Thursday, September 11, 2008

Headwaters Arts Lifetime Achievement Award for Paul Burdette

(Image: Robert Bateman, Paul Burdette)

Biography

Paul met his wife Dolly in 1953 and they were married in 1954. They have three sons, Glenn, Brett and Mark.

Paul has led a rich and varied life, which has encompassed many different careers. After leaving school he went into the elevator business and became superintendent of new construction for the Otis Elevator Co. where he worked on many of the skyscrapers in Toronto. It was during those years that he went back to his love for Arts and started into Wildfowl Sculpting.

Having a love for the outdoors, this was a natural subject matter. It wasn't too long before his Art endeavours were recognized and his works were being exhibited in some of the most prestigious Galleries and Museums.

Some of these include the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute - Washington, Carnegie Mellon Museum - Pittsburgh, The Cleveland Museum of Art - Ohio, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum - Wisconsin, The Royal Ontario Museum - Toronto and The Gairdner Gallery - Toronto, to name a few. His pieces are also in the collections of The Los Angeles Museum - California, The Denver Museum - Colorado, The Wildlife World Museum - Colorado and The Ward Foundation Museum in Salisbury, Maryland. In 1974 Paul won the World Decoy Pairs Championship and in 1976 he came 2nd in the World in the Lifesize Decorative class. In 1976 Paul was also voted by his peers to Master of the Wildfowl Sculptors Guild.

In 1977 Paul started to build the Burdette Gallery and in 1979 Paul and his wife Dolly retired from their jobs in Toronto and opened the gallery in 1980. The success of the Gallery required them to have two of their sons, Glenn and Mark come to work for them. Having their help freed up enough of Paul's time to open the first school in North America to teach Wildfowl Sculpting. In the ensuing years, Paul taught over five thousand students, some of them in large seminars that he did throughout Canada and the USA.

He also started a catalogue mail order business selling supplies to the Artists in this field. As well, they could purchase them at the Gallery.

One of Paul's passions was helping to promote other Artists and their work. In 1981 Paul held the first show of its kind promoting an Artist at the Gallery and having the Artist there to meet the patrons. He knew full well that the people wanted to meet the Artists and those type of shows became immediate successes.

The next venture was High Country Press starting him into the publishing business. Because he felt it was so hard for Artists to get with an established company, he saw the value of promoting and helping them with their careers through that venue.

Because of the demand for Paul's work, he went into the Art Statuary casting business and produced over twenty Limited Edition Castings in bronze and resin for many corporations.

We look forward to presenting Paul with this Award.

FESTIVAL LAUNCH PARTY & ART SHOW PREVIEW
Fri Sept 26, 5:30pm Awards at 6:45pm
SGI Canada Caledon Centre, 20490 Porterfield Rd, Caledon
Refreshments provided by Gourmandissimo Catering & Fine Food Shop, One99 Restaurant, The Wine Coaches and Mill Street Brewery.
Sponsored by RBC Dominion Securities

Special features:
• Stand-up gourmet dinner with beer and wine
• Sneak preview of the art show and sale
• Celtic music by Rusty Ephemeris and Susan Lind
• Award presentations including the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award to Paul Burdette presented by long-time friend, Robert Bateman
• 2008 Student Art Show winners
• A special tribute honouring Ken Danby


Tickets: $50 - Call 519 943 1149

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