● Reset Wellness: Whyte Avenue, Edmonton April 28 – Jul 28 2017
● Akokiniskway Gallery: Rosebud, AB, Edmonton Convection April 7 – May 28, 2018
● VASA Gallery St. Albert, AB, Convection July 2 – 30, 2018
● Udell Xhibitions , Edmonton AB, Turbulent Skies Sept 15 – 28, 2018
Public Art Installations and Events
● “See It Live” Mural – 17×40 ft 121st & 120st at 109ave, Edmonton September, 2015
● “In Good Hands” Mural Identification Art – City of Ft. Saskatchewan/Shell Scotford, 2015
● Live Painting – Gallery At Milner Every Saturday of January 2016
● Live Painting & Paint Nights – Lotus Gallery, 2016
● Live Painting Showcase Artist , Astral Harvest Festival 2016, 2017
● Chalk It Up on 118 Festival Public, Chalk art July 2016, 2017
● Paint Night – Stone’s Throw Café, Blairmore, AB July 2016
● Kaleido Festival Public Chalk Art, September 2016
● Deep Freeze Festival Chalk Art, January 2017, 2019
● Beakerhead, Calgary 2017
Charity
● “Winter Solstice at White Sands” March 2015, Rock n’ Robes Gala for YESS.Org
● “Sunset on the North Saskatchewan” May 2015, Fire & Ice Gala for ZebraCentre.ca
● “Prairie Fire”, #ArtForYMMHelps Ft. McMurray wildfire relief auction
● “After the Storm” May 2016, Rock n’ Robes Gala for YESS.Org & FreeFootie
● “View From The Pass”, August 2016, Hummingbird Gala, Alberta Diabetes Foundation
Group Shows/Exhibitions
● Art from the Unknown, Edmonton October 23-25, 2015
● Opening Show – Lotus Gallery, Edmonton, March 15- April 12 2016
● Geo-Intuition – Lotus Gallery, Edmonton, April 15-May27 2016
● Edmonton Art Walk, July 2016, 2017
● Rooted, Devonian Gardens July 2016
● 124 Street Holiday heART Pop Up Gallery Dec 2016
● 2017 Night Of Artists St. Albert March 2017
● Spruce Grove Art Walk: August 2017
● Strathearn Art Walk: September 2016, 2017
Turbulent Skies Project Media
CTV Edmonton: Artist Capturing Alberta Skies on Canvas http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1188199&binId=1.1203428&playlistPageNum=1
CBC Edmonton: Edmonton painter captures perfect storms on canvas
CBC News Network (National): Storm chasers, painter make incredible storm art
EdmontonAM Radio Interview: Storm Chasers
http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1017401923998/
Sonic 102.9: Meet the Local Artist Turning Alberta Storms into Art
General Media
Edmonton Examiner: Edmonton artist Jay Bigam leads YMMHelps auction
Vue Magazine: A round-up of the week in news
CBC.CA: Edmonton artist starts Twitter #ArtAdventCalendar
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-artist-starts-twitter-artadventcalendar-1.3360057
Edmonton Examiner: New musical mural finds a stage in Oliver
http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/2015/10/14/new-musical-mural-finds-a-stage-in-oliver